In heart of Packers country, Romo's hometown faces tough choice has 0 comments

Nov 28th 2007, 11:08 | FFN-Score: 4 points

Burlington, WI --- On the wall behind the bar at Fred's -- the self-proclaimed home of the world's best burger -- Tony Romo and Brett Favre get equal billing. A signed Romo jersey hangs in a frame on one side, a big picture of a young Favre on the other.

Most weeks, there's no conflict in this division of loyalties. Residents can root for Romo, the local kid who grew up to be quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, and still be loyal to Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

But this week, an agonizing choice will have to be made. When the Packers play at Dallas on Thursday night in a game that could decide home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, you may as well ask the folks in Burlington which family member they like best.

"Probably the best scenario that could happen is if Tony throws for five touchdowns and loses to the Packers by a point. I think that would be the best scenario for everyone in Burlington," said Fred Mabson, the Fred of Fred's Parkview who has known Romo since the quarterback was 8 or 9.

"It's hard not to have strong feelings on either side."

Though it is closer to Chicago than Green Bay, Burlington sits squarely in Packers country. Green Bay flags fly outside of several homes, there are Packers bumper stickers and window decals galore, and signs outside of bars tout big-screen TVs and drink specials for games. One home even has a wooden Packer supporting its mailbox.

And the playground outside an area elementary school? It has green swings and a gold slide.

"That's Packer country, man," said Dallas tight end Jason Witten, who is one of Romo's best friends on the Cowboys and has been back to Burlington with him. "They love Tony now, there's a lot of No. 9 jerseys up there. But I think they love Brett Favre a little bit more right now."

Green Bay's won-loss record has never made a difference in Wisconsin's affection for the team, but fans can't help being giddy over this year's unexpected success. Instead of struggling, the young team is 10-1 and tied with Dallas for best record in the NFC. Favre is playing like the MVP of old, and nobody is questioning whether the 38-year-old should retire now.

But Burlington is also a quintessential small, Midwest town, and local ties run deep. Outside of Dallas, nobody roots harder for the down-to-earth young quarterback who wasn't even drafted out of Eastern Illinois five years ago.

At the local Kmart, Packers gear is still far and away the No. 1 seller. There are Packers popcorn tins and green-and-gold sweat shirts at the front of the store, and many, many more clothing items in the sporting goods section.

But tucked way in the back, behind the Wisconsin Badgers gear and in front of the shelves of Packers hats, there's now one rack with Dallas Cowboys T-shirts, sweat shirts, boxers and pajamas.

"Last year, we went down to see Detroit play" in Dallas, said Steve Gerber, Romo's football coach at Burlington High School, where he also was a standout golfer and basketball player.

"To see all the people with Romo jerseys on was incredible. It didn't really hit me until then," Gerber said. "It's still hard to believe he's where he's at."

Though Burlington is growing, the city of 10,102 just over the Illinois border in southeastern Wisconsin hasn't lost its small-town charm. It bills itself as "Chocolate City U.S.A." -- Nestle USA produces everything from chocolate chips to candy bars here -- and signs at the city limits tout the yearly Chocolate Fest.

Wander anywhere and it's difficult not to find someone who knows Romo or his parents or his siblings or one of the high school buddies with whom he's stayed close.

Even harder to find is someone not eager to lavish him with praise.

"He's just an all-around, humble, happy-go-lucky, great kid," said Kathy Rubach, a friend of Romo's parents, Joan and Ramiro, and math teacher at Burlington High School. He's a true family guy. He believes in home, and he always wants to know about Burlington.

"He's a great kid. We're very proud of him."

Romo, to hear anyone tell it, was one of those kids who was a natural athlete. Football, basketball, soccer, golf -- didn't matter the sport, if there was a game, Romo was playing it. He was actually a better golfer than a football player in high school, winning four letters and team MVP honors twice.

Though he didn't attract the interest of any big football schools, Gerber saw many of the same talents that have made him one of the NFL's best quarterbacks.

"The thing he was so good at in high school was throwing on the move and getting away from the script. I just thank the good Lord I didn't try to coach him more," Gerber said, laughing. "(In one game) we had a play, it was either a fumble or a bad snap, and he went back and picked the ball up and it was a 70-yard completion.

"He's not afraid to make a mistake, and he wanted the ball."

But not even Gerber envisioned this kind of success.

"This is my 30th year coaching," he said, "and we've had maybe three Division I football players."

That Romo beat such long odds to not only make it to the NFL but become a star is part of what makes his hometown so proud. But the Burlington natives are equally proud of the fact the 27-year-old has stayed true to his roots.

His parents still live in the house where he grew up, and he stays there when he comes back in the summer for his football camp. He's spotted out and about in town, and is gracious about signing autographs and taking pictures.

"I looked up to people and things of that nature growing up," Romo said. "I know the feeling when (fans) come up to you. They're excited, and someone they watch play a game they enjoy is there, and they just want to talk to you a little bit. I have no problem giving people time or an autograph or picture or any of that stuff. It's just who you are as a person."

When he gave Gerber a Cowboys helmet last summer, he signed it, "To: Gerbs Thanks for starting my career!" When he stopped in at Sheila Mae's Town Fryer, where he's eaten breakfast since high school, he signed the jersey owner Sheila Renz had gotten last Christmas.

It now hangs above a booth in a frame, and pictures of him sit in front of it.

"I just think it's so neat that he's gone so far," Renz said. "I'm so proud of what he's done."

But like everyone else in Burlington, she's conflicted this week.

Family friend Rubach solved her dilemma by getting T-shirts that have both Favre and Romo on the front. Others will wear Romo's jersey, but it'll be the black No. 16 version he wore at Burlington High School. Still others will pair a Romo shirt or jersey with a Packers hat.

His hometown's angst isn't lost on Romo. Though he was more partial to John Elway than Favre growing up -- and more of a basketball fan than anything -- he watched the Packers just like everybody else in Wisconsin.

"Anytime I go back home or talk to people back home, they're real supportive and it's a neat thing to see, just that Packer country can somewhat care about the Cowboys a little bit," Romo said earlier this week.

"But I'm not kidding myself. I think I know where their loyalties lie."