Quit Criticizing Favre
It seems like Brett Favre attracts not just more critics each day, but more harsh critics. The mega-popular ESPN radio show Mike and Mike in the Morning recently talked about the influx of anti-Favre emails that have been coming in. Show co-host Mike Greenburg actually used the word “vitriol” to characterize the tone of most of them.
I don’t understand this. Sure, I get why people would be tired of Favre. (In fact, what I don’t get is why I haven’t become one of those people yet myself.) But why are people getting angry with Favre?
Critics say Favre is a drama queen and attention seeker. If that were true, wouldn’t we see him doing interviews on a regular basis? Wouldn’t we see him sitting courtside at NBA playoff games or showing up at large events in the hottest cities on the East and West coasts? The man retreats to his home down in Kiln, Mississippi each year and is only heard from every few weeks when he gives no more than one or two quotes to either a newspaper reporter, Chris Mortensen or Peter King. Favre is rarely on television during the offseason. He’s not on Twitter, he’s not writing blogs. His agent, Bus Cook, never stokes the fires.
Is Favre a waffler? Sure. But is he screaming from the mountain tops about it? Absolutely not. If fans are tired of Favre, they can tune him out. The problem is, not only do fans fail to do this, but for the longest time, fans have actually gone out of their way to tune him in. That’s what they’re still doing, only now, they’re censuring Favre for it. Favre’s not asking for any of this.
Ehh- I disagree that you can tune it out. I listen to Sirius NFL Radio in my car- its about Favre. I come home and watch ESPN, its about Favre. NFL Network- all Favre.
For someone like me who has no interest in normal TV or radio, and doesn’t like baseball- you really have no other choice but to hear about it. And even though he is not out there himself spouting this info- I know these news items don’t come from thin air. He has certain “friends” in the media that he funnels these stories to (coughPeterKingcough) to keep his name on people’s minds.
Even so- I could probably get over that. What I really dislike is the fact that he specifically wants to go back and play for the Vikings just to annoy the Packers. He may hate the current GM- but the team and those fans should mean something to him. I couldn’t imagine Dan Marino going to the Jets or Buffalo. That move really makes him come across as petty and spiteful to me and I could understand why a GB fan would be genuinely angry at him.
I agree completely. I actually wrote a piece on this myself. I won’t provide a shameless plug, but I wanted to comment here and let you know I agree with you, and I’m glad another writer thinks this harsh criticism is a bit much.
I agree also. I think it is a very strange phenomena. Favre goes from most loved to the opposite with all kind of criticisms that don’t fit.
For instance Weston, above, hates him for going to the Vikings to stick it to the Packers. Well, he didn’t go, but people spent all summer hating on him for it. He also told Vikings management at least two weeks before the official announcement and they asked him to hold off and keep working out. Brett was never stringing them along.
I myself am boycotting FOX sports. They still have an article featured on how Favre has damaged the Vikings and another on how he should just “go away.” Seems to me he is away considering fans haven’t heard a word.
I miss him and will be happy when he settles on some other sports job Course with Packer fans writing they hope he gets a career ending OR WORSE injury, I don’t see him coming out soon.
Good article. I am very disillusioned how many fans cannot separate Brett from the press. Somewhere it became OK to criticize Brett and everyone jumped on that bandwagon, even making up false stories. Then when Favre does not verify the false story, he’s an egoist and a liar. Shame on the public. Use your brains.
I too am boycotting FOX. They are the KINGS of finding something to criticize about Favre, like naming him the Biggest Quitter??? Isn’t the issue he never quits?
Brett’s with the Vikings now and playing the way they need him to. I hope he has bodyguards when he goes to Lambeau.
LET THIS QB PLAY………