I am not in the business of promoting Christmas gifts, especially in August, but if you’re a football fan, and are looking for gift ideas, then one should consider a ticket or two to Seattle.

If bus or car isn't your preferred mode of transportation in the winter, well Prince George does offer a direct flight to the Emerald City.

 

So what am I “driving” at? On December 21^st, the second last Sunday of the NFL regular season, Brett Favre, and the New York Jets visit the Seahawks, in what may be Favre's last road game.

 

When the league schedule was originally announced, few football fans marked that date on the calendar. However, a one player trade for a conditional draft pick can significantly change the importance of this usual ordinary game.

 

The Favre soap opera caught my attention for many reasons including the status of the legendary individual involved, the team he spent 16 years with, and the posturing from both sides. In essence, it was a “political football” game, at its finest.

 

The details of this long, drawn out saga, have been well-documented. In the end, the Green Bay Packers were granted their wish because #4 is no longer a direct threat to unproven starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Favre, now in the AFC, will not be able to get revenge against his former
team, since the Jets and Packers won’t meet until 2010, and won’t play against each other, in Green Bay, until 2014.

 

I am not a Packers fan, but certainly have always admired the three-time NFL MVP. If Green Bay really wanted to field its best team, Favre would have received his starting position back, even though his original intentions were to retire.

 

Favre is still an impact player; in fact, he’s hardly washed up. Last year, he passed for 4,155 yards, his highest personal best, since 1998. In addition, he threw 28 touchdown passes, with 15 interceptions.

 

The Jets are the instant winners in the deal; dramatically finding a way to steal headlines, which is unusual, especially from a team that is rebounding from a 4-12 record in 2007.

 

Throughout this historic ordeal, Favre has conducted himself in a distinguished manner. In addition to his hall of fame career, his presence, his mannerisms and his aura are unparalleled.

"I'm here for one reason. Not to do commercials, Broadway, all those things. I’m here to help the Jets win”, stated Favre in his first news conference since joining his new team.

 

Although media hordes were waiting for Favre to criticize his messy divorce with the Packers, he acted like a man and chose the “high road”.

"I think we're probably both at fault. I'm not going to blame one side or the other. A lot of things happened this season, a lot of shocking things. But at this point it's irrelevant. I always wanted to be a Packer, and I think I always will be a Packer. I'm not a traitor, never will be. Its business”, stated Favre.

 

The 38 year-old Hattiesburg, Mississippi native, is an athlete that has earned every penny of his $12 million annual salary.

 

However, his life hasn't always been glamorous; in fact it has been filled with adversity. The average fan can relate to Favre, who has dealt with his wife's battle with breast cancer, the passing of his dad, the death of his brother-in-law, his own addiction to alcohol and painkillers, and the loss of his mom's home to Hurricane Katrina.

 

Even with special status, Favre is pragmatic about the future. He knows his football capabilities but won’t try to deceive the public with unrealistic expectations.

"I hope I can play at the level that I've always played at. There's no guarantees. You see teams go out in free agency and spend on a lot of guys and everyone says, 'Oh, they're going to be great and go to the Super Bowl.' It takes chemistry, and to me, that's the most important thing”, emphasized Favre.

 

He is not only a future hall of famer, but Brett Favre represents the true values of sports-competitor, sportsman, family man and leader. The Jets, for at least one season, have instantly become one of my favorite teams. Will that game in Seattle have meaning and/or playoff implications? Odds are “4” to 1 it will.

 

 

 

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“Brett Favre was traded from the Packers to the Jets. Well, thank goodness. Now that he is in New York we can put all that media circus behind us.” Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

“The new (Olympic) gymnastics scoring system has resulted in incredibly long waits for the scorers to come up with their final decisions. Even Brett Favre is saying "make up your minds already."” Janice Hough

“Officials are baffled by the appearance of human feet in numerous places in North America including BC shores, Washington State Beaches and in the mouth of Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson.” Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

 

“TSN (Toronto Sports Network) is said to be creating a new network called TSN2. The programs will focus on events from the past including This week in Maple Leafs history, This month in Maple Leafs history and this year in Maple Leafs history.” Derek Wilken

 

“The CEO of Nike has made $7.6 Million in 2008, double what he made the year before. He says he owes it all to the joyous sounds of the patter of little feet, running around a third world Nike factory.” Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

 

“Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley say that they are one step closer to developing materials that could render people and objects invisible. They made this comment after watching the Mets' latest bullpen collapse.” Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

“The Lakers have signed Chinese point guard Sun Yue. If he and Kobe end up in the backcourt, it'll be Yue and Me.” Bill Littlejohn

 

“The WNBA has garnered the first A-plus given in an annual diversity report card on race and gender in sports. The previous highest grade was awarded in 1998 when Dennis Rodman received an A.” Vancouver comic Torben Rolfsen (www.theprovince.com/liveat5)