You can buy all their music, see every movie on opening-night, or attend every game in the front row.
But the ultimate fandom is waking up from surgery obsessing over your hero in a slurred-speech anesthesia stupor.
And one young woman who did just that for her hero, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, has now been handsomely rewarded for her obsessive dedication in the coolest way (that pun will make sense in a moment).
Callie Kessler, a young woman from Connecticut, recently had some surgery on her throat to remove her tonsils. She woke up focused on one thing and one thing only: a deep, abiding, sob-inducing—and immediately viral—love of Aaron Rodgers.
Well, that and popsicles.
Next thing you know, she had two new friends—Rodgers and his girlfriend, retired racing driver Danica Patrick—and more popsicles than she could possibly dream of.
It all started with her anesthesia-induced devotional to Rodgers and frozen treats, which immediately went viral.
I guess you can say I love the packers even under anesthesia ? @AaronRodgers12 @Showtyme_33 https://t.co/YR6ZjlHIrk— callie kessler (@callie kessler)1580946633.0
As Kessler put it:
"I love him. I want Aaron Rodgers to come and then my throat wouldn't hurt. Then we could be best friends forever... Aaron Rodgers, he would buy me 400 popsicles."
Wow, yep... that's love!
Kessler also expressed her gratitude for Packers running back Aaron Jones—even though her family didn't know who he is.
"Aaron Jones-uh! You don't know who that is!...Thank God we have a running game so the pressure's a little relieved off of Aaron, cuz he's so great."
And before you knew it, Jones was responding to Kessler.
@Calliekessler 😂😂 I hope you feel better !! Don’t worry only the real ones know about me .... I’ll keep running tha… https://t.co/SBaQUVLJii— Aaron Jones 3️⃣3️⃣ (@Aaron Jones 3️⃣3️⃣)1581123528.0
And suddenly, an online campaign began to get Rodgers to respond to his #1 fan.
@Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @Showtyme_33 @AaronRodgers12 will you please get her 400 popsicles and be her best friend?— Brad (@Brad)1581024450.0
@Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @Showtyme_33 @AaronRodgers12, I think it's time you accept her friendship.— 🧀 Packers #1 Fan™ 🧀 (@🧀 Packers #1 Fan™ 🧀)1581031791.0
@ParkerMoes @Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @Showtyme_33 If he doesn’t buy her 400 popsicles, I’ll be moderately disappointed.— Ben Klecker (@Ben Klecker)1581047096.0
And then Danica and Aaron responded in the coolest way possible.
We would like to buy you 400 popsicles. Dm your address. 😉 We hope you feel better, but if you don’t, the popsicles… https://t.co/HahYd8kPT5— Danica Patrick (@Danica Patrick)1581125241.0
But that wasn't just a cute Twitter joke—they actually sent her 400 popsicles!
Thank you @AaronRodgers12 and @DanicaPatrick #gopackgo unreal!!! https://t.co/nw9JgA4W2e— callie kessler (@callie kessler)1581348922.0
The good people at Otter Pops, not to be outdone, then doubled down on Danica and Aaron's gesture.
@Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @DanicaPatrick .@Calliekessler - And if 400 Otter Pops weren't enough, we're going t… https://t.co/DuM4qVEuOw— Otter Pops (@Otter Pops)1581370886.0
And soon after, so did the namesake company itself, Popsicle!
@DanicaPatrick @AaronRodgers12 What a SWEET gesture @DanicaPatrick 😋 What flavors are your favorite @Calliekessler?— Popsicle® (@Popsicle®)1581278223.0
Of course, other folks on Twitter were delighted by all this icy-cool sweetness.
@Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @Showtyme_33 If there is a 'Sports Fans Hall Of Fame' she needs to be enshrined there! #Respect 🙏— derrick johnson (@derrick johnson)1581089000.0
@Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @DanicaPatrick Who cares about free agency and the draft? This is easily the highlight of the off-season— The Lady of Shalott 🧚♀️ (@The Lady of Shalott 🧚♀️)1581379519.0
@Calliekessler Callie, you might be my long-lost twin. I am 100% sure I would say the exact same things coming out of an anesthesia fog.— Molly Jasinski (@Molly Jasinski)1581023553.0
@Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @DanicaPatrick Love our @packers fans!! And of course our QB and his thoughtful girlfriend!!!— Mar💚💛 (@Mar💚💛)1581387827.0
@DanicaPatrick @DustyEvely @AaronRodgers12 ‘We have a running game.’ OMG I love this kid! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤯— Agnes (@Agnes)1581126551.0
@DanicaPatrick @AaronRodgers12 This made my heart smile! ❤️😂— evie ღ 🆘 (@evie ღ 🆘)1581459807.0
@OtterPops @Calliekessler @AaronRodgers12 @DanicaPatrick That’s otter this world! Even this Vikings fan is impressed.— Nearl of the North (@Nearl of the North)1581447358.0
@DanicaPatrick @AaronRodgers12 This is really freaking cool. I love this team.— PackersHistory.com (@PackersHistory.com)1581131900.0
@DanicaPatrick @AaronRodgers12 THIS WINS Twitter!!! 💛💚💛 Way to go @DanicaPatrick & @AaronRodgers12 !!! 🙌🏼— Dawn Little (@Dawn Little)1581128678.0
So what does Kessler think about this whole thing?
As she told Milwaukee's CBS 58:
"I'm sorry for being so embarrassing... But he's a great role model and someone who I look up to... Go Pack Go!"
Hard to argue with that.
