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Brett Favre Adds Leap to Legacy
Brett Favre, 37, the old “gunslinger” who just
won’t retire to catch the fastest train to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame, the guy who is public enemy No. 1 to passionate Vikings fans,
comes with his (somewhat) rejuvenated Green Bay Packers to the Metrodome
on Sunday. Favre, by the way, is a bit rejuvenated himself having
quarterbacked the Packers, 4 wins, 12 losses last season and 1-4 to
start this season, to two wins in Green Bay’s last three game.
Favre
had played three straight games without throwing an interception until
last Sunday when he was intercepted twice in a 24-10 loss to Buffalo.
Still, he has thrown four touchdown passes in his last three games as
the Packers improved their record to 3-5.
In
the past there’s been talk, including from loyalists in Green Bay, that
Favre should retire or be traded. But he is full of football life.
Heck, in the Packers’ home game against Arizona on October 29 he
attempted a not-so successful “Lambeau Leap” into the stands to
celebrate his first rushing touchdown in a few years.
This
is the stuff of legends and Favre is adding to a legacy that includes
three straight seasons as the NFL’s most valuable player. He’s always
played with passion and been hell-bent to succeed even when facing
physical and emotional challenges. He was, by the way, once recognized
by a national magazine as the toughest guy in America.
Viking place kicker Ryan Longwell, who played
nine seasons with Favre in Green Bay, talked recently about his former
teammate. He said Favre has a childlike enthusiasm to play football and
he may continue on for multiple seasons. “He just loves the game so
much,” Longwell said.
Longwell hasn’t seen any decrease in the “velocity” of Favre’s passes.
“When he gets time to throw the ball, he can pick apart everybody,”
Longwell said.
Favre
lives in a “fish bowl” in Green Bay, Longwell said, and because of the
public attention Favre generates he can’t go out to dinner or the
movies. Longwell remembered attending a movie with his friend where
Favre had to enter the theater after the lights went off. “He’s larger
than life over there,” Longwell said.
In a
different way, Favre is pretty big stuff over here, too. Awhile back
Sports Illustrated wrote that Favre was considered sports enemy No. 1
by Minnesota fans.
Over
the years Longwell has been “amazed” at the accuracy and velocity of
Favre’s passes. He said the the 16-year veteran can still make throws
that separate him from other quarterbacks. Talk to Longwell, though,
and you learn quickly he admires Favre as a person and enjoys his
company. Both are three to four handicappers and played golf together
during their Packer days.
“If
you can’t get along with Brett, you probably have got some issues,”
Longwell said.
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Ryan Longwell
In a different way, Favre is pretty big
stuff over here, too. Awhile back Sports Illustrated wrote that Favre
was considered sports enemy No. 1 by Minnesota fans. |
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Wolves Road
Test Ends Tonight
The
Timberwolves opened their season at home last Wednesday night. Now
they are nearing the end of a four game trip playing in Los Angeles
against the Lakers tonight. The travels began
with back to back nights in Denver and Portland (a win, then a loss,
with both games decided late in the fourth quarter). Last
night another loss, this one in Sacramento. Four games in
five nights are unusual and only a five game road trip later in the
schedule appears more challenging.
“It’s
going to be fun getting out there and playing back to backs every other
day, and it gives us a chance to see where we’re at,” said Wolves guard
Ricky Davis before the road trip started.
Ending the schedule in Los Angeles should be fun. A lot of players
enjoy the glamour of Los Angeles including the who’s who scene at the
Staples Center where somebody like Jack Nicholson may offer a
sarcastic comment now and then.
The
Lakers, 3-1, could be the surprise of the league and before the season
began looked like a team that might block the Wolves from earning the
sixth, seventh or eighth spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers won
their first three games, including two wins without super star
Kobe Bryant who led the NBA scoring last season
and is Charles Barkley’s pick to win the league’s MVP award.
Wolves’ guard Troy Hudson said Bryant is “probably the best
one-on-one player in the entire league.”
The
Lakers, 45-37 last season and a first round loser to Phoenix in the
playoffs, have been led by versatile forward Lamar Odom,
averaging 23.8 points per game and making 67 percent of his three
point shots. Hudson admires Odom’s skills that include handling the
ball and passing like a point guard. “He definitely compares with the
better players in the league,” Hudson said.
Odom
and Bryant are the stars but the team has improved players such as
forward Luke Walton and 19-year-old center Andrew Bynum
who are making a difference. The Lakers have been playing with unity
and enthusiasm, not too surprising since coach Phil Jackson is a
passionate teacher of team play.
The
Lakers, who play 15 of their first 20 games at home, will want to get
another home court victory against the Wolves. Minnesota, 9-32 on the
road last season, hopes to end with a somewhat successful but trying road trip.
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Wolves’ guard Troy Hudson said Kobe
Bryant is “probably the best one-on-one player in the entire league.”
Troy Hudson
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Veeck Admires Tigers President
St.
Paul Saints owner Mike Veeck has known Detroit
Tigers president Dave Dombrowski for 30 years and includes him
among his “closest friends.” They worked together with the Chicago
White Sox in the 1970’s and Dombrowski helped Veeck with his alcoholism
in the 1980s.
Veeck
said the Tigers’ success starts with his friend who he describes as a
“great judge” of talent. Unlike some presidents who aren’t well
schooled in baseball, Dombrowski has an extraordinary mind for knowledge
and details about players. He also doesn’t hesitate to “pull the
trigger” on trades and speaks his mind, according to Veeck. “The thing I
love about him is he tells you what he thinks of a player,” Veeck said.
“He doesn’t care who is in the room.”
Veeck
said Dombrowski “runs a scout driven organization” and that scouts, even
low level ones, are loyal to their boss. When Dombrowski changes teams,
they follow. Dombrowski built contending teams in Montreal and Florida
in the 1990s and his 1997 Marlins won the
World Series.
Veeck
predicts the Tigers, a young team that made it to the World Series
before losing to St. Louis, will be a force in the American League for
the next few years.
What
happened in the series where they lost to the Cardinals in six games?
“They (as a young team) have got to learn to win,” Veeck said.
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“The thing I love about him is he tells
you what he thinks of a player. He doesn’t care who is in the room.”
Mike Veeck on Dave Dombrowski
Mike Veeck
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Extra Innings
Ryan Longwell, who played nine seasons with Green Bay before coming
to the Vikings this year, holds the Packer career scoring record of
1,054 points. Packer legend Don Hutson is second on the list at
853.
The late
Herb Brooks, who coached the Gophers to two
national championships and America’s “Miracle on Ice” win over the
Soviet Union, is part of the University of Minnesota’s new 253-foot long
Wall of Discovery that pays tribute to famous alumni and faculty. The
wall is located on the east campus and includes this quote from Brooks:
"It is amazing what a group can accomplish when no one cares who gets
the credit."
Former University of Minnesota athletic director
McKinley
Boston has another “air show.” At
Minnesota he hired Jim Wacker whose teams set school records for
passing. Now the AD at New Mexico State, Boston’s football coach,
Hal Mumme, has the Aggies second in the country in passing
yards per game at almost 400 yards. Mumme is in his second season at New
Mexico State and has a 2-7 record including 0-5 in the WAC Conference.
Christopher
(Critter) Nagurski, grandson of fabled footballer
Bronko Nagurski, has been named to the United States College Hockey
Online pre-season Division II and III all-American team. The Augsburg
senior forward’s goals-per-game average of 0.84 was
fifth-best among Division III players last season. Nagurski has been
called Critter since he was an infant when siblings couldn’t pronounce
Christopher.
Freshman Chris Johnson is playing hockey for Augsburg, too, and
his grandfather is the now deceased Bob Johnson, legendary former
Wisconsin hockey coach. His father Mark is a former 1980 Olympic
player and now University of Wisconsin women’s hockey coach.
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"It is amazing what a group can accomplish
when no one cares who gets the credit."
Herb Books
Critter Nagurski, grandson of
fabled footballer Bronko Nagurski, has been named to the United
States College Hockey Online pre-season Division II and III all-American
team. |
