jessilee24's Blog

Today Wisconsin's gray skies have become a whole lot grayer.  Turning on the television for some morning news, there is no Today Show... no Regis... no Good Morning America,  not even coverage of Hillary's last stand...

What could bring Wisconsin media to this lowly state?  Well, it seems that every Green Bay Packers fan's ultimate hero is laying down his sword.  We all saw Brett Favre play his last game on the sacred ground known as Lambeau Field.  Wow... I have to admit when I first heard the news I really did feel my tear ducts swelling up.  I don't know if they were more for my husband... Brett Favre really is the only QB he's ever known in Green Bay, or just as a true football fan realizing the end of a legacy. 

Well, hearing speculations and details unfold my emotional ties to this are changing a bit.  I have always been a Philadelphia Eagles fan with a bit of a hate/ love relationship with Favre.  I hated how he snubbed my husband and his fellow Packer fans at Veteran's stadium in Philadelphia, who just wanted a little Favre scribble, only to get on the bus spitting his chew in his little can... I hate that he won't play in the Pro Bowl after how many nominations (especially this last year after such an awesome year for him)...  BUT,  I love how he overcame his addictions with the whole world watching... I love the affection and loyalty he has to his wife (I'm a girl, I have to love that)... I love how he seems to be made of steel...  I absolutely loved that beautiful game that turned into the 'Snowglobe Game', if only we could lock that game away in a snow globe and enjoy that feeling over and over again. 

Why do Green Bay Packer fans feel such a strong bond with this man?  Well, Packer fans have had the privelege to watch Brett Favre grow into a man.  I think they have feelings like a Mom or Dad would have with their son, or like having a big brother, and on the list could go.  They have seen him at his worst, his best, they've seen his heartbreak, his joy...  They've seen so many events unfold in his life and how he's championed through them all. 

I've developed quite a bit of respect for the man myself.  When we first moved to Wisconsin, I was getting quite tired of the news and Favre this, and Favre that... talk about overbearing.  I'd be sprinting back to Mississippi to ride on my golf cart too!  This past season was spectacular.  Any football fan would have to confess that if they weren't a Packer fan, they sure wished they were.  I did. 

There are a lot of speculations and scenarios about Favre's reasons for making this decision.  As someone who has grown to 'love' him, I hope that most of them are false.  I hope he wouldn't throw away another potentially awesome season because the Packers wouldn't sign a total jerk like Randy Moss.  We signed T.O. and look where it got the Eagles!  Those guys can be like a cancer to a good team.  I hope that he didn't truly feel like the team didn't want him back.  The Packers had a terrific season last year, and I hope that Favre just wanted to ride the tails of that season and not push the envelope too far. 

He gave Packer fans, as well as us outsider football fans quite a ride, and for that I just want to say 'Thank You Brett Favre'.  I wish him and his family the best.