Revival

I've put off writing about this for some time because I don't want to jinx it. Last fall, a majority of my blogs consisted of my fascination/obsession/disappointment of Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Last New Year's Eve after Brett cried on national television after the Bears' game, I was convinced that he was through. On Super Bowl week-end, though, he announced he was coming back for more. I made up mind at that point that I would not miss one play of this season, no matter how bad it was or how good it was. I resigned myself to the fact that this truly would be his last season. In September, I ordered Direct TV so I could get the NFL package and I have not missed one play of the Packers' ten games this year. They have won nine of those games and probably should've won the one they lost, but I can't complain. Favre has had a revival this year. If it wasn't for Tom Brady's ridiculous year, I think Brett would be the leading candidate for MVP. It would be his fourth, which would be a record. Speaking of records, this year he has broken the record for most wins, most touchdowns, most completions, most attempts, and most interceptions. And he's not doing it because he's just hanging around. He's winning games. Two of my favorite Packer regular season games happened this year: the San Diego upset in week three when Favre hit Greg Jennings on a slant to win the game with just under two minutes left and the overtime touchdown pass to Jennings on Monday night football in Denver a few weeks ago. The first ten games have helped lift the Packers to their best start since Lombardi walked the sidelines at Lambeau.

It's Thanksgiving Day and the Packers play the Lions in about two hours. I'm not sure how this season will end, but I'm trying not to think about that right now. I'm trying enjoy each game because I know that I don't have that many more left to watch Brett Favre play. I don't know how far they'll go in the play offs this year or if they'll even make it. They could collapse today and lose the rest of their games, but I don't think that will happen. I don't know what will happen and that's the dichotomy of being a sports fan: the moment always seems bigger than it is whether it's good or bad. That's also the beauty of sports: there's always next week or next year and you keep holding onto that, waiting for the perfect season or that magical game. This has been my most enjoyable season as a Packer fan since I started following them in 1993. I think the reason is that the expectations weren't that great for this team coming into this year. I was just hoping that Green Bay would play some important December games and maybe make the play offs. Well, here we are: 9-1 in November, tied for first in the NFC with the Cowboys. I don't know where it's going or where it will end up, but I know that I'll look back on this season at some point down the road and know that it was special...or at least had the chance to be.