I am here today with a very special guest known on the internet and on the world as a German Packer fan Hey, I'm at how are you? I'm very good. So you are very accomplished as a Packer fan. You you announced a draft pick Yeah, you are tell everyone all the cool stuff that that you got to do So it started when I won the election to German is a fan of the year and I was able to go to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl seeing the 49ers and the Chiefs That was the first step of that and then the Packers announced me as their international fan of the year and that was such a big owner from the yeah, that's awesome and so they brought me to the draft and I had a lot of chances to Watch behind the scenes and like you said, I was able to announce a draft pick I actually met my draft pick weren't brids before maybe an hour ago We had a nice conversation again, and so with all that what came with that is you can't pay for that Oh, yeah, I really have to think the organization of the Green Bay Packers They did such a lot of good things for me and yeah So I hope that I can give back a little bit of that now that they are doing different events in Germany So I'm super proud.
Yeah, that's amazing And that's what I want to talk to you because I've had you my podcast before but I want to talk because you know I'm doing this stuff I'm talking about Wisconsin World War here at Lambo Field and Like people like yourself from Germany come all the way to Wisconsin to enjoy this small town and obviously the Green Bay Packers So what's it like in Germany? There's obviously a lot of fans because now I see a packer doing stuff over there So what is my packer bars you guys don't hang out? How does that work? So first of all if you were here one time you're you're addicted you have to come back because the people here the people of the Midwest They are special they are full of hospitality friendly and and so you are feeling home So for me really it's my second home.
Yeah, I really can say this and with all the things what I had here the proposing down on the field to my wife and all of that it feels like home. That's the first thing and When you feel like home then you want to come home. Yeah, could you hear a lot of one part of that? The other part is We have in Germany.
I would say well I don't know how many fans yeah from different teams and especially a lot of fans from the Green Bay Packers We founded a fan club in Germany with some other guys. So I'm the second member of the board We have a our first member we have the the Riding guys the podcast guys and all of them. They all do a great job And so we are like I said, we are 700 members they all have to pay to be a member so and we donated the last four years 65,000 euros to different organizations with us. What makes us really proud and so we are recognized by the packers So that's the good thing and yeah now that they have the marketing rights for UK Island and Germany This is very helpful for us guys.
Yeah, so you talk about that raising the 65,000 So is that all the money that people pay to be in the club or is that like you guys are doing stuff raising money? Yeah, so first of all, it's the money that they have to pay the fee and so in the past we did a lot of auctions or Ruffles and we have had an event calendar with a lot of pricing and so the people had the chance to win great Like we had a membership t-shirt signed by everroaches And this is something worth it. Yeah, it's a If I say a lot of things come together that you are able to raise such a lot of money and yeah, we are we are really proud of that Yeah, I would be to I think it's good. You know raising money like I'm not able to raise that money But I'm trying to get more into like doing good things for the community and doing stuff like for the storm I'm trying to raise awareness for how people can donate.
Yeah, I heard you do something with water and all of that So it's very very good from you. So so let's let's back it up a little bit a little baby. All right, so how do you become a packer fan? Did you visit or like what how did that happen?
So that was a long time ago. I was used to watch hockey games in Germany I was a big at all as a great scuba and at all right Yeah, and instead of showing a hockey game They showed a marine football game and I never had seen that kind of sport before and so and I even can't say who played I don't know exactly what team but I became interested in that kind of sport So and then I I saw that the socials that have the base in Schwampfort in my hometown They already have founded a marine football team with some Germans And so I had the chance to watch games there and so I was the DJ in town So the so just were in our clubs and they brought me some old newspapers and books and whatever so and more and more when I Became interested also in the history of the league and all of that. They ended up with the pack as well. Yeah I think it's easy for packer fans like for people from other areas to adapt to the package because with no owner thing And it's got the history of soul everything It is it is Like today when you see the the dreamer ride thing This is such a unique tradition and if you see the kids smiling and and and they when they are yelling out to the players and It's this is such a unique thing and when you I was here the first time for the dream ride I think it's three years ago, and I was totally shocked.
Yes, you see all the players Driving by walking by and you are very close to them. So I had a chance to meet our new kicker Lenny Creek so and had a chance to talk with him and Where is the chance to do that and like I said, it's it's this place is full of history And that's why a lot of people are affected by the green by packers And I know a lot of guys they are teams they are fans from other teams But they have the packers as their second team Yeah, and and like you mentioned like the dream ride for people don't know We're right here where the bikes come out a couple hours ago that happened, but um, uh I think it's interesting like the players like even like Franklin he talked about it and I don't know Michael Parsons, you know guys who weren't here that weren't drafted here And I think that like one of the big things like I get the right bikes the whole training camp I'm here and I never been to training camp somewhere else, but you see the videos online training camp here is like it's not like this everywhere else This is like you think we call it Germany to watch practice. Yeah, so yeah, that's the one thing So the other thing is I made a lot of connections here a lot of friendships Yeah, and now it's it's a mixture between coming to training camp and see my friends or what I say my family My second family here and Yeah, so if you talk about other training camps, I could tell you more next week and go to the Steelers training camp All right, so yeah, I try to see and Rogers again Yeah, you know that picture thing you know the picture in the picture in the picture And so I tried to get the next one so let's talk about that real quick So for people don't know I'll put it up on the screen as well You took a picture with Aaron Rodgers, and he's fine, and then you took a picture holding the picture So talk talk us through that this it was a day like today I was standing right up here on the Stairs and in the old days there was not that building there was the parking lot with the fence Yeah, and I was standing here and there was nothing nothing no nothing was going on And I just enjoyed the Sun and the beauty of Lambeau field. Yeah, and I was standing on top of that and And Rogers came up to the building and Before I even thought about what I want to say So he turned around he saw me and so he waved me and said okay I wait outside the parking lot for you, so I ran down all these stairs Completely to the other side, you know how fun I came there around the corner like He was standing there in his car.
We go down Totally relaxed it was waiting for me, and that was the start of a conversation for 15 minutes I would say he watched my proposal video on my smartphone I showed him some pictures where I when I am on stage and I'm what was wearing his jersey It's taken from behind so you can see the jersey and there's 2,000 people in front of me So funny things that he was a little bit surprised I think and I was totally Starstruck, yeah, I took a selfie at the end of that and that's it. I came home No before I went home. I've sent it my wife the picture and because I was totally And so I went to Walgreens printed out that that picture in a size like this So and two days later I run into him again That's amazing. If you can sign the picture and he signed it.
So Long story short I was home. My wife gifted me the same year The first big picture of Aaron and me with a selfie shot and the only thing that I said I wish you would have taken the sign one because she took the original one without the She said it's not a problem take it with you and get it signed and I said hey, it's an airplane a big picture No, she really she forced me so I have to think my wife actually she forced me to take the picture with me and I did And I saw him and he signed the picture and we did the first one Holding that big picture when I came home. She said, okay, that's the start of the series You have to do this again. So actually it was her idea and the last one we were over there When he signed it that was a funny thing.
I have a picture of that. He's smiling all over his face And he looked at me and said hey, how many do we have? We counted the pictures so and he's such a nice guy. I really have to say such a nice guy.
I know that a lot of people heard Bad things or I have a bad opinion. Maybe destroying his own legacy here or something like that. That's bullshit. Yeah This is this is one of the greatest players who ever played this game and especially So for me the first meeting that we met 15 minutes.
It was like what we do now. Yeah, the conversation was like us And that's the cool thing for a player any stature, but Aaron Rodgers She's gonna talk to a fan or 15 minutes and actually want to because then that just don't have to be nice And he's obviously was interested in what what you're talking about obviously your die-hard fan from Germany the story school That the story I could tell much more about that story So the thing is I had three marks with me and I had to clear back You know glib and policy I had three marks in that and I asked him so normally I at that time I was only wearing largest jerseys and on that day because I didn't expect something. I had a hoodie So I asked him to sign one of these marks what he did so he signed it and I Took it away and then like I said he watched the proposal video and all of those and then he asked me What's with these other two bucks? I looked at him and I gave him the first one.
What's your wife's name? He wrote to Nadine. I'm glad you married the right guy And the second one I was your name Matias to Matias glad to meet my biggest fan So you can see those pictures on my Instagram side the German packer and it's it's so much more for me to have that It's I have that in my in my head. I would say it feels like it happened yesterday Yeah, and so another time I got a gift from my wife again Christmas gift It was a wooden blade with eight of these collector cards You know these are trading.
Yeah, yeah, so I put them all out of the little glass of thing And I brought them to here and then ran again into him Another gift from my wife would you sign the cards? He looked at me all eight Such a nice guy I can tell such a nice guy. That's great. I think I might have met him more than most people who just stumbled upon him He's avoid me.
I met him one time at a charity softball game, but never like a conversation Yeah, hopefully one day I hope really that it works out in Pittsburgh. Oh, yeah Really everything I tried to connect with the Steelers with the press there Just see what happens he sees that cheese that he's I know Maybe if the sealer fence not destroyed it That's what I want to ask you about like transitioning like a professional podcasters. Oh, how did that start the German packer? She said what was the first time you got that going?
So when I was your first time I had a Mohawk Cat and there was a Mohawk with the German colors on it. All right And I was very and I was in big letters here was Germany and I went to the taking That was it's taking a fire into the oil So it started like this and then I met guys like Steve Tay Yeah, Wayne Sartre and here Scott Schwartz and all these just in and all these fans that I knew some from from I knew some from TV and So it started that we became friends and with that I also met Jeff Kalo frozen Tom Ronan. Yeah, and so I I heard that he's building those different hats and so we came around that he Yeah, that he Makes a head for me. That's also all the styling all is all Jeff Kalo's idea So he I gave him a free handless that just make me a hat and I know when he when he was ready with that And I was here and I picked it up.
He was very Happy about what he created. Yeah, I really really have to thank him because today I was there and people came up and we know you So this is really it's a Yeah, the people see it and they have seen it before and some television things and on the stage here when 200,000 people I Yeah, I mean show up to those guys like Steve Tate mentioned him He's one that I've always seen on TV like you know the owner hat She's wedge and like when I when I seen him like the first time and I was in social media He knew who I was like I was Jack like I was mean to player like see I think Steve's awesome and he's for me He's like the Deep Hacker fan. I mean, you know, we're all he's just so he's so nice Yeah, they all are you know, I've got to meet a hundred man not in that personal way where but I've seen him We took a picture together and stuff, but yeah There are a lot of more if you see the pack coming here guy, yeah, I know him like I said really a lot of good guys and they all all have a heart for donations for the kids. Yeah, doing good stuff a lot of good stuff and so Steve and Wayne and some of them they Help me to be part of the PFA we are next week going to Canton again and have the reunion and raising money.
So last time we raised More than 30,000 in a week with all the Like this, but you know the super fans from the two teams It's it's it's such an only to be part of that. Yeah, and so I also have a little surprise for them next week again So yeah, like I said, I also do some fundraising in Germany. That's awesome So you mentioned we're talking about the cheese, but you got another one over there you want to you want to talk about that? I can show this is the new one over here international fan of the year German flag also Jeff K.
Hello's idea the frozen tundra man. I have it now Was waiting for me Actually in medicine at Steve's house I will wear it for the first time tomorrow. So what happens with this one? You can retire it and get a mantle somewhere?
That's my main that's will be your main. Yeah, but the other one is just for Having another chance to wear one and I have the same one I have a package of me So that I don't have to carry it back. Okay, okay. I get you so yeah, yeah So I the the main thing about that is First of all, I don't want to get destroyed And the second thing is I forgot to say before it started also with meeting look at Kelly They are living in the pier have now two wonderful kids They were in my house in Germany four weeks ago and it started at the It was a year before Steve Miller bad plate here on the kickoff.
It was a year before I have German flag around my shoulder Yeah, and she is German teacher here on the school. She asked me Are you really from Germany? We became friends I stay in their house and so This afternoon we go to the baby each first. Oh, yeah, baby.
I used to go there as a kid Yeah, they said I have to go there if you go to a green bay make sure that you go to a baby each so that's what we do And yeah, I like I said, I met so much good people bar Brian and all the others without their help That's that wouldn't have happened like it is now Yeah, I actually agree with the people when I come over here to train camp every year this right I haven't been able to be at the practice act as my work schedules stupid, but uh every year It's like you see people that you see every year It's only like the first day of school when you're a kid you go away for some notification and then everyone comes back together And you see people and meet new people it's amazing. I know you don't have a lot of times I want to get to my next thing real quick you were able to Announce a draft pick you kind of mentioned earlier whatever But what was that like right being on the stage and let you be for that? We talked about this yesterday like we were your chit-chat, but like like how long did you know that you were gonna do that before it happened? Actually when I got that right for the draft they talked about that it's possible And as you know a draft pick can be traded or whatever so you never know for sure.
Oh, yeah, and so Then we had the chance to figure out that the fan club has a chance to announce a pick in Frankfurt So they did a little draft party there And we knew that they are able to announce a pick so that was you He's one of the riders and podcast guys Also on the member board. He was able to announce a pick here This wife with him and his little baby Really nice. Yeah, and when I knew this Then I thought oh, maybe I lose the chance to announce a pick because we have one at the fan club. Yeah, and On the morning Saturday morning Thursday TV team showed up with My contact person from the packers and they asked about my feelings to get the chance to announce a pick And that was the moment when I thought okay, maybe So When we were sitting on the inner circle area all the 32 international fans of the years and they were picked From when they had the chance to announce their pickings and At a certain point the NFL lady came and said you're next Behind the curtain and they made sure that I don't have a Snark phone with me because they know a little bit earlier who you announced so that you'll never have a chance to do Yeah, yeah And then I was it was not far from here.
You know the stage And um It was like a like a tiger in the cave. I was walking around Let me and the only thing I had no script or something like that. The only thing that I knew this All the other Guys The only thing that I had in my head was when I go up there I have to say something about this. So I stepped up and uh when You go on that stage and you see So much people as as as wide you can see there were only people And so I went out in the first thing I said So then I said I Want to make sure the packers are the world world's team and we are the 13th time You hear the crowd Do you see this?
Yeah, who's this no chance of it when I talk about this? I get who's bumps is this is unbelievable And you can't even describe it. This is I I'm on a stage as a DJ. I'm used to this but not this crowd.
Yeah, this is I think this is how don't show me feels when you're out of this It's crazy like yeah to be in situation 11 Never there were never there for me, but I've been in places where you turn around. There's a massive crowd But yeah, I've never been talking to him though But yeah, it'll be in front of that crowd at the draft in Green Bay Like what were you doing like behind the scenes? Like we make sure like you weren't gonna say the name wrong We're like we practice it and make sure it was right so as soon as I got that draft card I think I I wrote it Really? 10 times yeah when I came out of the curtain I forgot every I was really happy that I had that card when you can see that little video That's all my on my Instagram account.
You see me shaking like this That's awesome. Yeah, yeah, it's tough because I've had played my podcast before and you never want to see someone's name wrong But you're gonna get drafted. Yeah, that's what you mentioned yesterday. Yeah, it's tough out there You know what I mean?
But that that's actually awesome. So is that that's probably your favorite thing that you ever got to do What would be like the next thing that you think? I mentioned before that I had to chance to go to the Super Bowl That's everyone's gold. Yeah, every every single NFL fan or fan of a team that I know wants to go one time into a Super Bowl And I really I really be thankful to the NFL in Germany or the NFL Generally and RTL that's the German broadcaster that they had that election and that I was picked for that so or elected but A lot of people asked me what was the better experience the draft or the Super Bowl This is really a hard it's a hard question.
Super Bowl is very unique You know, but just in my in my case, you see a game 49ers chiefs. Yeah, can I please both lose? Yeah, no, right It's and I was a little bit more for the 49ers because my closest friends are 49ers fans I was hoping that they win but the emotions In your second home half the draft for the first time have 200,000 people a day so we had 600,000 that three days And when I came back from from the stage and I was walking through through that In a field and everybody came up and he was A little bit really I felt like a celebrity I'm not but it felt like everybody loved you and everybody I think everyone does. I think you know, I think the Packers love you They mentioned he gave you a shadow doing a Cheryl just made it.
What's that like one might be behind the scenes I don't know what that's like is feel like the Packers are avoiding me. They're out here somewhere What's that like the like you come to games they come up to you they kind of So the thing is we do some some work together for get the market in Germany growing And they really try to help us with the fan club thing and all of that It's I know that they run a business what is really hard if I see someone special someone's Scared you crazy. I can always say crazy. Yeah, how can how can they even handle all these things?
And I know that everyone in that building behind us is working so hard I know some stories around that and all of that they are working so hard to give all all of us the fans and a good time and They do they are really creative. They have Very good ideas and they have very good Encoys. Yeah, and that starts at the guest desk service and it ends up with a security guard. Oh, yeah, absolutely You can go to the pro shop, but you know, yeah, yeah, everyone is Uh, everyone is so friendly to the League of the pro shop you when you're at the game to fit in a working concessions if it's you know from top to bottom Yeah, absolutely amazing, but uh, I don't want to keep it more time.
I know you got a you got a meetup for uh, for your dinner over there But uh, I appreciate taking the time to talk to me the German Packer fan check them out on Instagram. Yeah, it's the rest of the German Packer or Facebook is it the German Packer? I want to try for the German Packer? I follow you, but I forget But I appreciate taking time everyone be sure to like and subscribe if you like this conversation We're doing a lot more stuff just like this so I go pack go, you know, I'm with Scott saying all the good stuff, you know what I mean?
Enjoy your trip. Thanks for watching bye