Mickey means business

Disney On Ice has come and gone from the Resch Center, but as always, it has left its mark and it's not "minnie." It's huge. The show is the biggest thing to come to the Resch each year as far as attendance. It's pretty big for the Green Bay area too. Nearly 30,000 people attend the 8 performances of the show typically from a Wednesday through a Sunday. I know it has a big effect on area businesses and restaurants in the area because I've seen first hand all of the little princesses and Mickey Mouses who are eating at these restaurants before the shows with their moms and dads. I'm sure many who come from the U.P. also shop at our many stores.

The show also tries to leave its mark on the community before it leaves making some sort of appearance or holding something at the arena for a local charity or school. This year I helped arrange a reading event for second graders from Nicolet Elementary School on Green Bay's east side. The students made the short walk to the Boys & Girls Club where they were read a book by a Disney On Ice skater, asked some questions and got a surprise visit by Mickey & Minnie as you can see in the photo.

Chances are you've been to one of these shows over the years if you have kids or will be going soon. Besides the great fun and entertainment provided by this colorful event, always remember M-I-C-K-E-Y is B-I-G business for the entire area every February!

Who was that masked man?

Who was that masked man that rolled through Green Bay on February 8? No, it wasn't the Lone Ranger. In this case, it was WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio. I had the privilege of escorting Rey around to various media stops, a visit to Edison Middle School in Green Bay and to a Subway in Ashwaubenon for a promotional stop. What a nice man. He's a Mexican-American from San Diego and has been a professional wrestler for 22 years. He says that's all he's wanted to do since he was a little boy and his message to the middle school students at Edison was you can realize your dreams no matter what they are!

In the photo Rey is talking with a special needs child who is a big fan of WWE. It was a very touching moment and another example of how these guys and gals of WWE are down to earth folks. They are entertainers, they are athletes, but they are also fathers like Rey who has a daughter that's 13 and a son who I think is 8 or 9. Rey never turned down an autograph request, never turned down a photo request with someone. Rey also emphasized to the students that education has to be their number one priority along with obeying their parents. It's always neat for me to meet the "real" people who perform at the Resch. It's refreshing to see most are like us and that success and fame has not gone to their heads. In this case, it was wonderful to meet the man behind the mask!

My Superbowl experience

I sit here with a stupid nervous edge a few days before the big game between the Packers & Steelers. Nervous about whether the Pack will win. Kind of silly I think because my life really won't drastically change whether it's a win or a loss. But I was at the last Superbowl the Packers were in - the one in San Diego where they lost to Denver. It was a horrible feeling. You go to the game as a working member of the media and I had no problem with that. I was trained not to cheer in the press box for 16 years (take a hint Bears media). I owned very little Packers gear because I couldn't wear it. As a result, I still have very little to this day. If any member of the hometown media tells you they don't care who wins the game they're full of crap. They may not care because they say they aren't a fan, but they care at least because it's so much more pleasant covering a winning Superbowl locker room than a losing one. It was the pits having to go down and interview Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre and the rest after losing what many thought should have been their second championship in a row after beating New England the year before. I heard someone say this week winning the big game is the best win you'll ever have and and losing it is the worst loss you'll ever have. I think that's pretty true. Perhaps that's why I feel nervous as the game approaches. I remember the horrible feeling when they lost last time. Again, my life didn't change. Hopefully the Packers win Sunday, but if they don't, at least this time I can walk away from the TV, pet the cat and not have that sick feeling talking to Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers and the rest.

If the Packers do win, there will be a celebration at Lambeau Field on Tuesday at 4pm, scheduled to end at 5pm. We have WWE Smackdown here at the Resch starting at 6:30. There will be a section of the Lambeau lot that will be saved for WWE parking. We will also have all lots at our complex saved for event parking. Next Tuesday I'm also scheduled to escort WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio around to various radio stations. Should be interesting because the guy wears a mask!!! I'll let you know how that goes next week!