Seldom do I make sports posts; I purposely try to appeal to a more global audience (as limited as I am) instead of posts concentrated on sports or science fiction or photography or trains or video or any of my other personal interests.
Today is the exception; today I write about the quarterback of my favourite all-time team, Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers.
Today, Green Bay kicked the living ass of the Minnesota Vikings, 34 to 0.
In this, likely the final season of play for Brett Favre.
Still, he set an NFL record today, joining Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for more than 60,000 career yards. Ever. In the entire NFL.
Favre also has the record for the greatest number of consecutive starts (243) in the NFL.
He’s the league’s leader in completions — as well as interceptions.
During 15 campaigns under center for Green Bay, Favre has led the Packers to 10 postseason appearances, including six division crowns, three NFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls and a World Championship with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.
And for my money, he’s essentially the last of what we typically call a “franchise player.” That is to say, a player who will stick with one team through thick and thin and not jump ship when fiscally- or win-expedient.
Favre only has a few more games to go under a Green Bay yellow helmet.
This is the beginning of the end of an era; the franchise player who decided to place loyalty above most any other factor. Like Dick Butkus, a player whose talent clearly exceeded that of 
his team in any given season, Brett Favre values loyalty. And it is that aspect, along with his records, durability, courage and honor for which he shall be remembered.
his team in any given season, Brett Favre values loyalty. And it is that aspect, along with his records, durability, courage and honor for which he shall be remembered.
I first paid attention to football in 1967 and the Packers became “my” team because I liked their uniforms, whilst living in the so-called mid-west at the time. These are the players I can recall from back then:
- Vince Lombardi;
- Bart Starr;
- Jim Flanigan;
- Jerry Kramer;
- Fuzzy Thurston;
- Henry Jordan;
- Ray Nitschke;
- Herb Adderly;
- Boyd Dowler;
- Willie Davis;
- Donnie Anderson;
- Elijah Pitts;
- Forrest Gregg;
- Gale Gillingham;
- Max McGee;
- Ken Bowman;
- Jim Weatherwax;
With Favre passes an era; not just for the Green Bay Packers, not just the franchise, but the entire NFL as well.
BZ
Perhaps no one has noticed, but I’ll reveal a little BZ secret; on many of my photographs, I’ll pull them into Photoshop CS and tweak them in terms of “sharpen” and “contrast” and “brightness” and “saturation.”
I tend to really enjoy sharp photos full of color.
BZ
When I lived in Wisconsin I always liked going to Fuzzy thurstomns chain- the Left Guard (I think) good food at a good price.
I like sharp pics, too- but with the “we don’t want you overstepping your abilities” VISTA, it’s not a redally available option. Goota hunt all the sub-menues for something that used to have it’s own folder.
Kurtp: I went to Green Bay whilst on an extradition in 1993; I visited Lambeau Stadium, the GB Packers store, but apparently missed Fuzzy’s chain restaurant. I ended up having one meal in a restaurant wherein you selected your own cut of beef and then were responsible for its cooking on a large grille. I forgot the name of the restaurant, but I thought it was a GREAT idea. I can recall walking out onto Lambeau Field then, stooping down, touching the grass. It was an EXPERIENCE for me.
BZ
Well BZ, I am not a GB fan, I do like Favre though, He’s a QB with class and a country boy outlook…Hard not to like.
My team on the other hand is young in history, and right now making me very unhappy…LOL
Today I was pulling for GB to win (My son is a Vikings fan) and if they win and my team loses I catch a bunch of crap for a week….
Bush: so who IS your team??
BZ
Bart Starr (along with Johnny Unitas, Roman Gabriel, and Joe Namath) were gods when I was a kid.
Shoprat: you got that right; those also were HUGE names back then!!
BZ
I don’t know that there is any reason to suspect this is Favre’s last season. I suppose possibly with a Super Bowl win. But as the team is young and improving I can see him wanting to come back.
I’ve followed Favre since the start and was there for his 1st game winner against the Bengals.
In honor of this season’s TD record I post all the TD’s he thrown on a single day each day at http://bookscoutlookout.blogspot.com/
Ike: I’m thinking this might be the last season because of the emotional turbulence exhibited at the end of last season; this year his team’s doing better, with younger players, and I suspect he wants to go out with a positive note, rather than a negative note. With the records acquired this year, I’m guessing they provide him with more gravitas in terms of retirement.
BZ
I think if there is a chance to win a Super Bowl- and clearly there is this year and in the future- he will be back.
Blo, you already know that I am a die hard cowboys fan. That being said I could not be more proud of Favre if I tried. The wild thing is we tune into the Green Bay games too. Even Cowboys fans love them.
Week 13 should be outstanding. Not only are we ranked the same, strategically we match up for a mean game.
Bush likes the Panthers.