Pantagraph.com | Money | Former NFL great Howie Long signs with State Farm

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to: hard at work wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:22 PM:

" Someone needs to explain to you the difference between private and public money. "

Hard at work wrote on Oct 17, 2007 6:07 PM:

" So how many people wasted a good chunk of their day for this? Policy holders' money hard at work! "

to: all of the SFers wrote on Oct 17, 2007 5:50 PM:

" You'll soon find out the REAL reason that Howie was hired. If you don't meet your productivity goals, Howie will pay a visit to your house some night. And he won't be happy...... "

to policyholders wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:46 PM:

" You know you guys are paying for that...right? Hilarious. "

just so you know wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:32 PM:

" SF employs more people than the next 10 companies combined...so, if you'd really like to see SF go under...good luck...this little town and all those nice pretty new homes will be up for sale...all the rich little real estate agents will be looking for new jobs and you people who can't stand SF and Wal Mart will be praying for one of the Wal Marts to re-open...good luck. here's the list, SF employs over 14000 people. Add it up. 2. Illinois State University 3,121 3. COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services 2,158 4. Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing 1,800 5. Unit 5 Schools 1,785 6. BroMenn Healthcare 1,514 7. Afni, Inc. 1,217 8. OSF St. Joseph Medical Center 956 9. McLean County 870 10. District 87 Schools 675 "

Bob wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:03 PM:

" I remember seeing Howie Long bash SF on the Fox pregame show a couple of years ago. He stated that a certain QB had more aftermarket parts than State Farm Insurance. Ask old Howie if he remembers that. "

SF Employee wrote on Oct 17, 2007 2:46 PM:

" The big dogs are the easiest targets to bash. Doesn't matter if it's a celebrity (Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson), a politician (Sen Craig, President Bush, Bill or Hillary Clinton) a professional athlete (Kobe Bryant, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds) or a large business (State Farm, Microsoft, Wal-Mart), fairly or unfairly, bashing the "haves" will continue long after those of us reading this blog leave this Earth. "

MikeMike wrote on Oct 17, 2007 2:08 PM:

" Bloomington - Normal is a great community with great people and great employers/companies/organizations. State Farm is one great emplyer within the community. Other great employers/companies/organizations in the community are ISU, IWU, IHSA, Iliinois Education Association, Special Olympics, Country Financial, Mitsubishi, Walmart, Bromen Hospital, and Growmark. Why not work as a community to improve our community? Why must we continue to bash State Farm? State Farm is working to improve the community. State Farm supports United Way, which supports community social service type organizations. I would imagine other companies/organizations work to better the community as well. It's just that I work at State Farm so I know what's going on there. Let's use this forum to address ways to improve the Bloomington-Normal area instead of posting childish unproductive rants. "

Perk wrote on Oct 17, 2007 2:04 PM:

" Just another perk....and for those of you that don't think that this town would shut down if State Farm closed it's doors, you're worse than Senator Craig's wife! You might enjoy watching the SF'rs walk away from their cubes, boxes in hand but soon you will lose your job too, whether it be a McDonald's, Wal-Mart, any bank in town, Tractor Supply, Reality, newspaper or porn shop....you would eventually be unemployed too. Those "great" companies that treat you so good thrive on the economy that State Farm employees create even if it is with their over-paid paper-shuffler jobs......Good Luck surviving without State Farm! "

Joey wrote on Oct 17, 2007 12:53 PM:

" Howie is a good looking man. "

No SF? wrote on Oct 17, 2007 12:38 PM:

" To those of you who think B/N would not exist without your wonderful employer, perhaps you should reexamine your view from your high horse. There are more poeple in this town that don't work there than those that do. There are plenty of employers around here and they actually care about their customers. But then if SF wasn't here we would miss that electronic billboard along Veterans and their great "Neighbor" adds. I love that thing. "

Ha ha wrote on Oct 17, 2007 12:01 PM:

" They changed the picture. "

Good wrote on Oct 17, 2007 12:00 PM:

" The money for the people who have lost their homes is much better spent on something like this. Thanks State Farm. Just when I though that State Farm couldn't possibly pull a dumber move.....they go out and TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES!!!!!! "

to BN Liberal wrote on Oct 17, 2007 11:51 AM:

" You Cons just don't get it. No liberal would ever advocate the tripe that you are spewing. Satire is only funny when it is reality based. "

Biaggis wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:10 AM:

" Long missed out on seeing the sweet bread crumb squeegie at Biaggis. "

native illini wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:54 AM:

" Hey, BN Liberal, wow you really trashed the old folks, didn't you? But, consider this, what happens when you get there?? I'd wager the farm that you will be singing a different tune out of a different oriface when that time comes and guess what, it's coming faster than you realize. So, spew on, your time is coming. "

to:BN Conservative in disguise wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:35 AM:

" Elderly in less accidents? HA! "

Hey 'Joke' wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:13 AM:

" Don't you charge your employer to do work? Being a pitchman is part of his job, thus the cause for payment. Just as I'm sure you get paid to make mindless remarks like you did here. "

why?? wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:03 AM:

" Pantagraph, do you monitor the comments at all out here???? There are some clearly racist comments on here and you don't do anything to stop this. I'm going to cancel my subscription..There are comments about OJ, the race card, and the fact that Howie Long is white. This is disgusting. These comments have NOTHING to do with the article. You should be ashamed to call yourselves a newspaper. Not in our town, huh? "

Neckwear wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:39 AM:

" I believe that is part of his Hall of Fame bust. He is wearing the yellow blazer they wear during those ceremonies so I'm like 90 percent sure. If the picture wasn't cropped so tight, we'd know for sure. As it is, I believe it's his bust - or else he was photographed after taking a purchase from Risque's out of the bag. "

BN Liberal wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:39 AM:

" "He", good point! We must all voice disdain for the elderly, like your and your friends' parents and grandparents, former teachers, neighbors and youth activities volunteers. The elderly are a drain on mother Earth's precious resources, eating our food, drinking our water and breathing our air. They even pay less for auto insurance premiums simply because they get in fewer accidents than our youth........talk about unfair! I mean it's o.k. to give health insurance premium discounts to non-smokers with low body fat and all, but every insured motorist should pay exactly the same premium on auto insurance; what are the old people going to do with all that money anyway? "

Joke wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:34 AM:

" He's thrilled as long as they give him "MONEY". If he's so impressed why doesn't he do it free? "

RCS wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:24 AM:

" To SF'r, We are not in the 60's; keep your race cards to yourself. "

to:Todd the Bod wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:21 AM:

" believe me they hire plenty who aren't good enough "

Contracts Not Signed wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:20 AM:

" Yeah right. Contracts have nothing to do with the fact that SF won't talk about it. And you can bet contracts are signed. "

To: J wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:17 AM:

" Why do you think nobody knew about this? It was to keep the crowds down. Whether you like him or not, curiosity always draws a crowd. Poor Biaggi's staff - they were probably all excited (or atleast curious). "

Neckwear ? wrote on Oct 17, 2007 7:58 AM:

" What is sticking out from his neck? Is this a joke ? "

to J wrote on Oct 17, 2007 7:56 AM:

" I don't think that the public would have been able to get in on this. There was a huge line at SF, and a lot of people that work at SF didn't even get to see him due to the lines. "

Football Fan wrote on Oct 17, 2007 7:25 AM:

" Bloomington/Normal would dry up & blow away if it weren't for State Farm. While I did not get a chance to meet Howie yesterday (lines were unbelievably long), he was very nice, and chatted (briefly) with the people with whom he did meet. He was the consumate professional, and was very kind. Just like State Farm, and their employees. "

To J wrote on Oct 17, 2007 6:59 AM:

" It was mainly for SF employees. You wouldnt have met him anyway...the line was crazy. "

Todd the Bod wrote on Oct 17, 2007 6:50 AM:

" The same old bashers - people who weren't good enough or lucky enough to be hired by State Farm. I suppose I'd be bitter too. "

Business Man wrote on Oct 17, 2007 5:52 AM:

" Companies only use front men / women when they are havine trouble selling their product by themselves. "

!! wrote on Oct 17, 2007 5:50 AM:

" I can not stand to watch him on Fox Sports. Now I have to switch channels when a State Farm commercial comes on. "

Matt wrote on Oct 16, 2007 11:34 PM:

" Julie: I believe you are seeing the top of his Hall of Fame bust. "

Zorro wrote on Oct 16, 2007 10:02 PM:

" I have all of my insurance needs taken care of by SF. It doesn't matter who they hire to speak for them. They are a good, reliable company. "

Julie wrote on Oct 16, 2007 9:49 PM:

" I like the picture of Howie. I love the tie or whatever that is. "

SF'r wrote on Oct 16, 2007 9:47 PM:

" Why hire Howie? He is a white guy. "

Teri wrote on Oct 16, 2007 8:58 PM:

" They should have hired Teri Hatcher! "

Hmmm wrote on Oct 16, 2007 8:13 PM:

" Formerly great? Last time I saw, State Farm is still number 1. And is the backbone of this community. But if you whiners would have you're way, you'd want them to fail even if it means the city of Bloomington turning into the pit of the world. Then you would be in your true element, living in a pit. If you don't like it here, LEAVE!! The rest of us would like it if you did. "

Tell Me wrote on Oct 16, 2007 8:01 PM:

" Who IS Howie Long? Did he play football when O J Simpson did? Why didn't The Farm just hire O J. That'd get them some attention. Sort of a match, eh? Diversity. "

Otto wrote on Oct 16, 2007 7:53 PM:

" I like that guy that does the Allstate commercials better. "

LYNNE Y NO wrote on Oct 16, 2007 7:51 PM:

" And why is this news? "

Didn't take long wrote on Oct 16, 2007 7:45 PM:

" Didn't take long for the bashers to be negative. You can always count on the same 3 people saying the same 3 things. Talk about boring . . . "

J wrote on Oct 16, 2007 7:17 PM:

" I wish the publice was aware on this ahead of time. I would have liked to have met him. "

doh wrote on Oct 16, 2007 6:29 PM:

" A former great signing at a formerly great company. "

He wrote on Oct 16, 2007 5:59 PM:

" fits well in with their clientele, elderly. Then again it matches their corporate leadership, conservative and out dated like a domestic made vehicle....boring. "

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