By now, we have all heard that Brett Favre is returning for another season, this time with the Minnisota Vikings. I, like most football fans, will be intrigued to see just how well he does. Let me explain. Just last offseason when he announced (for a second time) that he would be retiring, he said it was because he didnt feel that his mind or body could hold up to the rigors of yet another 16 game (plus preseason) football season. He had surgery in the offseason to repair a partially torn rotator cuff, which he has been rehabing by working out with a high school football team in Hattiesburg, MS. By the way, that surgery was only about 2 months ago. Now all of a sudden he thinks he can go it for another season.
Don't get me wrong, I like Brett. I think he may be the best QB of all time (definately in the top 3 anyways). I know any competitive human being would want to go out on top, and the Vikings were poised to make a run this year regardless of Favre playing, but why do it at the expense of your legacy. What happens if he doesnt put up good numbers and the Vikings start losing? Does Brad Childress yank him from the game? What happens if he God-forbid gets injured? And he misses time, jeopardizing his games played streak? I'm sure that no one wants to see any of that happen, but what happens if it does?
All I'm saying is, I would have loved to see Brett stay retired. I don't want to see anything happen to the legacy that he has built. If he does get to go out on top and win a Super Bowl with the Vikings, so be it. Congratulations! Let's hope for the best. How Favre do you think he can take them?
In the wake of the Michael Vick signing by the Philadelphia Eagles, I want to ponder a couple things. What has happened with today's brightest professional stars? What happened to the role models that you and I grew up watching?
Lets start with Michael Vick. This guy had it all; athletic ability, promise, stardom, a formidable Hall of Fame career. What did that all get him; 2 years in prison/home confinement for an illegal dogfighting ring. I mean really, did he need that? He was making more money than he could count for with the Atlanta Falcons. Arthur Blank, the owner of the Falcons, was like a father to Vick. What did Vick do, he turned his back on Blank, and the rest of the NFL world, and did something that he knew he shouldn't have been doing. He distanced himself from all his fans and followers over a foolish mistake. Now after two years, he is having to work twice as hard to rebuild his career, let alone his name, over animal cruelty. Crazy!
What ever happened to the days of seeing your favorite athlete and wanting to be like him/her? The days of the Joe DiMaggio's, the Hank Aaron's, the Reggie Jackson's? I miss the days that I could turn a game on and watch it for all its purity. No steroids talk, no dog fighting, no vehicular manslaughter. And the sad thing is, that really wasnt all that long ago. For all of you professional athletes out there that think your above everyone else, it's fan like myself that pays your salary. It's fans like myself that your even out on that field. It's fans like myself that the sporting community even exists. If you like your livelyhood and want to see it continue, you should quit pushing the common fan like myself away, and do more to make us want to continue to be a fan!
Jeff Moore
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