Packers’ Rodgers Is Awed Man In at Camp

Former Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers says that maintaining a professional approach as the so-called heir apparent to Brett Favre is the most difficult part of training camp, because he’s such a huge admirer of the Green Bay Packer legend.

“He made a couple of throws one day in practice and inside I was going crazy, like, ‘Man, that’s Brett Favre. Like he is unbelievable,’ ” Rodgers told the Chicago Tribune. “Outside, I’ve got to be like, ‘Hey, good throw Brett.’ I wanted to be like, ‘Darn, Brett, you are amazing!’ ”

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Trivia time: On this date in 1951, Eddie Gaedel, 3 feet 7 and 65 pounds, made his first and only plate appearance as a pinch-hitter for the St. Louis Browns. What was the result?

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Ballroom blitz: Noting that Matt Leinart needs only two units to earn his degree, and that the elective he signed up for was ballroom dancing, Playboy magazine predicts that the USC quarterback “will be more graceful in the pocket this season.”

That’s assuming that slam dancing is kept to a minimum.

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Surreal life: Hawaii’s Coco Ho, 14, a star on the amateur surfing scene and a competitor in next week’s Hello Kitty Boardfest at Huntington Beach Pier, was asked by the contest promoter to describe her typical training regimen.

Her e-mailed reply: “Eat, surf, eat, surf, and then surf one more time but it’s flat so, umm, breakfast, tennis, lunch, beach with puppy, look for shells, help make dinner, eat and then sleep.”

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Second fiddle: Steve Elkington, back in golf’s limelight, was asked by the Detroit News if he considered it a moral victory to finish tied for second in the PGA Championship.

“There’s no moral victory for coming in second in this major,” he said. “If anyone can tell me who was runner-up in any major, I’ll give you a hundred dollars. Nobody remembers you but family and friends.”

And the banker. Second place was worth $572,000.

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Fish or mammal? Some fans and TV commentators affectionately refer to the Miami Dolphins as “the fish.” Now Coach Nick Saban has begun doing likewise, minus the affection.

“I call it the brook-trout look,” Saban told the Miami Herald, referring to his less motivated athletes. “Have you ever caught a fish and you look at him and the eyes are just kind of blank? Basically what it means is that you don’t have the eye of the tiger.”

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Driving the greens? Gary Player, 69, one of five golfers to win all four major championships, was asked by the Seattle Times to peer into the future. He didn’t like what he saw.

“There’s no such thing as a par-five for these guys anymore,” Player said, suggesting a reduction in ball flight is needed, given the high-tech advances. “In 25 years, unless we make a change, there will be 30 guys on tour hitting over 400 yards.”

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Trivia answer: Gaedel walked on four pitches by the Detroit Tigers’ Bob Cain, and was removed for a pinch-runner.

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And finally: From Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times: “Elmer Fudd, we assume, went cwazy when the NHL Bruins drafted Wacey Rabbit.”

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Pete Thomas can be reached at pete.thomas@latimes.com.