Brett Favre again takes us for a ride, ESPN in dutiful tow
If I can be serious about Brett Favre for a moment …
Sorry. I can’t be serious about Brett Favre, not for a nanosecond. Last year he showed up (late) at Vikings camp being driven by the head coach. This year he showed up (late) being driven by the kicker. As ever, the Worldwide Leader in Overkill was tracking his every move, even if his every move couldn’t quite be seen because he was in a moving vehicle with a roof and the cameras were in helicopters.
And I for one am ecstatic beyond reason that Favre will apparently play — I say “apparently” because at this moment he still hasn’t yet stated his intentions publicly, even though a Favre statement of intentions is worthless — again this season. Because I was feeling guilty over my sudden dislike for LeBron James, who up until “The Decision” had done nothing to make me think he was a bad guy, and now my default dislike position has been reset.
LeBron James has been dropped to second on the list. Brett Favre is again the athlete against whom I root the hardest. (Lane Kiffin is the sports figure against whom I root the hardest, but he’s not a player and really not a coach. He’s just a clown.) Being a sports writer and all, I’m really not supposed to root, but Favre has become so objectionable that I grant myself a waiver.
Brett Favre is a handy combination of everything I value least in sports. He’s not as good as advertised, and yet he’s one of the handful of neo-athletes — LeBron, Tiger, T.O. and A-Rod would make up the remainder of the top five — around whom the Worldwide Leader has decided the world indeed revolves. He’s insincere. He can’t abide the thought of the game continuing without Ol’ No. 4 and his Wrangler jeans, and apparently neither can ESPN.
There are times when I think that if Favre didn’t exist, ESPN would have just invented him. Then I correct myself: ESPN did invent him, like Dr. Frankenstein and his henchman Igor conjured up their monster. And every year we get another sequel: “Son of Frankenstein,” in which Favre goes to the Jets and makes his teammates hate him; “House of Frankenstein,” in which Favre takes his talents to Lake Minnetonka and throws the interception that blows the Super Bowl for the Vikes, and now …
“Bride of Frankenstein,” in which placekicker Ryan Longwell drives the honeymoon car and a covey of helicopters serve as the tin cans being dragged behind.
What I want to know: When is Mel Brooks going to give us “Young Frankenstein” as it pertains to the Wranglin’ Man? Because only Mel Brooks — he of “Blazing Saddles” and “The Producers” — could skewer Brett Favre and ESPN in the way those egregious entities deserve to be skewered.
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100 comments Add your comment
Athens Mike
August 18th, 2010
9:42 am
Right on. Enough already. Move on.
Athens Mike
August 18th, 2010
9:43 am
First?
chuck
August 18th, 2010
9:45 am
Enter your comments here
chuck
August 18th, 2010
9:46 am
ugh! one more time….That was by far the most humorous blog I have read in awhile….Thank you, Mark
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2010
9:49 am
Kudos to Athens Mike.
Thanks to Chuck.
FalconUGAFan
August 18th, 2010
9:50 am
There was a time I wished we didn’t get rid of Favre all those years ago. I think I am actually over that….
chuck
August 18th, 2010
9:50 am
You’re welcome….keep ‘em coming…(still laughing)
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2010
9:51 am
I’m not sure you can get rid of Big Brett, FalconUGAFan. He refuses to go.
Tech Rules
August 18th, 2010
9:51 am
The SUV really should have been a white Bronco.
Joey
August 18th, 2010
9:54 am
Nice, Mark. The helicopter-camera angles brought back memories of the OJ Simpson white Bronco “chase.”
I think Favre watched an even more discusting athlete, Roger Clemens do this to the Rangers, then Yankees for several years, while still making the same money, and decided, hey, thats how I’ll go out. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see Favre start skipping the first third or half of the season in the near future.
Kelly
August 18th, 2010
9:55 am
Steroid use can be a real “Michelle Obama” on your body later in life, Chipper.
Brett Farve can be thankful he only had an affair with that “Kim Kardashian” known as Vicodin. It made him feel good for a time, but some medicine from the free clinic cleared up that little itch with no permanent damage done.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2010
9:55 am
Joey, I remember seeing Roger Clemens “retire” during the 2003 World Series. And then years later I looked up and he was still pitching.
Kelly
August 18th, 2010
9:57 am
Sorry. “Brett F-A-V-R-E.”
At least, I can thank Brett Favre for helping me avoid overpaying for products at Sears for the last year or so.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2010
9:59 am
Kelly, I just misspelled it on a Tweet. How bad is that?
I hate ESPN
August 18th, 2010
9:59 am
It’s so obvious Favre is just holding out for more money, but ESPN continues to believe he has an injury. No, it’s not an injury. The same stuff has been happening now for 3 years. Why do you think he’s suddenly making $16 mil this season? You don’t give a hurt player a raise.
Wake up ESPN. This guy loves the attention and I am sick of it along with that network’s love of the Cowboys and every team in the northeast. Every person they hire as an “analyst” played in New York, Boston, Philly, or Dallas. Tedi Bruschi is an example of how bad this network is at hiring people.
Mikey in SAV
August 18th, 2010
9:59 am
The Worldwide leader makes me sick too.
Mikey in SAV
August 18th, 2010
10:01 am
All the proof we need is the ESPYs- Naming an award for sports performance after the damn network that shows us the highlights?
GADAWG88
August 18th, 2010
10:02 am
Good one Mark! I agree with you 100%.
Rick Smith
August 18th, 2010
10:05 am
Right on Mark. Yesterday I think I saw the same clips 4 times in 1 hour. Premier gum banger Linda Cohn doing the voice over made it all the more unbearable. Whether its Berman, Scott or Harris (or Smoltz on P’tree TV), I find myself watching with the sound muted.
Tech Rules
August 18th, 2010
10:05 am
It does remind me of my favorite “the onion” headline from last year:
“ESPN Completely Misses Brett Favre Vs. Green Bay Packers Storyline”
http://www.theonion.com/articles/espn-completely-misses-brett-favre-vs-green-bay-pa,2825/
Jim's Gray
August 18th, 2010
10:07 am
Do you think Brett is trying to pull a ‘LeBron’ and is holding out for a chance to take his talents to “Souf Beach?”
Bob Pettit
August 18th, 2010
10:11 am
Right on – Favre over-coverage is the WWL at its worst, which is really hard to do (”Who’s Now?, The “Decision”, etc.). How come this guy is never taken to task for lying his way out of NY in order to get released? Who goes down there to kiss his ring next year – Bud Grant???
sc ace
August 18th, 2010
10:11 am
I used to be a favre fan, but that ended around the time he left the packers. ESPN makes me want to puke. I saw that “breaking news” while at Moe’s last night and nearly lost my appetite. ESPN has become a caricature of itself were that possible. I might care more about the NFL but for their Armageddon treatment of it. They were fun back when they actually showed sports and highlights instead of just breathlessly talking about it and overanalyzing it and doing PR for the leagues they broadcast.
Mr. Melancholy
August 18th, 2010
10:12 am
Favre lives in basically rural area. He rarely entertains the media or gives interviews. He’s almost a 20 year vet of pro football, he probably is ambivalent about playing, and positively hates OTAs during the offseason. He wants to play on his own terms. If he can find somebody to hire him under those conditions, good for him. The media and the AJC, can cover him as it pleases. It’s no concern of Brett Favre.
George Stein
August 18th, 2010
10:13 am
In ESPN’s defense, they don’t really have a choice to but to follow Favre’s every move. If they cover it, they are screwed because Favre has no credibility. But if they don’t, how can they call themselves a sports news organization when this is unquestionably news.
NCBravesFan
August 18th, 2010
10:15 am
I was at the gym yesterday when they showed the plane taxiing on the runway with the Golden Child inside and I was thinking, “you have got to be kidding me.”
I never watch ESPN anymore. There’s too much excellent information on the web about the teams and players I care about to get wrapped up in The Worldwide Leader in Who’s out of Sorts.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2010
10:16 am
There’s coverage, George Stein, and then there’s overkill.
F-105 Thunderchief
August 18th, 2010
10:16 am
I like to watch Brett Favre play football. The flip-flopping is embarrassing to behold, but understandable, considering he gets to do what millions of us wish we could and I get that having to give that up is hard.
As a football player, he owns most of the passing records. I give him a pass and try to ignore all this other stuff until the games start.
F-105 Thunderchief
August 18th, 2010
10:16 am
ESPN, on the other hand, has no excuse … well except dinero.
Sam
August 18th, 2010
10:17 am
How about all those fake news conferences and that simulated college football playoff.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
What a farce ESPN is.
BTW, IMO, sports writers can root as far as fans are concerned. They’d rather see the local writers root than be neutral objectivitists. That still allows criticism. You are human and a long time Atlanta resident. It’s OK. Your editor should be receptive. You’re breaking no laws and it is not unethical. Just do it.
SimpleDawg
August 18th, 2010
10:18 am
Oh come on now…..y’all let ol’ Brett be. Everyone’s pissed that he’s found a way to avoid training camp, two-a-days, and staying in a dorm room with some smelly behemoth. Only the all-time record holder in every important QB stat could swing this deal…….
Although I wouldn’t want him on my team, there appears to be those who do.
As for ESPN…they’re just feeding the junkies. If you don’t like it, just change the channel, Stupid.
I hope Farve ( spelled phonetically ) doesn’t become permanently disabled from a violent blow administered by a big ol’ angry defender who endured his training camp.
Chuck!
August 18th, 2010
10:20 am
Quit Hating! All you Georgia Sports fans! All of your college and pro teams are worthless. No National Championships in 30 years and Pro Championships in 15+ years. Don’t hate on Brett because he is a great player. Players like this run teams and they get to do what they want! Another awful story by a bias writer.
**Frederick(Bailey) Douglass
August 18th, 2010
10:20 am
Right on Marko (fist in the air)…
At some point you have to wonder why we even care. So, we are sports fans and we get our sports NEWS from ESPN. Hence, the question: why does ESPN make such a big deal about this?
I understand the LeBron thing was about money. Ok, fine. But this Favre thing is just irritating. What is it about? He is not even one of the top 10 QBs of all time! Should not be news until he suits it up and plays in a game. All else is just DRAMA…we can tune into the soaps for that.
Remember this one: Vikings will not win 10 games this year WITH Favre on the team. First, he wont play every game. Second, he wont be as good in the games that he plays. Falcons need not worry about this sorry, spineless franchise.
If I’m T. Jackson (#7) I’m trying my best to get on the G.B. Packers squad to enact some revenge. Even if I had to throw on a #23 and play CB. This is just not right…
F…to the B…to the D
Herschel Talker
August 18th, 2010
10:20 am
MB:
Very well said. ESPN has jumped the shark. Here are the Top 4 reasons ESPN has jumped the shark:
1. Stuart Scott
2. The Tim Tebow sycophancy
3. The Brett Favre nonsense
4. The Decision
HT
Mike
August 18th, 2010
10:24 am
Over the past few years, ESPN has done an effective yet disgusting job of making their storylines and certain personalities bigger then the sports they’re covering.
Remember several years ago leading up to the 05 BCS title game. ESPN actually ran daily segements comparing the 04 Trojans to everyone from the 01 Hurricanes to 85 Bears.
How about when T.O. was having his issues with the Eagles? ESPN thought it could actually market and sell a “ESPN” cell phone that would send you round the clock updates on whatever ESPN was pimping at that time. It obviously failed miserably.
With Chris Berman and his act not making it into the NFL HOF, it’s apparent the ESPN full of itself machine will not stop and if anything, get that much more disgusting.
Jerry Glanville
August 18th, 2010
10:26 am
What’s going on here, that guy never had enough talent to be a QB in the NFL.
Ted M
August 18th, 2010
10:26 am
I agree with Mr. Melancholy and blame ESPN and to a smaller degree the rest of the media.
“Yesterday I think I saw the same clips 4 times in 1 hour.” DVR it, thats what I do, I remember FFing though the last 3 and wasn’t really interested in the first one because I already new he was going to play. However I will be interested in seeing him play.
NeoDawg
August 18th, 2010
10:26 am
Really looking forward to the day the NFL stands for No Favre League. Loved the honeymoon car with helicopter tin can reference. The difference between the helicopter following Mr. Self Important and OJ is this time I put a gun to MY head and threatened to kill MYSELF. Sad to see the fans of the Purple People Eaters turn into such slobbering idiots over their presumed Moses. Bud Grant must be grinding his teeth into stumps watching this.
rekingball
August 18th, 2010
10:29 am
ESPN, Lebron James. Does anything else need to be said?
Can’t resist, ESPN is a Hack Network.
Ted M
August 18th, 2010
10:30 am
Sportscenter is unwatchable if DVRed.
Ted M
August 18th, 2010
10:30 am
oops – Sportscenter is unwatchable if NOT DVRed.
sleeze
August 18th, 2010
10:30 am
Mr. Bradley, I agree with all your statements except one.. “he’s not as good as advertised”. Based on his performance last season (except for that last interception), he was pretty darn good and the Vikings are a much much better team with him at QB. That being said, I, like everyone else, am sick to death of hearing about him and would be fine if one of ESPN’s cameras dropped out of the helicopter right on top of Favre’s throwing hand.
sleeze
August 18th, 2010
10:32 am
One other thought, since Favre is from the great state of Mississippi, does that mean that he should expect his name to be spelled incorrectly in the Alabama newspapers?
44ty
August 18th, 2010
10:32 am
Who cares…stop giving him attention! This is the last thing I will even look at regarding Brett. I think most NFL fans are burned out…I know I am….the only folks that care are minnesota…go write for them.
"Da Real" Damon Evans
August 18th, 2010
10:33 am
ladies and gents you r now witnessing the greatest qb to ever walk on earth. b. favre. lord have mercy, dat dude is just awesome. don’t he look pretty? dat’s my man. b. favre all the way. he just chucks dat ball out there like a kid.
reminds me of my yute when I was a kid. dat dude is amazing.
Asheville Dawg
August 18th, 2010
10:37 am
Is there only ten days left of training camp? That will be when Big Bad Brett is scheduled to return to the Vikings. I’m sure the rest of the players that have been working the numb nuts off, can appreciate the “special” treatment that Brett receives. Hope the Vikes lose their first four games. Then we’ll see how special treatment really works.
Hobbs
August 18th, 2010
10:39 am
From SimpleDawg – “As for ESPN…they’re just feeding the junkies. If you don’t like it, just change the channel, Stupid.”
Best quote of the blog…I totally agree with MB but on the other hand, just because ESPN over-hypes their own manufactured drama doesn’t mean every “sports journalist” in the country is required to make a story of ESPN’s story and subsequent over-hype.
MB next time you see Favre on ESPN, take a deep breath, change the channel and back away from the keyboard…
Nativebird
August 18th, 2010
10:40 am
Ego-maniac Favre does this annual routine for one reason and one reason only…after 19 years in the NFL, he simply thinks that he is above Training Camp. Pure and simple. He literally has set a NEW level of superstar in teamsports, that level in which one officially does not have to engage in the type of practices that all others on his team have to. Higer than Montana, higher than Marino, higher than Aikman, than Manning or Brady. He will never say it…but that is EXACTLY what he thinks.
Andy
August 18th, 2010
10:40 am
I was actually dumb enough to think that he was actually retiring this time. He will never retire. He will go on forever.
bro
August 18th, 2010
10:41 am
Some things are just not worth reporting. No one really cares if farve plays or not, including the vikings. What a waste of money, time and space. Try reporting on some real news. Everyone knew farve was doing it again. A great player, but a sorry individual–a real look at me type guy.