Brett Favre

Posted by meli on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 in hooping photography and other things i entertain myself with | 1 comment

It's September 7th. A Sunday. The time is 12:45pm ET. I have a knot in my stomach, and I feel tears welling up. Today is the Jets first regular game of the '08 season. The day Brett Favre will walk out onto the field donning a jersey that may look a bit similar to the Packers (it's still green), but is certainly not that beautiful Green and Gold we are accustomed to seeing him in. A picture we all took for granted. A picture we all assumed would last forever.

I don't know if I can watch. The thought of watching is making my stomach turn. I purposefully avoided all of the Jets preseason games. I just wasn't ready to let go of the Packer that I grew up loving.

Could I really watch him in another team's jersey? Could I really watch him take that first snap for another team? Could I really watch him running around the field, picking guys up, smacking their butts, their helmets, their shoulder pads, firing up the officials like only Brett can do... could I really watch all of that happening with another team?

I am a Packers fan. I was born in Racine WI, and I lived in the area until I was 14. I was only 12 when Favre became our starting QB. I don't remember another QB occuping the position before him. Of course there were others, exceptionally great ones as I learned about years later, but they weren't on my young radar at the time. Favre awakened my love for the game. My love for my team. A fan was born. A Green and Gold Groupie. A Packers girl, through and through. Good times, bad times, wins, loses - the Packers are and always will be my team!

But, I am also a Brett Favre fan. Most say he is arguably the best player to ever play the game. I say, "what's to argue"? He has a certain charisma about him, the "it" factor, a Favre-ness if you will, that makes it almost impossible not to fall in the love with the guy. He's admirable, he's respectable, many call him a hero ... and he is one helluva football player. He has a way of inspiring the players around him to push past their limits, to stretch their boundaries, and to make near impossible plays happen. He has a way of inspiring the fans around him to shoot for the stars and never give up. He just has a way!

It's time! 1:00pm ET. I hit the pause button on my DVR remote. I'm not ready yet! I want to support Favre, but I don't know if I can. I take a deep breath and try to choke down the tears. Ok, it's now or never. I hit the play button. There he is. That familiar #4. The tears start rolling. I try hard to reign them in, but it's not working. An overwhelming feeling of immense sadness falls over me. Seeing my beloved Packer surrounded by another team; wearing another green. I embrace the feeling. I let myself feel sad, mad, hurt, disappointed, let down. I let myself wallow. And then, I see his face ...

He's happy!

Brett Favre is a football player. He has a love for the game that is like no other, it's invigorating. He wasn't yet done with his game when the Packers moved on. The New York Jets gave him a home, stocked with a brand new family, and a chance to continue to play. He grabbed that chance, rightfully so!

As hard as it was to watch Brett play for the Jets for the first time, as much as I tried to wish it away, I am happy for Favre. He's able to continue his game, and that's all that matters. I support that. I support the man who gave his team and his fans one heck of a ride for 16 seasons as a Packer. He left his blood, his sweat, his tears, his laughs, and his heart out there on Lambeau field, and gosh darn it, that wont EVER be forgotten. He may not play for my team any longer, but Brett Favre will always be a Packer.

No matter where Brett Favre's football journey takes him, he WILL have the support of this loyal cheesehead!