A Plea for Sanity
Posted on | October 27, 2009 | 2 Comments | by BigSnakeMan
In Tuesday’s edition of the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, sports editor Garry Howard implores fans in Green Bay to cheer Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau Field this Sunday as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He maintains that Favre should receive such an ovation in appreciation of his contributions over 16 years as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
While Mr. Howard, or anyone else for that matter, is entitled to his opinion, I must respectfully disagree. I believe that his point of view proceeds from a false premise and misses the point.
Howard suggests in his article that such a show of affection from Packers fans might actually bring a tear to Favre’s eye. The opinion here is that if Favre himself actually felt that kind of connection with the fans, there is no way he could sell his services to the Packers most hated rival. In doing so, he revealed himself to be just another talented professional athlete; no more, no less. Former Packers LeRoy Butler and William Henderson said much the same thing prior to the first game in Minnesota.
Yes, it’s true that Favre did a lot for the Packers. For that, he was lustily cheered (even sometimes when it wasn’t deserved) and well compensated. The Packers, in turn, also helped make Favre’s career. There is no guarantee he would have had a Hall of Fame worthy career without former General Manager Ron Wolf’s unshakable faith in his abilities and former coach Mike Holmgren’s (often tested) patience and guidance. By my math, that makes the slate even and merits Favre no further adulation as a member of the opposition.
We can and have argued ad infinitum over which side was most at blame in the dispute between Favre and the Packers. Unfortunately, what’s done is done. No matter which side of this argument one comes down on, I think we can all agree that we would have preferred events to have taken a different course. It’s all likely a moot point anyway as their is virtually no chance that Favre will be introduced individually.
My personal sense is that Favre will eventually come to be regarded by most in much the same way that Packer fans remember former greats such as Don Hutson and Herb Adderly; remembered for his contributions to the franchise without the continued fondness reserved for a special few like Bart Starr. The sad part is it could have been so much more.
So, cheer if you like; boo if you must. For myself, I will do neither out of respect for his past balanced against his current status as a worthy opponent. In my estimation, that funereal silence is the appropriate response to an impossible situation. And once the whistle blows, we cheer for the Green Bay Packers.
Tags: Brett Favre > Green Bay Packers > NFL > Pro Football
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2 Responses to “A Plea for Sanity”
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October 27th, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
The real story is the 6-1 Vikings v. the 4-2 Packers. Looking ahead to the second half of the season, this game will have significant playoff implications. With San Francisco and Arizona playing well in the West, Atlanta and New Orleans playing well in the South, and the Giants, Dallas, and Philly looking strong in the East, there appear to be 9 strong teams vying for 6 NFC playoff spots. Wins within the division and conference are very important.
October 28th, 2009 @ 7:33 am
Cheer for Favre when he returns to Lambeau? No. Way. In. Hell. If I were in the stands Sunday afternoon, I’d stand up in silence and turn my back to him. I’ll look kinda silly doing that here in my living room, but that’s the greeting he deserves. I agree that someday his name will be uttered in Packerland without the scowl….but it’ll take a long time for people to forget the last few years.
And I wonder….is the Journal Sentinel’s Garry Howard a native Wisconsinite? Or a transplant who really doesn’t understand Wisconsin football?