November 1: Favre in Lambeau
I know I’m not in the majority here, but I’m glad Brett Favre is coming back to the NFL for a 19th season. Let me explain. At first I was pissed because he was inciting another media slurp-fest, but then I remembered he’s going to have to play the Packers twice this year. Once, of course, in Lambeau; and if you’re not the slightest bit curious as to how that’ll play out, I don’t think you’re a real football fan. Think about it: a guy plays 16 years for a team, is more-or-less the face of the franchise, is WORSHIPED by fans and can do no wrong. Then he goes to a division rival and tears every single fans’ heart out. (Think about if LT went to the Eagles or Cowboys at the twilight of his career, you wouldn’t want to be in the Meadowlands when he came back?) You don’t want to see Favre lay in the proverbial bed he made? That’s going to be the best non-G-Men game of the year. November 1. Can’t wait. I want to see his legacy tarnished forever, I want to hear him get booed, I want to see Favre go down in flames!
Don’t get me wrong: I was once a staunch Favre supporter, I rooted for him all the time. I was possibly the biggest non-Packers Favre fan (with the exception of John Madden) ever. I cheered for him from before the pain killer addiction through his time in Green Bay, and he was quite possibly my favorite non-Giant of all-time. However, after that Jets saga he pulled I hate him with all my heart. I couldn’t hate him more if he won three Super Bowls with the Eagles. I could have photographic evidence of Favre murdering my family and I wouldn’t hate him any more than I do now. Favre could pull off a Mission: Impossible-style mask and reveal his true identity is Adolf Hitler and it would still be highly unlikely to fuel my hatred of him. Michael Vick has a better shot at getting sponsored by PETA than I do of warming up to Bretty Boy. Keep in mind I’m not even a Packers fan!
Furthermore, I don’t believe he is still the same QB he once was, or that his presence makes the Vikes a strong contender (but in that division you never know) or that he’ll last the whole season. What I do believe will happen is he’s going to ruin his legacy forever and the actual Favre fans — the ones who were there cheering for him in freezing temperatures and stood by him through all of his 310 interceptions– will never forgive him for donning purple. If he can live with tearing out all those hearts and burning (what’s left of) his bridges, more power to him. I guess the $25 million over two years will help him get through that. He’s going to have to earn it on November 1 and the other three times he plays the Pack over the next two seasons, though.
When No. 4 takes the field at Lambeau in a Vikes uni it will be better than Christmas. Purple Jesus will be there, so it actually may be. Plus, we’ll all get what we want: Favre learning he made the wrong decision and that his stupid, selfish decision making backfired in ways he never thought possible.