Fact: I was born and raised in Illinois and I am an avid Bears Fan.
Fact: My husband of 16 years was born and raised in Wisconsin and is an avid Packers Fan.
Fact: I've lived in Wisconsin for 9 years.
Now, taking that all together you can imagine that football season in our house can get rather interesting. We along with our families have developed a mutual respect for the other's team. In fact, living in Wisconsin I know the comings and goings of the Packers' players more than I do my own players.
So what am I leading up to? Brett Favre.
In the beginning, I despised Favre. Couldn't STAND him. Over the next couple of years, I developed a grudging respect for the man. By the time he retired (the first time) from the Pack, my respect for the man and his skills was no longer grudging. And then...
His back and forth with the Packers got tiring. It was my opinion by the end of his Packer run that he was a spoiled little diva who wanted attention. In the years since, that opinion has only been confirmed. When he went to the Jets, I couldn't care less. I was actually surprised that Wisconsin media covered him as closely as when he was a Packer. And then...
The move to the Vikings was SUCH a "gotcha" to the Packers, I was surprised anyone still had any good opinion of him. And yet, the Wisconsin press still covered him as closely as when he was a Packer. In my eyes, his reputation was forever tarnished. And then...
The sexting. Apparently the NFL is still so enamored by Favre that there will be no repercussions because it's (almost) certain that he will retire after this season, and the "investigation" is ongoing. And the Wisconsin press, true to form, covered him as closely as when he was a Pack. And then...
According to NFL.com:
A concussed Favre still had the presence of mind following Monday night’s loss to the Bears to tell some of his opponents to put an end to the Packers’ playoff hopes. According to Michael Wilbon of ESPNChicago.com, via Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune, Bears defensive lineman Julius Peppers was among them.Seriously? Does he NOT remember how he was a god in Wisconsin? Does he NOT remember how the Packers organization and his fans stood by him through all his trials and tribulations? Does he NOT remember how so many would defend him against those like me who started calling him a whiney little bitch towards the end? If he does, it's obvious he doesn't care - not one little bit.
“I was happy Brett suited up,” Peppers said after the game. “I figured it might be the last time I got to see him across the field from me on the opposing sideline. Yeah, I talked to him after the game. I told him it was an honor to play against him. He said, ‘Likewise. … Go beat the Packers in a couple of weeks.’”
There are some who still say that years down the road all people will remember is his stats, his records, his skill. I respectfully disagree. There are several generations who will remember how Favre went from role model to a self-centered perverted bitter old man.
Goes to show you that regardless of how much money you have, you just can't buy class.
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C'mon woman! Stop holding back! You're gonna blow a gasket! :)
ReplyDeleteHah! As I said on facebook... I'm sorry, was I being a bit vague? ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for me to say, having bled green and gold for nearly 50 years now and so many with Favre: this may all be unforgivable. When it comes time for him to enter Canton, do we really want a Packer jersey there? Next to the real class of Bart Starr?
ReplyDeleteThat's a VERY good question - my husband was asking the same thing.
ReplyDeleteUmnnhhh....
ReplyDeleteYou note that all Shakespeare's heroes were also villains (to one degree or another.)
So while Favre IS a narcissistic boob, he's also a warrior, and remarkably talented.
As to the "beat the Pack" remark: I dismiss that as 'table talk'--just the usual BS exchanged by players.
You don't have to love the guy to respect him, as you learned in the first few years.
I find it difficult to respect one portion of an individual's life without respecting the remainder. "If we're not modeling what we're teaching, we're teaching something different." Goes for all professions and people in my estimation. But hey, that's just one opinion . . .
ReplyDeleteWell, can you respect Tschaikovsky's opus? Even with his ...ahhhh....proclivities?
ReplyDeleteChopin's, while he was doing heroin?
Hornung's accomplishments--and the dozens of women he left behind?
How many excellent lawyers and doctors are alcoholics? (Hint: more than you think. Lots more.)
Admire what is good about them and their work; pray and hope that they can straighten out the rest of their lives.
While I will always respect his talent, I no longer respect the man. And though this is just my opinion, his personal issues have overshadowed his accomplishments, and it's all his own doing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the warrior deal, I wasn't around at that time, but I wonder if real warriors had their sex lives and their ego issues played out in public.
Chris, I don't know how you can separate the talent from the man.
ReplyDeleteWe agree that he has serious flaws. VERY serious flaws.
But recognizing them does not mandate that we toss all his positives (and there are quite a few, including his on-field work) down the drain.
Well Dad, you just hit on one of my character flaws. I have difficulty separating people's talents from their behavior. This is probably why I haven't seen very many movies in the past 5 years or so. I can't separate the drivel these actors/directors/whatever spew from their very obvious talent. As much as I've tried, it just doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually envious of those who can. I'm just not one of 'em.
Yah, well.
ReplyDeleteIt's a REAL problem when I watch one of the Lethal Weapon movies. Danny is a Commie and Mel is a randy bastard.
But damn! The movies are fun!