Improbably, Demetry James, a soft-spoken 24-year-old guy from Miami, has become as big a part of this Packers' season as any guy on the team.
His expletive filled, n-bomb laden, play-by-play of Greg Jennings scoring a touchdown on a broken leg for his Madden video game football team may just be the biggest, most replayed call of the year.
The viral Youtube clip that made the phrase "F*ck you, Gumby" as popular as the Raji shake, as it was scooped up by Jimmy Kimmel and sports blogs around the country was approaching 3.2 million views Tuesday and had spawned a ridiculous techno remix of the clip available for download on iTunes. Most importantly it has made it nearly impossible not to shout, "He put the team on his back, dude" any time Jennings has touched the ball all season.
Warning: The video below contains adult language and repeated use of a racial epithet. It is definitely not safe for work and may be found offensive.
OnMilwaukee.com tracked down James to get his take on the Packers' Super Bowl chances, and to find out who the hell Gumby is, anyway.
OnMilwaukee.com: I see you have a 305 area code, are you from Miami or what?
Demetry James: Yeah I live in Miami.
OMC: You are always using the Packers on your Madden videos. Are you a fan ?
DJ: Yeah, I am a Packers fan. I love the Packers. I root for them in real life, and on Madden they're a good team.
OMC:What's your prediction in the Super Bowl, think they have a chance?
DJ: I'm going for the Packers. I think they're going to win. They have a big chance.
OMC: So tell me about yourself. Who is Demetry James?
DJ: I'm 24-years-old. I live in Miami. I am a supervisor for the Continental Group. I just like to play video games, have fun and chill with my friends and stuff like that you know? The guy I was playing against, Gumby, he is actually one of my close friends. That's what we call him. I mean I've known Gumby since like 7th grade. We grew up together basically. He's got Madden and I've got Madden and that's the only game we really have. We got Madden in like 2000 and we've been playing ever since. He got a pretty negative reaction from it. But it was all fun and games. He's not mad about it. He was actually laughing. He thought it was funny.
OMC: What kind of negative response?
DJ: They would go on his X-Box account and go F-you Gumby, or they would go on his Twitter account and say things like that. But some people would be like 'I love you Gumby.' So he thinks it's funny.
OMC: You guys are like celebrities, man. Are people trying to play you on Madden all the time or what?
DJ: Of course. Every time I load my X-Box I have like 100 messages. It's been hectic.
OMC: I saw that you'll play anyone for $10 a game ...
DJ:I was just playing with that. I only play people for fun.
OMC: Was the Greg Jennings video the first video you uploaded on YouTube?
DJ: No, it wasn't my first video. I'm not sure what my first video was but I actually just put it up because my iPhone wouldn't let me send it in a text message. Then later it just started blowing up and I was surprised. It's crazy the response it's gotten from people.
OMC: How soon did you realize it was getting huge?
DJ: All of a sudden I had a bunch of emails in my inbox. I think Barstool.com was the first to put it up, and then Jimmy Kimmel ... and then it went sky-walking from there. It was crazy. I have been interviewed by Maddenuniversity.com, Askmadden.com, Maddenschool.com, mainly all the Madden Web sites. Then I got contacted by this company MackAdemiX and they are the ones who put the song up on iTunes.
OMC: Are you getting a cut of that?
DJ: Of course. It's selling well. Every time I put another video up the sales sky rocket.
OMC: Did you ever want to be a sports announcer growing up?
DJ: Growing up I didn't see myself doing that, but now everybody is saying I should do it. I wouldn't say no to it. Actually I really have fun doing it. I like doing it.
OMC: So tell me about the Greg Jennings video. Were you just freaking out watching the game or what?
DJ: I couldn't believe it. I was in shock. I couldn't believe this was happening. When it was happening in real motion I couldn't believe it. I was laughing because he made the touchdown and his leg was broken. It was so funny.
OMC: Any time Greg Jennings has made a play this season someone starts shouting out one of your lines. What do you think about being part of the Packers' season in some weird way?
DJ: I couldn't believe it. I was so ecstatic to find out they are going to the Super Bowl. I couldn't believe it. I was just happy, man. He put the team on his back.
OMC: Have you ever been up to Green Bay for a game or anything?
DJ: I would love to go, man, but as far as getting up there from Miami I don't know. But I'd like to visit some day. I actually want to meet Greg Jennings.
OMC: Have you had any contact with him yet? He has to have heard about it.
DJ: Not yet, but I hope to hear from him. That would be a dream if I could meet Greg Jennings.
OMC: So picture Aaron Rogers throwing a pass to Greg Jennings who burns the Steelers defense for the go ahead touch down in the Super Bowl. Can I get you to call that for me?
DJ: I mean, I don't know. People keep telling me not make a video or say anything because they think I am going to jinx them in the Super Bowl. So I am going to wait until they win before I make anything because I don't want to jinx them. But hopefully they pull through and win the Super Bowl. I'm panicking right now.
OMC: You're nervous?
DJ: Yeah, I'm nervous, man, because the Steelers are a good team. They have a good defense and Big Ben, and he's hard to bring down. I just hope that Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson can hold coverage and stop Big Ben.
OMC: How does a dude from Miami get into the Green Bay Packers?
DJ: I always liked the Packers teams. I like Charles Woodson. He's my favorite corner. I love Charles Woodson. When they had Al Harris I liked Al Harris. I liked the way they played together. And once they got rid of Al Harris they kept Tramon Williams and I was happy with that. And I like the coach ... what he did before; how he got rid of Brett Favre and kept Aaron Rogers. I just like everything about the Packers organization. I love the way they do things.
OMC: Could I just get you to sign off with any of your lines from the video?
DJ: Let's see ... Booodadaloop ... Let's go inside the mind of a Greg Jennings. The hardest wide receiver in Madden. I put the team on my back dude. (Heavy breathing) Oh sh*t Darren Sharper one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league. But I got to put the team on my back dude. Across the plane, touchdoooowwwwn.
