By Stevelknievel
From Carolina to China, Corey Behnke and Aaron Nagler have taken a modern-day H.A.M.-radio approach to covering the Packers: railing, ranting, rating and raving into the Green and Gold blogosphere since 2006. Only, the bespectacled dynamic duo hasn’t gone live since Dec. 9. Their 97th Transplants broadcast was a bit of a technological snafu-laden show, perhaps a signal that the two Packer dudes are focusing more on family and career (it takes one to know one) than preparation. But Nagler says the venerable show will return after the New Year—to what extent we don’t know.
GB Gossip
Word has it that Behnke (who RNRCC sent an interview feeler out to in September) has been promoted at his a/v position at Livestream, and moved out of his Inwood, Manhattan Packers enclave (and CHTV’s broadcast home), into a new apartment—presumably with his lady friend. And good on him. The ardent Packer Backer went on the road with the Packers, attending just about every (if not every) road playoff game in 2010, and zealously represented Cheeseheads in Dallas with more fire, vigor and shredded vocal chords than Sam Kinison in his heyday. Recently, Behnke’s job has taken him to Ireland, and he and his cohort and co-host Nagler have subsequently cut their live Packers production in half in 2011.
Nagler, a media relations professional at Blackstone in Manhattan, hinted earlier this season that he wanted to pursue a career in professional football—perhaps trading his position in the Driver’s seat at CHTV for a spot in a press box. When asked via Twitter whether he wants to go pro as a football writer, he responded: “Not really.” Pushing 40, the husband and father to three no doubt is focusing a bit more on family, and a little less on Mike Neal and gap discipline.
QB1 On One
But the man who posts more Packers tweets from work than any man who still holds their job has used CheeseheadTV as a networking springboard, landing coveted game credentials and perhaps lending an air of credibility to Packer fandom and part-time football bloggers everywhere. Due in large part to CHTV’s success, Nagler has rubbed elbows with The Commish (Goodell), started a psuedo-fued with Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, hovered over The President (Murphy), not to mention he has lobbed loving softballs at scores of current and former Packers players as the M.C. of CHTV.
Nagler, a former actor, has presumably achieved this through hard work and being personable. And Nagler has helped fill the PT void with a few “Newcastles With Nagler” podcasts. A tag line on Nagler’s Linkedin page might be telling: I have not slept in many, many years. But one can assume the erudite, wonkish crew at Transplants is catching up on some much-needed z’s. But while they’ve been sleeping, the CHTV founders have some new competition.
“You’re such a good radio guy now”
We here at Cecil Club (all three of us) have been gratefully listening and following CHTV since October 2009, stumbling on Packers Transplants after seeking more information on the sieve-like offensive line at the time. We had forsaken nearly all other Packers blogcasts (such as Packers Therapy), that is until the Chico Chatter debuted his eponymous radio program “The Aaron Rodgers Show” on ESPN Milwaukee nearly 17 weeks ago.
Rodgers, traditionally mum and tight-to-the-vest around a microphone or laminated press credential, has blossomed on the field and on air in 2011. Once a week Rodgers sits down to chat with ESPN Milwaukee’s Jason J. Wilde, a glib good guy who’s been covering the Packers for 15 years.
“You’re such a good radio guy now,” Wilde joked with Rodgers during the Dec. 27 show’s broadcast. And in a sense, that’s true. Although, Rodgers still seems reticent at times to open up to a Packers beat writer—particularly when it comes to his personal life—and will only field fan questions picked by Wilde.
But at least he’s showing his fans a realer side. Rodgers is not particularly radio savvy (he referenced his “flavor savor” Draft Day facial hair, and took a shot at Mark Sanchez’s wardrobe all in the first show). And he draws from a small cupboard of adjectives, often opting for “special” to describe players—both opposing and fellow teammates—and his time spent on and off the field. But one has to wonder how and why he agreed to the show…
“We’re holding a family member hostage,” tweeted ESPN Milwaukee’s Bill Johnson, Wilde’s Green and Gold Today co-host and self-dubbed “bad cop,” answering the sensitive question in Wilde’s stead.
Tuesday’s With Everyone
Originally dubbed “Tuesday’s With Aaron,” Rodgers’ radio sessions were quickly redubbed “The Aaron Rodgers Show”—not be confused with Packers.com’s “Tuesday’s With McCarthy” or “Tuesday’s With Wilde”—Wilde’s own weekly web interview with Packers players. Apparently, the Tuesday prefix is the new Kleenex. And somewhere Mitch Albom is shaking his head (as he counts his millions).
But Rodgers’ broadcast and interview skills—no doubt honed during Favreageddon—are head and shoulders above that of his teammates. Donald Driver and BJ Raji have their own respective broadcasts that are, again, nearly identically named “Inside The Huddle” and “In The Huddle.” But what makes The Aaron Rodgers Show truly … special … are the nuggets of insight, and the spotlight on his personality. We want to know who Aaron is, and what’s he’s thinking.
We at RNRCC are fans of players, and don’t pretend to be committed bloggers. We’re not so interested in the Xs and Os. We tune out (well at least Steve does) when it comes to the “Under The Helmet” portions of the ARS, or when Nagler decides to put on his Capers flat-cap and attempt to dissect a Tampa 2. But we thank Wilde and Henderson at ESPN; Nagler, Behnke and Carriveau at CHTV; Ty Dunne, captain of the new guard over at JSOnline.com, and now Aaron Rodgers, himself, for their diligent work this season. We we’re hungry for what makes Packers players (12, in particular) tick, and you provided Packer nationals with some needed nourishment.
I’m not sure how Wilde did it, but Rodgers is giving fans an apparently honest look through a window into what it’s like to be the best quarterback, in the toughest position, in the roughest league in the world. Cage-fighting not withstanding. We hope to see Behnke and Nagler get back in the ring, or someone else to step up and give 12 a run for his money in 2012.
aaron nagler
aaron rodgers
bill johnson
cheesehead tv
espn milwaukee
jason j. wilde
packers transplants live
“I feel phenomenal,” he told the Times Free Press just after being drafted. “I’ve been packing the house all day, swapping from room to room — trying to swap the luck up. To be drafted to the NFL, to get your name called, I got it put on national television, I’m a green Bay Packer, man. I’m going to be wearing that green and gold, and it’s phenomenal.”
