Did you see the commercial with Patrick Mahomes, Meghan Trainor and the Kansas City Chiefs' athletic trainer?
It's cute and clever, with its play on an actual "trainer" and the pop star "Trainor," who tries to put a knee brace on an arm and who appears to have no idea who Mahomes is or what he does. Like TigerBlog said. Cute and clever.
The one who steals the whole show, of course, is the athletic trainer, even if she has no lines in the commercial. Is it possible that TB is biased in his review?
The athletic trainer in the commercial is Julie Frymyer. She's the one that Mahomes has credited with allowing him to play in the Super Bowl two years ago, when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers in OT for his third championship.
If you remember, Mahomes had been injured in the AFC Championship Game and appeared like he might be done for that game and a possible Super Bowl. Instead, he played through both.
Here's what had to say after the AFC win:
Julie WAS the reason i was the guy i was on the field today! It takes everyone but she lead the charge all week!!! Now let's get Super Bowl ready!! https://t.co/glPKlL9Qz3
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 30, 2023
So what's the big deal about Julie Frymyer here?
Well, if you take a look at her resume, then you'll see where she worked before she went to Kansas City. And that would be ...
... well, Princeton, obviously.
Frymyer spent three years at Princeton as an athletic trainer. She and TB were fill-ins on the baseball team's trip to the 2016 NCAA regional in Lafayette, Louisiana.
As TB has written many times before, that trip has been one of the highlights of his 30-plus years at Princeton. Lafayette turned out to be one of the best places you could ever hope to go for a college baseball regional, with huge crowds, the nicest people and great food.
TB didn't see Frymyer much other than during that time, mostly saying "hello" to each other as they passed by on their way to here or there. He hasn't spoken to her since she left Princeton, even though she's still in his contacts as "Trainer Julie."
Still, he always remembers her as a very warm, friendly person who did her job very professionally. And she was a big part of the Tiger travel party for that great week in Lafayette.
TB has even forgiven her for not following through on her promise to bake something for him for his birthday, which was a few weeks after the NCAA regional. In fairness, she didn't say which birthday, so maybe next year.
He was happy for her when she moved on to the NFL and for when Mahomes began to give her so much credit for his success. Still, he was a bit stunned to see her on a TV commercial. And thrilled for her.
He assumes that Mahomes was the driving force behind her appearance. The fact that Meaghan Trainor had the right last name to make it work might have been the starting point.
After he saw the commercial, he texted "Trainer Julie." He wasn't sure she had the same number of even remembered him, but she got back to him quickly.
He asked her what it was like to be in the commercial, and here is what she said:
"It was a nerve wracking at first as it was out of my comfort zone, haha. But it was definitely a great experience and super fun. I'm very honored that they asked me to be a part of it. I'm privileged and blessed to get to do what I love with such amazing people!"
As for the commercial, it starts with Frymyer's taping an ankle, while Trainor goes through her routine. It ends with a no-look fist bump between Frymyer and Mahomes.
The connection between an athletic trainer and an athlete is a deep one, especially if the athlete is one who has to spend an unfortunate amount of time in the training room. That's a place where no athlete wants to be — but having full trust in the person whose job it is to get you back onto the playing field is essential.
So is appreciating that effort.
That's the best part of the commercial. Yes, it was great to see an old friend be included.
It was even better to see who was doing the including — and why.