Artletics

At the beginning of this saga, “The Brett Favre Retirement Show” whose pilot aired several years ago with, “Will He or Won’t He Retire”, I for one, believed Favre will never “want” to retire, the guy bleeds deep leather red, a lot like pigskin, it is in his blood. He was simply born to play football and most particular quarterback, and not backup. Having said that when he retired this past March, tears and all, I didn’t believe it, First and foremost, it was to soon after the playoffs in which Favre ended with an all to often interception. Second, you could see by his emotion that when the hot weather of late summer that ushers in the start of football camps around the country from high schoolers to the pros, you could just tell if this guy had this much emotion in March what the hell was it going to be like in late July. I mean Favre has been in football camp in some form or another for the last 25 years, that just doesn’t go away easy. 

As a fan, albeit a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I always enjoyed watching Favre play. There is just something about his game, his arm and his sway that is so, well, cool. And watching him last season take an average team and take them all the way to the NFC championship, it was just another notch in this legends belt. But as a fan I thought it might be time for this legends trot off in the sunset of the Deep South to find his life work now. And this latest hoopla with Green Bay’s Management and coaching staff, I must say I sided with management.

As an organization it was time for Green Bay to prepare for life without Brett. 

But … my opinion changed when I saw the Greta Van Sustern interview and listen to what Favre had to say. You couldn’t help but notice the way in which he answered the questions and the way he carrying himself. Just like he plays, he puts it out there and let the pieces fall and in today’s prepackaged culture where we find our new stars by having formatted contest shows and big corporations run the marketing campaigns and politicians poll every word, to have a man talk like a man, it is refreshing.  It was once said of Clark Gable, the famous leading man of the 1930’s and 40’s he was son masculine you could hear his balls clank when he walked on set. Well it much the same way with Favre, accept instead of clank, I heard that Greta had to bring an extra chair for Brett and another for his, well, you know, cherries. And that straight forward approach reminded me of why I love Favre and why I still would like to see him play. 

But the last straw is this, Green Bay said Favre can come back but he wouldn’t be the starting quarterback, but that they can’t envision him playing anywhere else. Let me help clarify management’s thoughts for you. They don’t want Brett back for what ever reason, most likely because his legend and talent is bigger than them, the team and even the city, but perhaps more so Favre is honest and ‘he tells its like it is.’ And that is dangerous. I can’t understand, he not good enough anymore to start for a team he help define and win a Super Bowl, but he is to good to face them. Trust me they don’t want to see a pissed Favre line-up against The Pack. Management pressured him and is currently trying to run him out of the league.  Favre has earned the right to make his decision in his own time. He deserves to play football and we as fans deserve to watch one of the last contemporary athletes who play with heart. I am on Farve’s side, and you may so what who cares what you think. Well I am a fan and I will bet the majority of fans agree with me.

Someone who wants to see a real man play a real mans game in a time in our culture when real men get the shaft. Not to mention, I am not sure I want to see Favre return to acting, just brutal.  Oh yeah, one more thing, a question for Brett, why in the hell go on to Greta? I mean you don’t get on that show unless you are in a body bag or have a law degree you’re not using to the best of your supposed abilities. Someone must be stuck on stupid. 

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So Michael Vick is sorry … Oh really I thought that no matter where you go Ron Mexico people love you all over the world! Let’s take a closer look. Today Vick gave his fans and the adoring public his apology, it went as follows: 

“You know, I understand it’s — it’s important or not important, you know, as far as what you say but how you say things. So, you know, I take this opportunity just to speak from the heart. First, I want to apologize, you know, for all the things that — that I’ve done and that I have allowed to happen. I want to personally apologize to commissioner Goodell, Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino, my Atlanta Falcons teammates, you know, for our — for our previous discussions that we had. And I was not honest and forthright in our discussions, and, you know, I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least. I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts and, you know, what I did was, what I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up. I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player. I take full responsibility for my actions. For one second will I sit right here — not for one second will I sit right here and point the finger and try to blame anybody else for my actions or what I’ve done. I’m totally responsible, and those things just didn’t have to happen. I feel like we all make mistakes. It’s just I made a mistake in using bad judgment and making bad decisions. And you know, those things, you know, just can’t happen. Dog fighting is a terrible thing, and I did reject it. I’m upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God. And I think that’s the right thing to do as of right now. Like I said, for this — for this entire situation I never pointed the finger at anybody else, I accepted responsibility for my actions of what I did and now I have to pay the consequences for it. But in a sense, I think it will help, you know, me as a person. I got a lot to think about in the next year or so. I offer my deepest apologies to everybody out in there in the world who was affected by this whole situation. And if I’m more disappointed with myself than anything it’s because of all the young people, young kids that I’ve let down, who look at Michael Vick as a role model. And to have to go through this and put myself in this situation, you know, I hope that every young kid out there in the world watching this interview right now who’s been following the case will use me as an example to using better judgment and making better decisions. Once again, I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to.  So I got a lot of down time, a lot of time to think about my actions and what I’ve done and how to make Michael Vick a better person. Thank you.”  What was your initial reaction to his words? How did sports talk host like ESPN’s Mike Terrico react to his Vick’s admissions and what are fans saying? Well one thing that really came to my attention in hearing the apology live on ESPN radio was Vick’s tone in comparison to his infamous “everyone around the world loves Ron Mexico” speech. His tone did reflect an individual who was contrite, but what else could he do at this point, but sound that way. ESPN’s Mike Terrico, love him on Monday Night Football and he was even better on Thursday Night College games, made a big deal of the fact that he didn’t read a statement prepared by his lawyers or the fact that he didn’t read it. Does anyone really think that his lawyers didn’t guide and approve his words? Especially taken into consideration he hasn’t been sentenced yet. Make no mistake about it, he was prepared by his legal counsel and his public relations people, if not the league itself. You can be certain that in face of public outcry and animal lovers the NFL is most likely preparing their machine as well as Vick’s for his return. The simple truth is there is simply too much money, especially corporate money wrapped up in this persona we call Michael Vick. Be sure he was advised. For Terrico to suggest that his apology and his words were heart felt and sincere because the simple fact he didn’t read it is absurd. But what can you expect from the “Leader” in sports entertainment? I do give the benefit of the doubt to Michael Vick, however with absolutely no substantial reasoning behind my generosity, this is the same man who allegedly snuck Marijuana through international and US airports in a specially made water bottle. He has used fictitious names in an attempt to treat sexually transmitted diseases. He has been known to throw a certain finger at fans in stadiums across the countries who give him the business. And now he has admitted to gambling, mistreating and killing dogs and financing the whole deal. But as a person who knows the struggles of being human I give him the benefit of the doubt that he means what he says and he is sorry.  I guess we just assume that a “man” who has been born with so much athletic talent, and obviously has a work ethic to match and had achieved a social economic-status that most of us can’t sniff, we expect him to be grown up and mature. After all how could he pull off all of the previous mentioned without good judgment. I’ll tell you how, because of his talent and the potential for his ability to create capital for those that leech of his natural ability always have given him a pass. Because he could run faster, throw further and win. He makes money for the “man”. And you can be sure he will make money for the man again. Michael Vick fills seats, sells shoes and awes the American public with his ability which generates ratings and that my friend is what the great American way is all about. MONEY. 

Michael Vick mentioned he found Jesus. He said he felt that was the best thing he could do at this point. I couldn’t agree more. That will be the first step in the right direction for this lost man.

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