Comments on: BRETT FAVRE: ATHLETE, ARTIST, IDIOT http://jamiemalanowski.com/blogwp/brett-favre-athlete-artist-idiot/ Jamie Malanowski's official web log Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:45:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hugh Cook http://jamiemalanowski.com/blogwp/brett-favre-athlete-artist-idiot/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Hugh Cook Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:51:31 +0000 http://jamiemalanowski.com/blogwp/?p=3727#comment-141 Before I begin my discourse on the legend of Brett Favre, I must disclose that I have been a diehard fan of the mighty Green Bay Packahs (as Vince Lombardi would say) since the age of ten (1969). Brett Favre has played a pivotal role in returning this storied football franchise to glory, something I will be forever thankful for. But the Minnesota game represents in my mind the third such critical playoff game that a knucklehead pass by Favre cost his team a victory. The first would be the Packers’ 20-17 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. It was bad enough that Packers’ defense let the Eagles convert a fourth-and-26 situation, which kept the Eagles’ hopes alive. Two plays later, the Eagles kicked the tying field goal. But when offense took the field during overtime, Favre couldn’t be satisfied with methodically moving the ball down the field like John Elway. Instead, he threw one of his classic ill-advised passes into hands of an Eagle defender. As it would turn out, Favre would blow the best chance the Packers would have to return to a NFC championship game under Head Coach Mike Sherman. The second came during overtime in the NFC championship game against the New York Giants. It was far and away the coldest Packer home game I have ever attended, and one of hardest fought. When the Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes missed a late fourth quarter field goal, all the Packer fans breathed a collective sigh of relief: the game would be forced into overtime. Bart Starr’s masterful dink and dunk drive toward the Cowboys’ goal line in the Ice Bowl raced through my mind. This was Favre’s chance to duplicate one of the greatest drives in the history of pro football. It would be his crowning achievement to an already brilliant and Hall-of-Fame career. All Brett had to do was take his time and move the ball methodically. No all or nothing passes like in the Philadephia game. The Packers’ luck continued with the coin toss and they secured the opening possession. Unfortunately on that first drive, Favre would again throw one of his classic wayward passes, which was picked off by Giant DB Corey Webster. Three plays later, the Giants were in position to kick the winning field—and did. If Brett Favre hadn’t played for the Vikings this season, the team wouldn’t have finished 12-4. At best, they would have been 9-7, fighting the Bears for second-place. Favre elevated everyone on the Vikings to play their A-game. Before I begin my discourse on the legend of Brett Favre, I must disclose that I have been a diehard fan of the mighty Green Bay Packahs (as Vince Lombardi would say) since the age of ten (1969). Brett Favre has played a pivotal role in returning this storied football franchise to glory, something I will be forever thankful for.

But the Minnesota game represents in my mind the third such critical playoff game that a knucklehead pass by Favre cost his team a victory.

The first would be the Packers’ 20-17 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. It was bad enough that Packers’ defense let the Eagles convert a fourth-and-26 situation, which kept the Eagles’ hopes alive. Two plays later, the Eagles kicked the tying field goal. But when offense took the field during overtime, Favre couldn’t be satisfied with methodically moving the ball down the field like John Elway. Instead, he threw one of his classic ill-advised passes into hands of an Eagle defender. As it would turn out, Favre would blow the best chance the Packers would have to return to a NFC championship game under Head Coach Mike Sherman.

The second came during overtime in the NFC championship game against the New York Giants. It was far and away the coldest Packer home game I have ever attended, and one of hardest fought. When the Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes missed a late fourth quarter field goal, all the Packer fans breathed a collective sigh of relief: the game would be forced into overtime. Bart Starr’s masterful dink and dunk drive toward the Cowboys’ goal line in the Ice Bowl raced through my mind. This was Favre’s chance to duplicate one of the greatest drives in the history of pro football. It would be his crowning achievement to an already brilliant and Hall-of-Fame career. All Brett had to do was take his time and move the ball methodically. No all or nothing passes like in the Philadephia game.

The Packers’ luck continued with the coin toss and they secured the opening possession. Unfortunately on that first drive, Favre would again throw one of his classic wayward passes, which was picked off by Giant DB Corey Webster. Three plays later, the Giants were in position to kick the winning field—and did.

If Brett Favre hadn’t played for the Vikings this season, the team wouldn’t have finished 12-4. At best, they would have been 9-7, fighting the Bears for second-place. Favre elevated everyone on the Vikings to play their A-game.

]]>