Favre's Words Yesterday, UNBELIEVABLE
By Bill Michaels
Story Created: Aug 19, 2009
Story Updated: Aug 19, 2009
“I felt from my standpoint that I could offer some experience and leadership,” Favre proclaimed during his first press conference as a Minnesota Viking.
Webster’s Handy College Dictionary; Leader (leed er) 1. One who goes before, as a guide.
Dictionary.com; 1. To go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group.
Merriam Webster; 1. One who guides his troops 2. A person who has commanding authority.
I’ll admit that Favre has a commanding authority, God knows that Brad Childress has been publicly snipped, but when it comes to the description of a leader and depicts this person as someone who goes first, someone who is the guide, Brett, in today’s world, falls woefully short.
First let me say, showing up to training camp after the team has already broken camp, isn’t being a leader. Showing up after the rest of your now “teammates” have gone through 2-a-days, ran gassers, lifted countless weights, built camaraderie with their supposed new leaders (the quarterbacks who were actually in camp) isn’t being a leader. But, when it comes to Brett Favre, there’s a different set of rules for that gunslinger.
I had one close source tell me, "You know Brett, he didn't want to go to the dorms and all that training camp stuff. He feels that 3 weeks is plenty to get to know his guys. He's never liked training camp and he just didn't want to go trough it." He then went on to say, "We all knew that he had the surgery to come back and play. That Thompson thing....that still sticks with him. This stuff about his rotator cuff, it's old news."
I sat there yesterday listening to Brett, see the same ole’ mannerisms, the boyish smile, the “golly gee aww shucks” delivery, knowing that every word that’s come out of his mouth I have to re-examine as a bold faced lie.
Brett told ME during his press conference, “This isn’t about Ted (Thompson) or Mike (McCarthy) wanting me out, that’ not what this is about.” “I know that I can play, I just don’t want to.”
LIE
Brett told Greta Van Susteren, “It’s not about me playing for the Minnesota Vikings. I love the game, I just wanna play”.
LIE
Brett told Ed Werder when asked; Can you say that you’re going to remain retired, unequivocally? “Yes”
LIE
Brett told a reporter in Hattiesburg, “My arm feels great, better than it has in years”
LIE
2 weeks later, Brett tells Ed Werder, “I’m just not sure the arm can hold up for an entire NFL season” He remains retired…..so some thought.
Yesterday, Brett tells us that this isn’t about revenge and that “Chilly” (Brad Childress) and he hadn’t talked in 3 weeks and that is was a call out of the blue during which he Brett said sure, I’ll come and play for you.
Are you kidding?
Look, I must qualify this statement by saying that Brett’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time but one of the worst liars and leaders as well.
One more tidbit that came out in yesterday’s re-introduction to Favre; Brett seemed agitated when he answered the question regarding his legacy stating, “"When people start talking about my legacy - it's mine. It's what I think of it. I know the way I play the game. I know the way I've handled myself as a teammate, a leader, in the public. If you're a true Packer fan, you understand.”
Just a note here, Legacy…A legacy is what you leave behind, while the phrase is attached to you, it’s not yours. It’s the perception of your overall body of work, it’s a bequest of Favre’s attributes in this case and in this case, perception has become reality. Packer’s fans, do you understand? I think we understand, far more than Brett thinks.
The one thing that Brett did say yesterday that I totally agree with, "They've (The Packers) moved on, I've moved on. I think it's great for football. I can't see how you wouldn't think it would be."
That's awesome.
I will NOT miss midwestern weather, I'll tell ya!
I have only looked once since my now boss called me for an interview. I knew after that phone call she was going to hire me. Aside from being in an actual kitchen where they chop up lots of really gross things in front of my vegetarian eyes vs being in a seperate pastry shop where it's just lovely sweets I have to look at, my new job is pretty cool. 
I keep feeling like I'm screwing stuff up and then my boss will walk by and say what I've done looks awesome. 
I feel dirty. I wasn't going to let my ears hear anything live until my shows but it's sooooooo gooooood I can't bring myself to turn it off. 
Tough news.
I've noticed though that I've been a lot more calm at work in the past few years since I switched to baking as a job. I used to want to throw things at people when I worked in an office. I think crying is probably almost better than screaming because that generally doesn't get you sent to your manager's office 
