Our Favre
Who art in Lambeau,
Hallowed be thine arm.
Thy bowl will come,
It will be won,
In New Orleans as it is in Lambeau.
And give us this Sunday our weekly win,
And give us many touchdown passes.
But do not let others pass against us,
And lead us not into frustration,
But deliver us to Bourbon Street.
For thine is the MVP, the best of the NFC,
And the glory of the Cheeseheads,
Now and forever.
For 17 years, Favre led the Packers and put everything he had on the field. The fans appreciated and cheered every touchdown, every scramble, even the inevitable interceptions because he played with such passion and joy.
Yesterday there was no joy. He appeared to be an ancient warrior fighting to hang on, his decaying body betraying his will. His off-field indiscretions tarnishing his fame. And for the first time in 20 years when he ran onto the field in Green Bay the boos outweighed the cheers.
It's hard to imagine that his brand could have fallen so far, so fast. His particular combination of arrogance, ignorance and egotism had reached a point where the good people of Green Bay who spent thousands of dollars over the years to watch him play finally had enough.
There is no disgrace in trying. There is no disgrace in failing. But you cannot take advantage of and lie to your fans, expecting them to hang on forever. And in three short years, he has gone from beloved to reviled.
A lesson for brands everywhere.
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The Favre story should be required reading by professional sports agents for the young talents they represent.
ReplyDeleteI've long admired Favre's "human-ness" - largely because of how he overcame adversity.
Now it's up to him to impress us with his ability to stare down the drama, let the Iron Man streak stand and prove his "human-ness" by becoming a better person. One that gives completely of himself so that others may benefit. Then, and only then, will Favre regain the admiration he once deserved.
As a side note I think Tiger Woods' fall from grace was higher and faster than Favre's...but that's a discussion better saved for a campfire and beer setting.