tygr20

So.  I’ve started writing a sports article for a website.  Need a catchy name.  I’ll unveil who the site is later- but for now, those of you who know me to some degree- what in the world do I call the article?  Monday Morning Quarterback is already taken, so there goes that… ideas?

Let me start off by saying Brett Favre will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks the world has ever seen. Statistically. The guy holds records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and consecutive games started to name a few. But I HATE Brett Favre.

Michael Jordan shocked the world when he retired from the NBA. No one could have possibly seen it coming. His father had been tragically murdered, and Mike cited his father’s desire to see his play baseball as a major reason for his retirement.  It didn’t work for him though- he was human with a bat in hand.

Less than a year later, the sports world went into a frenzy over two words: “I’m back.”  MJ would lead the Bulls once again. Some familiar faces were still there, most notably Scottie Pippen, Mike’s right hand man. Several of the others were gone. But the arguably most important piece was there: head coach Phil Jackson. They did it again- three consecutive championships in 96, 97, and 98. In the 1998 NBA Finals, Jordan made magic again. At the top of the key, he drained a shot over Utah’s Byron Scott to seal the series. As he let it go, Mike left his hand hanging in the air until the shot fell.

It was the last game Jordan played in a Chicago Bulls uniform, but the basketball world was satisfied. Michael Jordan would end his career on a high note, and would always be remembered for the shot. He officially announced his retirement in the off-season in 1999. But he didn’t stay away.

In 2001, Michael was working in the front offices of the Washington Wizards. The team was doing horribly. The hero returned as a Washington Wizard. It was the first time in his professional career that he wouldn’t be a Bull. And it was bad. Mike’s age had caught up to him. An injury to his knee shortened his first season back to just 60 games. Younger players like Allen Iverson had become the superstars of the league. Mike played two seasons for the Wizards, and retired for the last time.

I say all of this to say that I don’t hate Brett Favre for retiring, un-retiring, retiring, etc.- I hate Brett because of the attention he clearly craves. Brett retired after the 2006 season, Brett had tears in his eyes when he announced that he was done playing professional football. I felt for him, I really did. He was a man walking away from what he did best, and did better than most anyone else.

In the off-season, there were rumors that Brett was considering coming back to play for the Packers again. He announced shortly before the start of the season that he would return. Brett lead the Packers deep into the playoff, all the way to the NFC Championship. The problem was a Giant one. More accurately, the New York Giants. The Giants were on a tear, and they handed Brett a loss in his final game at Lambeau Field.

It was a rough ending to a good season. He retired again, declining to play in the Pro Bowl, where the fans had voted him to play. Once again, Brett stated a desire to play again. You’d think after all he did for the team the previous year, they would welcome him with open arms. Instead, the team had already retooled the offense to fit Favre’s former backup, Aaron Rodgers.

Brett fought like mad to have the Packers bring him back. The Pack didn’t want him there, going as far as offering him some $20 million to essentially stay retired.  In the end, they agreed on one thing: a trade to the New York Jets. For only the second time in his career, and the first since he’d become a household name, Favre wasn’t going to be a Packer. For the most part, Jets fans were elated to have the old gunslinger in their fold. They were unhappy, disappointed with Chad Pennington and his weak arm.  Favre would be a hero if he could just throw the ball deep down-field for Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery to haul in.  And boy did he throw it.

You see- Favre fans often leave out one of his NFL records: 310 interceptions.  More than anyone else by 33.  The funny part?  The guy with 277 played 25 YEARS to Favre’s 18.  His 464 TDs is more than any other, which is indeed impressive, but his season as a Jet was lackluster, and somewhat deceiving.

Favre finished the season with 22 TDs and 22 INTs.  Down the stretch, though, Brett fell apart.  The team he had guided to a respectable 8-3(with 20 TDs and only 11 INTs, a good line) through 11 games had a solid shot at the playoffs in the tougher American conference, and more surprisingly in one of the more heated divisions.  The last 5 games of the season? 1-4.  2 TDs, 11 INTs. What the stats really don’t tell you in the big picture is if you remove week 4 from Brett’s season stats, he’s left with 16 TDs and 21 INTs.  14 TDs and 10 INTs in the other 7 games.  Hardly legendary.

This off-season, Brett did something that pretty much guaranteed his return to the league- he had surgery on an arm that he claimed wasn’t injured.  Since then, the Minnesota Vikings have expressed an interest in Favre.  A team who really had a solid shot at a deep playoff run last season, save for their lack of identity at the quarterback spot.

Brett is destroying his legacy. I guess, in the end, I feel valid for not liking Brett Favre.  I’ve never been the drama/big commotion kind of guy.  Shied away from it in school, stay away from it at work, I just don’t like it.  But God help me, if Brett’s playing ensures I’ll never see another of his Wrangler or Prilosec commercials, then let’s see the return of the Purple People Eaters.  Brett: please, just this one time- don’t be like Mike.

Alex Rodriguez is a prolific opposite-field home run hitter.  He’s one of those guys, who as a right-handed hitter, made his career in home runs hitting over the right field wall.  Typically, a right-handed hitter will hit to left field, pulling the ball, allowing more momentum to be gained behind the bat.  A lefty will hit to right field more often than not.  It’s just easier to pull the ball.  A-Rod, as of June 11th, 2009 has 561 home runs in a little over 2000 games.  You can wager the majority of his homers have been opposite-field hits.

Just this season, the Yankees opened the new Yankee Stadium.  Over a billion dollars was poured in to make this new Yankee Stadium.  The stadium features what many say is the best scoreboard in sports.  It’s considered to be one of the best stadiums in the world.  The new stadium has received its fair share of criticism as well.

The nicer seats are ridiculously expensive.  For that matter, there are partially obstructed view seats that cost up into the hundreds.  People in over 1000 seats won’t see the whole field.  Colin Cowherd recently commented on the situation saying that if you’re at a game, and have to say, “Did Damon make the catch?”  “Well, I think so,” something is wrong.  Stubhub.com has a listing of the obstructed seats per the Yankees themselves.

105.  105 home runs have been hit out at Yankee Stadium this season, as of June 9th.  That’s through 28 home games so far.  3.75 per game.  It’s a ridiculous number.  People are trashing on the stadium because of all of the home runs, engineers are scratching their heads as to why, and the staff in the Yankees front office have no answers.

It’s simple: the Yankees want A-Rod to break the all time homerun record.  Rodriguez is their golden boy.  When the stadium was designed, it was made to be a homerun park.  It’s intentional.  It’s a conspiracy.  I personally don’t want A-Rod to hold the record- why?  I don’t like the Yankees.  Moreso, I don’t like the fact that he’s playing dumb about the steroids issue(I’m not pardoning Bonds/McGwire/anyone else on juice, but that’s a whole different can of worms).  He comes off cocky, and it’s been reported he’s not exactly the best locker room guy for his teammates.

Sports is full of conspiracy these days, from A-Rod’s own personal bandbox to Kobe Bryant’s missing 5 freethrows in game 3 of the NBA Finals earlier this week.  Something has to be done!  Someone needs to stand up and say something!  The fix is in, and it needs to be stopped!  David Stern and Bud Selig need to provide answers right now.

But… there is this wacky thought I had before I started writing this.

What if- and this is a BIG what if- Alex Rodriguez really is just that good?  What if he’s able to break the homerun record without the homeruns Yankee Stadium just seem to hand him?  Furthermore, what if Kobe is actually human? What we’re seeing with these two athletes, among others, is a couple of guys at the top of the top, who are succeeding, or in Kobe’s case, having an off night.

I’ll say this as loudly as possible: THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY IN SPORTS.  Think about it- would the Yankees really build a homerun park just for A-Rod, a guy they have no guarantee will finish his career there?  Would Kobe really shave points knowing it could end his career and keep him out of the hall of fame he’s bound for if he’s caught?  Why risk blowing the series, losing the championship?

The problem here is when you’re really, really good- people don’t like you.  Mostly because you beat their team.  The Orlando Magic’s fans hate Kobe- but if you told them the day after they likely lose the finals to the Lakers that Kobe is coming to play for Orlando, the whole tune changes.  Guys in Boston wish horrible things on A-Rod.  Tell them he’s their new 3rd baseman, and they’ll take him out for a round of beeahs.  There are people who still don’t like Mike.  Had Jordan gone to Detroit in 1993 when he returned, he’d be their best friend.  Gretzky playing for Montreal?  Their new hero.

Too many people are quick to say sports are fixed.  Sometimes the games change, the players change, the referees miss the calls- but sometimes, our superheroes are very human.  If you think the fix is in on the NBA Finals, I strongly advise you to tune in tonight.  Let’s count the FTs Kobe misses, shall we?  Better yet- we’ll count a more exciting stat- his points as he comes unglued on the Magic tonight.  Love the game, love the sport, love the athlete.

Don’t be a theorist.

Be a fan.