As many of you know, this morning marked my debut in morning television.  That's right, I've now broadened my horizons to include not only an interest in sports but also an interest in traffic as the Road Warrior Traffic Reporter on "Live at Daybreak" on TMJ4.  During my introduction to the viewing world my most talented co-workers (Vince, Susan and Craig) made many references to the fact that I am from Burlington...also home to the better-known Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo.

 

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Having come off an outstanding win against the fore-mentioned quarterback and his team on Sunday, it seems the Packers may have gotten into the groove that so many of us thought was apparent and expected during the pre-season (that or they were just lucky).  I've been trying to not be a homer this year but it's proved difficult when you cheer for a team that boasts so many talented individuals.  Now I'd like to stress the word "individual" here.  As many of you know I not only love to watch football but I have also become quite the fantasy football enthusiast.  Before taking the position with TMJ4 I worked for a fantasy football company.  My life was comprised of nothing but individual statistics and successes (even when a team loses).  And let me tell you, I would often see names of Green Bay Packers near the top of the ranks. 

 

Somehow or another, in the five fantasy football leagues I am a part of I have Romo as my quarterback in two and Rodgers in one (I say somehow or another because a couple of leagues were auto-picked).  Romo has proved to be nothing but inconsistent this fantasy football season.  One week even nabbing me a mere six points (this in contrast to his 34 fantasy points in week one).  Rodgers on the other hand has been in the league's top performing quarterbacks since week one.  Not to mention he was the leading point grabber in my PPR league more than once.

 

 

 

I know that the Packer record doesn't necessarily support the greatness of number 12 at this point in time.  But keep the faith Packer nation.  Mr. Romo may have "led" his team to 6-3 so far this season but at 5-4, I'd pick Aaron Rodgers as my fantasy quarterback any day.

Lastly, don't forget to check out my photo gallery here at SportsBubbler.com

About one week ago, a very good friend asked if I would be interested in putting a bid in on some Packer tickets for the November 1 game.  Let's be honest...did she even have to ask?  I mean who wouldn't want to be present and accounted for to see one of the most controversial and historic events in NFL history take place, Brett Favre's return to the "Frozen Tundra"?

We were fortunate enough to get an amazing price on some fairly good seats and therefore have been counting the minutes since last Thursday.  However, a strange feeling came over me when I heard that we were, in fact, making the trek to Lambeau.  It was an eerie yet familiar feeling.  I was actually excited to see Favre play another game.

I felt like such a traitor!  How could I, in my right mind, have anything but pure hatred for that man.  He broke my little Packer football loving heart and I wish him nothing but the worst from now until he retires.  I have moved on to my new love, Aaron Rodgers but that darn ex just won't leave me alone.

 

Sure, on October 5 my hatred loomed and I felt spiteful and vindictive toward the man in the purple jersey.  But this is different.  I think many of us thought that the next time we saw #4 in the hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field it would be to honor an impressive career.  A career of ups and downs, longevity, adversity and above all, greatness.  I mean this is the man who helped bring the name "Titletown" back to Wisconsin.  He is part of the reason Green Bay has been a front-runner for America's Team year after year.

Much attention has been given to the possibilities of different reactions from fans on Sunday.  Here is my take and my dilemma as a fan:

First of all, let's remember that among the Green and Gold faithful at ANY Viking game at Lambeau there will be a great number of Minnesotans strewn about.  It's in close proximity to the state and a huge divisional rivalry.  Let's face it, when you listen to the Chicago and Minnesota games on the radio it's hard to gauge which way the fans are going.  I have a feeling this will be magnified on Sunday. 

Then there are the fans who have jumped on the Favre bandwagon, those incessant people who think Favre is like a family member.  They stoop so low as to "boo" Aaron Rodgers (keeping in mind ESPN ranks Rodgers as a passer about four spots above Brett...just saying).

You will also have those who are Packer fans but still like the veteran quarterback.  So they will cheer for him as well.  I've seen this approach to Favre's return on various sports websites, including our very own JSOnline.  Writers and analysts saying we should give him the welcome he deserves, but only until the game clock starts.  After kick-off they recommend we treat Favre the same way we would treat any other opponent.

Finally, you will have those scorned individuals who will show no mercy on a man who has tainted all that is right and good with football in Wisconsin.  He is the enemy.  I have gotten the feeling this week that many more people have crossed over to this side since the first showdown at the Metrodome.  Those "wishy washy" Packer fans have seen him for who he truly is now... the rival quarterback.

 

He's made it apparent that he has no qualms about coming back to the place he called home for 16 years.  In a press conference earlier this week he said that although Lambeau Field was special and will always be special, his mind is only on winning the game.  I'm still not sure how I will react on Sunday afternoon.  I'm a Packer fan in my mid-20's...putting me in the prime Favre-worship demographic.  But I have also learned that there is life after Brett Favre, and there would have been Jets or no Jets, Vikings or no Vikings.  Ted Thompson has made some bonehead decisions in his tenure as the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers.  However, going ahead with Aaron Rodgers was not one of them.  This organization simply could not be held hostage by the king of the Wafflehouse any longer.  But you have to admit, he puts on a hell of a show.

 

Earlier this week The New York Times reported that former NFL players have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other memory-related conditions at rates much higher than the national population.

In a study commissioned by the league, a phone survey of approximately 1,000 former players found that 6.1 percent of players over age 50 have received a dementia-related diagnosis.  That is roughly five times higher than the national average.  An even more astounding finding, those players surveyed aged 30-49 reported dementia-related conditions at 19 times the national average of .1 percent.

And that, my friends, finally explains what is wrong with Brett Favre.  It's obvious he is suffering from dementia.  According to Alzheimer's Disease International there are a multitude of early symptom associated with dementia.  Mr. Favre seems to suffer from quite a few of these symptoms; lets take a look:

Memory loss: Memory-loss, especially in the form of short-term memory is the most common early symptom of dementia.  After yesterday's emotional conference call with the Wisconsin media it seems to me that Brett Favre has forgotten a few things that have happened over the past year.  First and foremost, he has no recollection of admitting that at one point in the retirement saga he divulged to SI.com's Peter King that he, in deed, had a motive for revenge against Ted Thompson.  In a February 16 article on SI.com Peter King wrote:

The reality, Favre knows now, is he not only wanted to play again, but he wanted to show Green Bay -- particularly general manager Ted Thompson -- that it was making a big mistake in going forward without him.  "Part of me coming back last year, I have to admit now, was sticking it to Ted,'' he said in a rather startling admission.

Favre, in quite a defensive manner, said yesterday that he was never motivated for that reason, that revenge was never a factor.  When asked if he was misquoted by King, Favre continued to backpedal by saying his comment to SI.com was that: it's human nature to want to prove someone wrong, to prove he could still play.  Funny Brett, I don't recall anyone saying that you couldn't still play...

 

 

Another early symptom of dementia is having problems keeping track of things.  Favre must have misplaced Aaron Rodgers' phone number.  In a radio interview with Michael Irvin during Super Bowl festivities in Tampa last January, Rodgers was asked about Favre.  Rodgers stated that he had reached out to Favre and that the future Hall of Famer didn't return his calls.

Favre painted quite the different picture in yesterday's call.  When asked if he had reached out to his successor since their last game together in 2007 (NFC Championship loss to the New York Giants) Favre replied hastily, "For what? I mean, I think Aaron not only has done well, I think he will, you know, have a great career. I said that from day one. I mean, the guy's talented. That's why they drafted him. But ... no one's called me."

The next two symptoms I would like to touch on are changes in mood and behavior accompanied with a change in personality.  A person with dementia may seem different from his usual self.  The diagnosed may become irritable, anxious or agitated.  Media outlets across the country noticed a change in Brett Favre's "good ol' boy" demeanor yesterday afternoon.  Pro Football Talk even labeled him as "grumpy".  I must admit, listening to the call archives, the man on the line sounded like a stranger.  As seasoned Packer fans we have all become quite accustomed to the cheerful and mischievous Mississippian we all grew to know and love.  He's just not himself anymore...or is he?  Is this the Brett Favre we were blind to notice over the 16 years he called Green Bay home?

The final symptom I would like to highlight in my concern for Brett Favre's mental health is poor or decreased judgment.  Brett, it's the Vikings! Alzheimer's Disease International's example of poor judgment is a person dressing inappropriately.  Slipping on that evil purple jersey is about as bad as poor judgment can get.

While this piece was meant to be a fun little jab at the quarterback we all love to hate I must take this moment to remind you that the diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's are no laughing matter.  There are currently 30 million people living with dementia. 

I am not a medical professional and do not claim to have diagnosed Brett Favre with any form of mental illness.  But I will be one of many to say...that man is crazy!

The moment most Wisconsin sports fans have dreaded for as long as we can remember (well, at least since last summer) is quickly approaching.  Only a few more days until the biggest NFL showdown of the year, heck maybe ever, takes center stage on Monday Night Football.

Unless you've been living under a rock you know that on Monday, October 5, you will for the first time ever see Brett Favre as the opposition.  I don't know about you, but last summer when Favre signed with the Jets I breathed a sigh of relief.  Knowing that not only was he on an AFC team but an AFC team who wasn't scheduled to face the Packers until say, 2014 was a minimal amount of comfort in a situation that had gone so sour, so quickly.  Likewise, when the anointed one announced that he would in fact not be joining the Minnesota Vikings but be staying retired I felt relieved once again.  I even remember where I was at that exact moment-driving in my car on I-94 toward Milwaukee, just north of the Highway G exit in Racine County.  I should have known it was too good to be true.

No matter how much that man toys with our emotions, plays the blame game and down right dumps on the team we love so much, you just don't want to ever believe it's true.  There are times I feel like this whole fiasco has been a bad dream.  From the teary farewell on March 4, 2008 to his plane touching down in Minnesota come August it has been one long and emotional roller coaster ride.  And now I can't help but ask myself, going into Monday Night, do nice guys really finish first?

Brett Favre has certainly had his fair share of bad luck.  But he always seems to come out on top.  As many of us know he was involved in a near fatal car crash just before his senior year of college.  The accident caused Favre to lose approximately 30 inches of small intestine.  A mere six weeks after the accident Favre led his team to a comeback victory over Alabama in which Alabama's coach, Gene Stallings referred to Favre as "larger than life."  And how could any of us forget about the game in Oakland, less than 24 hours after the passing of his father.  Even the thought of that night gives me goose bumps to this day.  And these two events only scratch the surface of the adversity this man has overcome in his many years of playing football.

 

I am a huge believer in karma...what goes around comes around.  And what I want to know, is when does Brett Favre get his on the football field?  Personal challenges aside-when does a man, who went on record a multitude of times saying he would finish his career in Green Bay, feel the wrath of the anguish he has caused.  Now, I'm not only talking about the fans.  Fans aside, this man took his teammates, coaches and team personnel down along with him, not only in Green Bay but in New York too.  Mike Tannenbaum, Eric Mangini and the New York Jets Organization are out a total of $125,000 because this one man has to make excuses in case of bad play.  And keep in mind that after said fine, good old #4 continued to run his mouth implying that the Packers had also failed to follow the rules of filing an injury report. But the one person, who, in my opinion, has suffered the most as a result of this debacle, is Aaron Rodgers.

Sure, you could make an argument that Mark Sanchez also has the title of "the guy after THE guy" but nothing like Rodgers has and will have to endure.  Aaron Rodgers will be compared to arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game of football not only in Green Bay but anywhere he may end up after his time here.  This young California-raised quarterback inherited the legacy to end all legacies...the man who brought the legend and the mystique back to Titletown.

I don't think there is an athlete in the game today that could have handled such a situation with more grace and poise than Rodgers did.  He kept himself focused through a literal circus not once, but twice.  Because let's face it, anytime Brett Favre makes a media splash it is and will always be associated with the Packers.

Coming into his second season under center Rodgers has finally been able to win over some of his greatest critics.  He's proven to be a consistently successful quarterback despite a disappointing 6-10 season in 2008.   He is committed to improvement of his individual game and continues to show that he is a team player both on and off the field.

I hope for Aaron Rodgers' sake that Monday Night ends in favor of the Green and Gold.  For if it doesn't, an old can of worms will be re-opened for weeks to come.  Will a win on Monday make Rodgers the better quarterback?  Not necessarily, but it would sure be a step in the right direction.  And it may go to show, finally, that nice guys DO finish first.

 

 

The weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing, it can only mean one thing: football season, right?  Wrong!  While the Green and Gold faithful gear up for pigskin action every Sunday there are some folks 120 miles to the south who are gearing up for another exciting season of Milwaukee Bucks basketball.

Now you may be laughing at my attempt to make the Milwaukee Bucks seem like a team worth following.  Sure, two of our key players were injury ridden for the majority of last season and the off-season presented us with a great deal of player turnover and a fleet of new talent.  But the team is looking forward to embracing the various changes and is excited for a second season under the wing of, no holds barred head coach, Scott Skiles.

The most recognized new talent added to the team has been first round draft choice, Brandon Jennings. Jennings is no stranger to controversy and promises to let his talent speak for itself.  I had the opportunity to catch up with Jennings and some of the other Milwaukee Bucks at Media Night on Monday.

For more interviews with your favorite Milwaukee Bucks click here

Also check out the photos taken from Media Day.