The star image of Brett Favre

I just received today the newest issue of Sports Illustrated. On the cover is Brett Favre, quarterback of the NFL's Green Bay Packers who the magazine just awarded their "Sportsman of the Year." (article) As we have been discussing stars and celebrities in class, I decided to take a closer look at the star personality of Favre.

Favre is categorized as a star, rather than a celebrity, because he has a special talent for playing the game of football. His star image has grown and evolved over his years of playing football. Football is what our text calls the "primary circulation" of his star image. Favre gained exposure simply by playing the game. His "secondary circulation" are the interviews, photo shoots, autograph sessions, advertisements, etc., that increase his star image even more.

Favre's star image has been controlled and monitored by his agent and the league over his years of playing football, just like we talked about how the Beatles had a carefully constructed image. The NFL and other professional sports leagues are so much about business nowadays that it is important to positively promote themselves. The textbook talks about "bankability" and how the media industry sees stars as financial commodities. When he entered the league, Favre was marketed as a fresh, young quarterback and the future of the NFL. The league has been successful as he has contributed in selling countless tickets and jerseys over his 17 year career.

Today, Favre can be seen in a commercial for Wrangler Jeans where he is playing backyard football and getting a little dirty. Obviously, Wrangler chose him for a reason as did his agent accept the offer to sponsor the product. This is part of the mythos we talked about. Because of what Favre represents, a blue collar, hard working, all American type of guy, he is a perfect fit for Wrangler's ideals that represent the same thing. Also, Favre fits because of his status in the league as a veteran. The commercial gives the feeling of a nostalgic Sunday afternoon of touch football, which he could not have done as a rookie.

So Favre has a carefully constructed star image that has been defined by his talent, controlled by the media, monitored by his agent and has constantly changed over time and will continue to change as he retires from the game of football and moves into the entertainment culture.

Stars and Celebrities in athletics

I'm not one for the star and celebrity gossip. However, I could probably tell you something unique or interesting about any college basketball player, coach or team because I follow it that closely. Obviously, basketball is my number one passion and I am on the path to a career in broadcasting so it is kind of my job to know names, facts and stats. But while reading the chapter on stars and celebrities, I had to ask myself why I am so obsessed with athletics and famous athletes.

I have gone to the NCAA Final Four for the last four years. I go to all the events like the three-point and dunk contests, all-star games, coaches convention and the works. Even just walking around the cities, I have run into big-time college basketball coaches. My first Final Four in San Antonio, I was a sophomore in high school. I was so excited seeing all these famous players and coaches around me at these events. I got autographs and took pictures like crazy. The players especially, I thought they were gods. I was awstruck.

Now after having been to four Final Fours, I have gotten more used to seeing famous players and coaches and better understand that they are regular people just like me. I am less into the autographs and pictures when I see players, but rather engage in a conversation with them like I would with any other human being. I know I will value a conversation much more than I would a piece of paper with a signature. I also know they have a lot going on during the weekend and I always tell them thanks for taking the time to meet me. Plus last year I realized that althought I met a Division I player and I am a Division III player, we were both freshmen and I was actually older than him. This helped me put things into perspective.

Anyway, relating all this back to the chapter, I agree that the media creates sports figures as an ideological system of entertainment, and it does a darn good job of it, at least to me. The media has hooked me on college basketball and has taken my money the last four years. All the tv and newspaper and internet exposure createds financial gain for media companies and universities. People pay for season tickets just to watch two teams try and put a ball into a circular ring more times than the other. It's quite silly when you think about it. Yet I am completely absorbed in this game. This just goes to show how much power and influence the media can have on people.