Tonight, Brett Favre takes his first snaps as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.
I'm not sure how I feel about that above sentence. On one hand, I'm a huge Favre fan and thrilled to see him playing again, even if it is a preseason game. On the other hand, I'm also a Green Bay Packers fan and a bit disappointed to see him donning the purple of the hated Vikings.
(Okay, those of you who know me are surely saying about now, "I thought you were a Browns fan!" Yes, I am. They are my first NFL love. However, when they took their three-year hiatus from the league thanks to (insert derogatory word here) Art Modell, I turned to the Packers to be my rental team. They will always hold a place my football-loving heart for those three years, 1996 - 1998.)
Anyway, back on topic. Having cheered on the Packers, and only the Packers, for several seasons, I became a die-hard Favre fan. In fact, he is one of my top two favorite NFL players of all time. He has nearly every major quarterback record. However, my favorite of all his records is the NFL games played streak. Proof that, unlike many of his QB brethren, Favre is tough as nails.
I have a respect and admiration for Favre. Although I don't appreciate his infamous retire, unretire routine, I still love watching him play the game of football. I am thrilled he will do this for a 19th season.
Still, I can not get over the fact that he is playing for the enemy. One part of me wants to boo and ridicule him. Another part wants to cheer him and hope he can go out on top, with a Super Bowl title (that is, of course, unless the Browns find a way to win the Super Bowl this year!). I believe most Packer fans feel this way.
Last year was different. After retiring, following the 2007 season, Favre changed course in early Summer, 2008. He decided he wanted him back. The Packers organization decided it did not want him. Favre went to the Jets. The Jets are hardly a rival. Besides, the Packers brass came off as the bad guy in that situation. He was still the lovable hero for the Green Bay faithful.
This year is different. This time, he twice said he was finished. Okay, great! We'll forget that disappointing season in New York and think of you squarely as a Packer. Can't do that so much now that you're a Viking, Brett. You have let down Packers Nation.
So, whether to boo Brett or cheer Brett? Well, I think I will continue to cheer Brett, but hope he continues to lose at the Metrodome - the one place he struggled to win while with the Packers. Now it's his home field. Good luck Brett - hope the Vikes lose.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Why Now?
Where was this three months ago? Where was this one-and-a-half months ago, even?
I'm talking about the hot streak the Cleveland Indians are currently on. The Tribe has gone 12-6 in their last 18 games and have won five of their past six series. Most recently they took two-out-of-three games each from their Central Division rivals, the Twins, Tigers and White Sox. Those happen to be the three teams in contention for the Central Division crown.
All of this might have mattered a couple months ago when a hot streak could have put the Indians in contention for the division and a berth in the postseason. Instead, the Indians are bunch of rookies, with a few good players sprinkled in, simply hoping to prove they deserve a Major League paycheck next year.
As the Indians do most years under manager Eric Wedge, they got off to another disastrous start this season. The Wahoo Warriors were out of contention before the calendar turned to Summer.
With little hope for the present, the Indians traded away high-priced (though not by New York and Boston standards) stars Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee. Both, by the way, were still under contract for next season. The Tribe also dumped salary in the form of trading Ryan Garko, Raffael Bettancourt, Mark DeRosa and Carl Pavano. According to the Dolans, the trades were necessitated because the team was set to lose $16 million this season and it wasn't looking good for next year, either.
That's all well and good, but the Indians essentially waved the white flag on not only this seaons, but 2010, as well. Trading their ace and most potent offensive weapon does not bode well for next year.
This would not be so upsetting if not for the frustration that has become the Indians' light switch. Since the club began trading away its top players for prospects and hopeful future stars, they have been on a role. This happened last year when the Tribe traded away reigning Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia after a slow start. Sabathia left, the Indians went on a role and finished 81-81. This duped everyone into believing the Tribe could contend this year. Oviously, we know what happend as the team sits at 48-63. An 11-game deficit in the division would take a miracle to overcome.
While, working back to contention this year seems impossible, working back to respectability does not. The kids have shown some life. Andy Marte may actually amount to something. Jhonny Peralta has been raking of late. Of course Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are still around. Youngsters Matt LaPorta, Trevor Crowe and Carlos Santan give hope to a strong offensive nucleus in the future.
as for the pitching staff, sans Lee, Fausto Carmona has looked almost like a No. 2 pitcher in his two starts back from the minors. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers are finally looking like they belong in a Major League pitch rotation. Justin Masterson, a converted reliever, threw four strong innings in his first start for the Tribe last week.
With that, a continued run of success is possible. Finishing the year with a respectable 75-80 wins does not seem far fetched. Once again, the Indians will be setting us up to believe they can content in the weak Central Division next year. I'll be left pondering what this team could be with Lee and Martinez anchoring it.
Of course, trading palyers midway through the season and playing well once it's too little, too late only masks the true issue for this team. That is Eric Wedge and his inability to have the team ready to go when the season starts.
Slow starts in 2004 and 2005 cost the Indians a playoff spot both years. Each season the Tribe got red hot late, but sputtered down the stretch. In 2007, the Indians played respectable ball early and got to within a victory of the World Series. Since then, in 2008 and 2009, promising Indians squads got off to slow starts, sabotaging what could have been glorious years.
This lack of early-season success has to fall on Wedge. It is the manager's job to have his team ready and he, clearly, is not doing that job. I won't sit here and say who the Indians should have on the bench next year when the season opens, but I do not believe it should be Wedge.
I do not want August to hit for yet another season and wonder what might have been had the Indians played like this in April and May. I want to see a packed Progressive Field when the Tribe plays well late. Not a spattering of a crowd simply there to work on a tan.
In Cleveland, we are tired of what might've been. It's time to get rid of Wedge and prepare for what could be.
I'm talking about the hot streak the Cleveland Indians are currently on. The Tribe has gone 12-6 in their last 18 games and have won five of their past six series. Most recently they took two-out-of-three games each from their Central Division rivals, the Twins, Tigers and White Sox. Those happen to be the three teams in contention for the Central Division crown.
All of this might have mattered a couple months ago when a hot streak could have put the Indians in contention for the division and a berth in the postseason. Instead, the Indians are bunch of rookies, with a few good players sprinkled in, simply hoping to prove they deserve a Major League paycheck next year.
As the Indians do most years under manager Eric Wedge, they got off to another disastrous start this season. The Wahoo Warriors were out of contention before the calendar turned to Summer.
With little hope for the present, the Indians traded away high-priced (though not by New York and Boston standards) stars Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee. Both, by the way, were still under contract for next season. The Tribe also dumped salary in the form of trading Ryan Garko, Raffael Bettancourt, Mark DeRosa and Carl Pavano. According to the Dolans, the trades were necessitated because the team was set to lose $16 million this season and it wasn't looking good for next year, either.
That's all well and good, but the Indians essentially waved the white flag on not only this seaons, but 2010, as well. Trading their ace and most potent offensive weapon does not bode well for next year.
This would not be so upsetting if not for the frustration that has become the Indians' light switch. Since the club began trading away its top players for prospects and hopeful future stars, they have been on a role. This happened last year when the Tribe traded away reigning Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia after a slow start. Sabathia left, the Indians went on a role and finished 81-81. This duped everyone into believing the Tribe could contend this year. Oviously, we know what happend as the team sits at 48-63. An 11-game deficit in the division would take a miracle to overcome.
While, working back to contention this year seems impossible, working back to respectability does not. The kids have shown some life. Andy Marte may actually amount to something. Jhonny Peralta has been raking of late. Of course Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are still around. Youngsters Matt LaPorta, Trevor Crowe and Carlos Santan give hope to a strong offensive nucleus in the future.
as for the pitching staff, sans Lee, Fausto Carmona has looked almost like a No. 2 pitcher in his two starts back from the minors. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers are finally looking like they belong in a Major League pitch rotation. Justin Masterson, a converted reliever, threw four strong innings in his first start for the Tribe last week.
With that, a continued run of success is possible. Finishing the year with a respectable 75-80 wins does not seem far fetched. Once again, the Indians will be setting us up to believe they can content in the weak Central Division next year. I'll be left pondering what this team could be with Lee and Martinez anchoring it.
Of course, trading palyers midway through the season and playing well once it's too little, too late only masks the true issue for this team. That is Eric Wedge and his inability to have the team ready to go when the season starts.
Slow starts in 2004 and 2005 cost the Indians a playoff spot both years. Each season the Tribe got red hot late, but sputtered down the stretch. In 2007, the Indians played respectable ball early and got to within a victory of the World Series. Since then, in 2008 and 2009, promising Indians squads got off to slow starts, sabotaging what could have been glorious years.
This lack of early-season success has to fall on Wedge. It is the manager's job to have his team ready and he, clearly, is not doing that job. I won't sit here and say who the Indians should have on the bench next year when the season opens, but I do not believe it should be Wedge.
I do not want August to hit for yet another season and wonder what might have been had the Indians played like this in April and May. I want to see a packed Progressive Field when the Tribe plays well late. Not a spattering of a crowd simply there to work on a tan.
In Cleveland, we are tired of what might've been. It's time to get rid of Wedge and prepare for what could be.
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