I've never been a Brett Favre fan.
He's one of those polarizing figures in sports, like the New York Yankees or Kobe Bryant. Either you love him, or you hate him.
There was always something about the way that people incessantly worshiped Favre that turned me off. I got sick of hearing about him every five minutes, and I disapproved of how he retired and un-retired in recent years.
I was looking forward to a Favre-free season when he retired after a one-year stint with the New York Jets. When training camps opened at the start of the year I could finally breath a sigh of relief.
But then Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
So I prepared for another season of the Favre circus. I comforted myself with the thought that there was no way that the old geezer would succeed; I expected his tenure with Minnesota to be exactly like his miserable season with the New York Jets.
Then Favre threw for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns, and a career-low seven interceptions. Even a hater like myself can't deny how amazing Favre has been this season.
Like Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy, he's a man. He's 40. But unlike any other 40 year old, he posted excellent numbers in a league full of players who are younger, faster, and more athletic than him. What he accomplished is truly remarkable.
That's why even I felt bad for Favre this past weekend.
With 19 seconds left in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Favre's Vikings were tied at 28 with New Orleans. The Vikings had the ball on the Saints' 38-yard line, just outside kicker Ryan Longwell's field goal range. Favre had played well up to this point and had his team in position to advance to the Super Bowl.
Then disaster struck.
Favre threw an ugly interception to send the game into overtime. The Saints won the coin toss and Minnesota never got the ball back. New Orleans won, 31-28.
The interception very well might have been the last play in Favre's storied career.
Favre was a few yards and a Longwell kick away from reaching his goal of returning to the Super Bowl. For an outstanding season to end in heartbreaking fashion is unfortunate - even for a Favre hater like me.
Though I was a little empathetic for Favre, his interception reminded me why I love sports. It's the unscripted drama you could never get from a movie. If Hollywood scripted sports, Favre wouldn't have thrown that interception. He would have won the Super Bowl for a storybook ending to his long career.
But that's not how it happened.
As a result, we get another historic storyline: The Saints advance to the Super Bowl for the first time ever and lift the spirits of The Big Easy after Hurricane Katrina.
As for Favre, we'll just have to do what we always do - wait and see if he'll retire, or come back, or both.
E-mail: luke.hammill@ubspectrum.com
