Publication:Waukesha Freeman (Conley); Date:Jun 25, 2009; Section:Opinion; Page Number:10A
4give Favre for turning purple
Fans need to move on as QB does
(James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.)
Not since pro wrestling’s Hulk Hogan turned “heel” and disappointed all the little Hulkamaniacs has a sports-entertainment figure so disappointed his fan base. Green Bay Packers fans are just not accepting the likely event of Brett Favre becoming the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
Yes, it’s increasingly likely Brett Favre will be trading in his green No. 4 from last year, which was a different shade of green than the previous year, for the color purple. Who knew he was such a fan of Alice Walker?
Brett Favre will be joining legendary Viking quarterbacks like Fran Tarkenton and ... Fran Tarkenton.
Funny I should mention Tarkenton, because he is not looking forward to Brett Favre becoming a Minnesota Viking, either. On his blog, Tarkenton explained why:
“See, it’s about TEAM in football. It’s not about Brett Favre or Fran Tarkenton or John Elway. It’s about TEAM. Teams win – individuals lose. And so I express the opinion that Brett Favre is wrong, and I believe that right now. I think it is wrong for the Vikings and I think it is wrong for Green Bay. I think it is just wrong. But I kind of want him to go because if he goes there to Minnesota I believe he will burn every bridge he has in Green Bay. The disloyalty! Can you imagine if Ray Nitschke would have retired then gone to play for the Minnesota Vikings? Don’t we feel strongly about our teams?”
The sarcastic among you might wonder if Tarkenton is worried Favre will do something with the Vikings’ Tarkenton could not accomplish: win a Super Bowl. But, ironically, I think former Viking Tarkenton sums up what many Green Bay Packers fans are feeling.
I think they need to let it go.
I know it’s easy for me to say. After all, I’m loyal to a different NFL team, the one with the big star on the helmet and the big egos. I’m used to the drama and the tantrums, and that’s just in the front office.
But Packers fans are living a fantasy if they think that the legends will always remain with one team.
When Deion Sanders became a Dallas Cowboy, one of my friends told me he could not imagine Sanders in a Cowboy uniform after the way he helped crush the Cowboys the year before as a San Francisco 49er. Today, most Cowboys fans remember Deion Sanders as one of the best things about the Barry Switzer era.
Terrell Owens with the 49ers danced on the star in the center of Texas Stadium and was decked by former Packer George Teague. The last two seasons, he’s been a drama queen as a Dallas Cowboy.
Dallas isn’t the only team to go get hired guns. When Marcus Allen left the Raiders, he joined their division rivals the Kansas City Chiefs. That rivalry is probably more intense than the Packers-Vikings rivalry.
Closer to home, Chicago Bears great Jim McMahon finished his career as a Green Bay Packer. How many Bears fans stopped singing the “Super Bowl Shuffle” as a result?
Do you remember tight end Keith Jackson, who held out half the season because he didn’t want to play in Green Bay? Yet, the fans still cheered when he scored touchdowns.
How about Don Beebe? Do you think Buffalo Bills fans were upset that he finally played for a team that won the Super Bowl?
Why were those players brought in? Because they could help the team win. Not because they were nice. Not because they always dreamed of playing in Green Bay. Because they could win.
Why did Packers fans love Brett Favre? Because he could win. He wasn’t a loyal Wisconsinite. He even had a drug problem, and we still don’t know where he got the extra prescription drugs. But Packers fans forgave him because he was a winner.
We will never know if Brett Favre had stayed with the Packers last year how well he would have played, or if the team would have done better. I thought it was a mistake for the team to let him go.
But that was last year. Favre moved on. Time for the fans to move on, too.
JAMES WIGDERSON
Showing posts with label Brett Favre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brett Favre. Show all posts
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dolan heading to the Big Apple
Archbishop Dolan was easily forgiven when he jokingly claimed resistance to the idea of moving to Milwaukee. “Oh Lord, not me. I don't know how to drive in the snow.” But other factors might have caused him to pause when the call came with his appointment to Milwaukee. Dolan’s successor may pause at his appointment, too, as Dolan will be a tough act to follow.
It is now easy to forget the demoralized and dispirited nature of the local Catholic faithful after so much scandal under Dolan’s predecessor, Archbishop Rembert Weakland. Bad enough Weakland represented the weak theology of the Church’s leftwing, but he piled on a personal scandal on top of the already damaging scandal of priestly sexual abuse. When it was revealed that Weakland helped cover up much of the sexual abuse and shielded the guilty, and then had his own sexual scandal, many in the pews were left to wonder what kind of institution to which they belonged. The damage continues from that awful era, as the Archdiocese continues to try to make restitution to the victims and, as Milwaukee Magazine reported, fundraising continues to lag.
Dolan’s orthodoxy was contrary to the desires of many of the priests in the archdiocese. Many actively resisted, and even issued a letter calling for an end to priestly celibacy.
At the same time, some would have preferred a stronger reaction from Dolan. But while Dolan did not deny Communion to wayward politicians or restore the Cathedral to it’s pre-renovation state, Dolan’s eloquent persistence in teaching the traditional church doctrine was a welcome change over his predecessor.
Dolan’s ability to reach out into the community, his large presence and character, will be terribly missed by the entire community, not just Catholics. His ebullient nature may not have healed all rifts but it restored the sagging spirits of a flock in need.
Such is the nature of New York’s gain and our loss that it’s hard not to be selfish at a time like this. Our prayers go with the Archbishop to his new assignment, although some wit will no doubt observe, “First Sabathia, then Favre, now Dolan? How much more do we have to give to New York?”
It is now easy to forget the demoralized and dispirited nature of the local Catholic faithful after so much scandal under Dolan’s predecessor, Archbishop Rembert Weakland. Bad enough Weakland represented the weak theology of the Church’s leftwing, but he piled on a personal scandal on top of the already damaging scandal of priestly sexual abuse. When it was revealed that Weakland helped cover up much of the sexual abuse and shielded the guilty, and then had his own sexual scandal, many in the pews were left to wonder what kind of institution to which they belonged. The damage continues from that awful era, as the Archdiocese continues to try to make restitution to the victims and, as Milwaukee Magazine reported, fundraising continues to lag.
Dolan’s orthodoxy was contrary to the desires of many of the priests in the archdiocese. Many actively resisted, and even issued a letter calling for an end to priestly celibacy.
At the same time, some would have preferred a stronger reaction from Dolan. But while Dolan did not deny Communion to wayward politicians or restore the Cathedral to it’s pre-renovation state, Dolan’s eloquent persistence in teaching the traditional church doctrine was a welcome change over his predecessor.
Dolan’s ability to reach out into the community, his large presence and character, will be terribly missed by the entire community, not just Catholics. His ebullient nature may not have healed all rifts but it restored the sagging spirits of a flock in need.
Such is the nature of New York’s gain and our loss that it’s hard not to be selfish at a time like this. Our prayers go with the Archbishop to his new assignment, although some wit will no doubt observe, “First Sabathia, then Favre, now Dolan? How much more do we have to give to New York?”
Monday, January 12, 2009
Because everybody knows a Cowboys fan
Once again, Big D is number 1 in NFL merchandise sales. (Ht: StB) The Green Bay Packers dropped from fifth to ninth, all too predictable when Brett Favre left town.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Number 4 and Little Bighorn
Brett Favre's 6 touchdown performance will be re-broadcast tomorrow night on the NFL Network. Afterwards the NFL Network plans to show a disaster film.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Favre vs Rodgers
Of the two, I'll take Tony Romo. But aside from that, I found it real interesting how both teams (Jets and Packers) chose not to throw for a first down on the final drive. Apparently both coaches felt it was too risky to do with their new quarterbacks and chose to kill time on the clock with the run, resulting in punting the ball away.
Anyway, the two quarterbacks both have a win, and both were pretty even with the stats. I'm curious what the reaction is in Packerland to the two games.
Either way you look at it, it's nice to know the Packers will only have to play sixteen games this season.
Anyway, the two quarterbacks both have a win, and both were pretty even with the stats. I'm curious what the reaction is in Packerland to the two games.
Either way you look at it, it's nice to know the Packers will only have to play sixteen games this season.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
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