Brett Retires
Wednesday 05th March 2008
at 12:52am
Who says i can’t keep up with what’s going on all the way down here?
It’s 2 ‘o’ clock in the morning (12 minutes past in fact) and I was quietly working away on my book when I thought I’d check my email to see if anything exciting was happening. Holy crap, I said to myself as I saw the first email from Carol (thanks Carol). It was a link to the Fox Sports page that announced Brett’s retirement. By the time I had digested it all I went back to my email to see that Tari, known to most these days as “Tezza” and Cheryl had let me know aswell. 3 emails in the space of 6 minutes, this must be big news?
What can you possibly say about a guy like Brett Favre? What a career, what a guy, what a season to go out on. As most of you know, there were a few reasons we decided to come to Green Bay this year of all years. One, i’d had enough of my job. Two, our house was too small. Three, Ben was starting school this year and 4 (how coincidental) the prospect that Brett might retire soon.
I don’t want to wax on too much about him because I’m sure that everybody in the entire country is doing that at the moment. I’ll just sit back with my memories, smile at what we have all enjoyed over the last 17 years and wonder, if ever, we will ever be blessed with an individual like him again. I’ll remember him running from the field in Superbowl XXXI, with his helmet above his head, like he had just thrown his first ever touchdown pass (above). I’ll remember the Monday night game against the Raiders that nobody in their lives will ever forget and, more pertinent to this season, i’ll remember his touchdown pass against the Broncos in Week 8.
So far as him being the guy that he is? I’ll remeber the Halloween prank he and Mark Chmura played on Mike Holmgren. I’ll remember the time, when mic’ed up on the field he asked an official for a left handed ball (that makes me laugh everytime i see it) and of course, I’ll remeber the time that he and Deanna made me feel more welcome at their table than i ever could have imagined.
It’s sad to think that he won’t be there to take the first snap this year, as he has for the last 16. It’s kind of nice knowing though that he went out on his terms, when he wanted, in the fashion that he did.
Thanks Brett. From Green Bay to Sydney to the 70 odd other countries that happened to have people come by this website at some point during the last season. You touched us all, not just because you could throw a ball, but because you had so much fun doing it.
Hoping you all have a great day. I wish I was there to relive his career through the media as i’m sure you all will for the rest of the week.
Posted byComments
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 02:14am
Wayne,
I’m just thrilled that you were able to make it over here for this his final year and such a great season! I’m still in a bit of shock over the whole business, but then again, not really. I saw it coming. Just glad you were there to experience it.
xo
tez
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 02:21am
"VERY SAD” day here at Lambeau Field. The announcement has just been made that Brett is retiring and we are all in shock!! We will greatly miss him and truly wish him and his family all of the best. Fans are buying his jerey and anything else that relates to him today as a momento from his greatness as an all out top notch NFL quarterback ever to play!!!
Wayne & Family, we are glad that you had a part of his last year playing in the NFL and have all of those memories..
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 02:35am
Just reading what you wrote gave me goose bumps. I am so glad you picked this past yr to follow the PACK. It’s a very sad day in the state of Wisconsin and where-ever else Packer fans reside.
Matt Malecki
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 03:07am
I thought about you when I read this news. Nice job chosing this season to come over, you coudn’t have done much better.
Thanks for the great notes on the Oshkosh Packer Fans, BTW.
On another note, thank the whole country for Tim Cahill (as an Everton fan).
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 03:52am
You are welcome Wayne. Your memories will be all the more special and even more for your book.
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 05:16am
Man! You picked the perfect time for your once in a lifetime quest! I am so happy you made it here to Green Bay to witness Brett’s last year.
I hope it’s the cherry on the top of your trip to have seen him play his entire final season.
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 06:12am
Wayne & Family,
I heard about your story one morning many months ago on the radio. We hear all the time in Wisconsin that we have the best fans in all of the NFL, but I don’t think it hit home until today. I truly think it is incredible that you all got to share this piece of what will soon be an incredible memory. I can’t wait to read your book… and wish you and yours the very best!
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 07:07am
In a way I am conflicted, and will miss Brett this football season and all the wonderfull memories he has given us, then again, it would be sad to see Brett come back and get hurt, it’s been a great run for packer fans everywhere and I am glad u got to see the best of all aspects of the game Wayne...Brett Favre is one of the greatest sports figures in history… good luck Brett and good luck Wayne..your book should be amazing Wayne.. I am trying to put my feelings in here , but the right words won’t come, so I will just say ... thanks for the memories Wayne and Brett
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 10:13am
I forgot to send an e-mail instead I put it in your other blog..
But thought of you right away…
I am so glad you were here for his last year to Celebrate with us all.
As you can imagine we are all in mourning..
But So Glad For The Years Brett Gave Us!
Robin & Cableman
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 12:12pm
Stopped by to see if word had found its way yet, should’ve known better.
Night of torturous insomnia,tossed and turned for four hours, gave up the fight at 4:00am, sat down at the pc, browsed the news; Clinton and Obama...*yawn*...McCain...Apple to release new yada yada...Favre fans saddened over retirement decision
- say *what*?! -
Reread to make sure I’d seen correctly.
It was inevitable, of course. As time’s gone on, the more inevitable it was becoming, but -.
Am commiserating with other fans on the boards presently.
Showtime for Rodgers.
Joining with others in being glad for ya that you chose this past season to travel stateside.
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 01:12pm
HI WAYNE,
I WAS GOING TO EMAIL YOU ABOUT BRETT’S
RETIREMENT, BUT I FIGURE SOMEONE ELSE
WOULD BEAT ME TO IT!!!I HEARD IT ON THE
WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING, WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO WTMJ620 OF MILWAUKEE. THEY WERE BREAKING THE NEWS FROM RUMORS
FIRST FROM FOXSPORTS, TOO. AN ANNOUNCER
SAID HOLY CRAP, TOO, ON THE AIR WHICH YOU COULD TELL SURPRISED HIM & EVERYONE
IN WISCONSIN, AFTER BRETT HAD SUCH A GREAT YEAR--WBAY GREEN BAY HAD A HOUR TRIBUTE TO BRETT THE LEGEND TONIGHT. I
TAPED IT OF COURSE PLUS LIKE I DID ALL YEAR WITH ALL THE GREAT PLAYS FROM THE GAMES THIS YEAR. CAN’T WAIT FOR YOUR BOOK—YOU WERE SURE LUCKY TO SEE BRETT AT HIS GLORY. LOVE YOUR WEB PAGE
& PLEASE KEEP IT UP. I WILL TRY TO KEEP YOU AFLOAT OF ALL THE TRIBUTES GOING ON HERE & ACROSS THE NATION.
AUDREY, MARQUETTE, WI
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 01:37pm
Wayne,
Thanks for saying what we all want to say and for doing what so many of us feel that we are unable to do. Glad you had a great time over here and I’m glad you guys are settled in.
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 02:29pm
He may not of been the greatest quarterback, but he had the greatest career. Man am I going to miss the security of having him start week in and week out. for 16 years. I have the videotape of his first pass to himself. What a privalege it had been to watch him play. Wayne, I’m glad you were there.
Wed 05th Mar 08
at 03:08pm
Wayne, thank you for bringing your enthusiasm and down under perspective to a wonderful last season for Favre. I had a mini “once in a lifetime” moment myself when I traveled from Wisconsin to Kansas City to see the Packers and Brett play in a game away from Lambeau Field. I wanted to experience a Packers game on the road and felt like I needed to do it this year before he retired. It was an amazing experience and I learned that Favre was not just beloved in Wisconsin, but he was a National treasure(and in your case global.) I met so many people that were not Packer fans but huge Brett Favre fans. He truly is one of the greatest and I am so pleased that your trip included a chance to meet him. Thanks again for bringing us along on your journey.
Thu 06th Mar 08
at 08:56am
Excuse me, boB,,,,,,,,, What do you mean, “he may not have been the greatest quarterback”? What planet are you from?
Thu 06th Mar 08
at 01:48pm
Yeah, there’s a lot of that floating around right now, unfortunately. Just posted a response to some random clueless guy on USA Today’s site; “You people act like he’s irreplaceable or something”. “...New to football there are ya?”
Thu 06th Mar 08
at 04:16pm
Wayne, I wish I could have met you - we were at the Detroit game on 12/30. I have loved Brett for the last 16 years and felt so privileged to see him in his last game (regular season) at Lambeau.
I saw him play the year we won the Super Bowl and went to it but lost.
I was hoping he’d come back to let me cheer him on in person again. Sigh.
He is irreplaceable, in a sense. I am so glad you all got to spend that whole last season in Green Bay. I sure wish I would have.
Fri 07th Mar 08
at 01:19pm
This year is sure to feel really different. The Packers identity has retired.
I think we’re all getting a taste of what it was like when Lombardi left for KC.
I listened to the Brett Favre farewell press conference live on the radio this morning. It was really difficult to listen to. Brett started pretty dry then there was the awkward silence as he took quite a few moments to collect himself. then the choked words that followed. You could have heard a pin drop.
It’s the end of an era. No one can play the game forever. We all knew it was coming sometime. But just like losing a game in the post season. There’s just that deflating finality of it that lets you down. Unfortunately, with Brett’s retirement… There’s no next year. :o(
Sat 08th Mar 08
at 12:27am
I cried at the press conference. Things will never be the same without number 4. It will sure seem weird come football season. Thanks for coming to Wisconsin this year to see Brett in his final season. Hope you enjoyed visiting us in Wisconsin!
Sat 08th Mar 08
at 12:04pm
My hubby and I were cruising on the Mexican Riviera when we heard the news on CNN. The short clip they gave of his career was more like a eulogy. For a moment we had thought he had died. So glad you were able to be here for his last hurrah.
My hubby wears his Packers cap whenever and wherever we travel. Some one always knows the Pack but more have always asked about Brett. Only place we never got any response to seeing the cap was on a cruise Down Under!!! But I’m sure your pending publication(s) should end that.
Sat 08th Mar 08
at 02:12pm
Dear Wayne I’ve followed your trip since I first heard you on Rick n Len show on WAPL.Wow what a final chapter.Number 4’s retirement.
but we gotta know, said with a smile on my face.
“Will Brett visit you, down under now he has time on his hands?”
Thanks for the up dates and for making the Packer season all the more exicting.
Peter
Sat 08th Mar 08
at 03:42pm
For all 253 games since 1992, when he stepped in and started a Week 4 game against the Steelers, there has been one constant with the Green Bay Packers. As someone who actually “moved” to the Packers in 1993 with the arrival of Reggie White, I like many fans have only ever known Brett at the helm. It’s hard to imagine what the next few seasons will be like. I knew when I saw your photos sitting with Brett and Deanna that your onceinalifetime experience was just about complete then. So as said in that classic movie ‘Life of Brian’ all I have to say is “You lucky lucky bastard” .....
The king is gone ... long live the king
Tue 18th Mar 08
at 04:12pm
hey man
It’s me again the guy from Dallas. I’m so glad you got to see Brett’s final year. I get sad thinking about how he retired. He proved to every one that age was not a factor to this guy just as long as you love the game. It was sad being in the cowboys stadium when they lost but I’m glad i got to see Brett in person. His final season was truly amazing take care man
Anthony Perez