If you spot a Green Bay Packers fan in tears today, they have an excellent reason. Packers quarterback Brett Favre has announced his retirement.
The Super Bowl winner, three-time MVP and future Hall of Famer has locked up plenty of records during his career on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in frigid Wisconsin including most wins, passing yards, touchdowns and consecutive games started as a QB.
He nearly called it quits after the 2006 season but came back for one more and thrilled the Green and Gold faithful with one of his finest seasons. For his efforts he was named Sports Illustrated’s 2007 Sportsman of the Year. Not too shabby.
I think what bonded Favre with his fans was the personal tragedies he went through while maintaining his on-the-field success. Battles with substance addiction, deaths to close family members, his wife’s cancer – these were all issues that the average Cheesehead in Row ZZ, seat 13 has had to deal with. And the fans had to go through these tribulations without ESPN and Fox nor linebackers breathing down their necks.
I still don’t like the way he flopped to give Strahan the single season sack record a few seasons ago, but you can’t deny the unabashed joy Favre brings to the field. It was like watching a little boy fling footballs, slap teammates on the butt, trashtalk the opponent and rack up wins all the same time.
The NFL will miss Brett Favre, in body and in spirit.
The Squirrel Queen 