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OnMilwaukee.com is publishing exclusive excerpts from the new book, "Brett Favre: A Packer Fan's Tribute." The book was written by lifelong Packers fan Tom Kertscher, a Milwaukee news reporter who authored "Cracked Sidewalks and French Pastry: The Wit and Wisdom of Al McGuire."

"Tribute" captures the highlights of Favre's career and features dozens of behind-the-scenes photos shot by Packers team photographer Jim Biever.

CHAPTER 7 -- RIVALS

"Just another game for us. Fans and media make it bigger than it is." – Brett Favre, in 1998 after beating the Chicago Bears for the ninth time in a row.

IF PACKER FANS HAD OUR OWN hall of fame, we would have voted Brett Favre in years ago -- even if he had never won a Super Bowl or an MVP award.

Favre would get an entire wing in our hall just because of the way he punished and shamed the vile, stinking and detestable Chicago Bears.

It hadn't always been that way, you know.

"I can remember when I first came in here," Favre said in 1996, "most of the fans were talking about I don't care what you do, just beat Chicago twice. You can go 2-14."

In the seven seasons before Favre came to the Packers, a force against God, Nature and Vince Lombardi had allowed the Bears to beat the Packers 12 out of 14 times.

Chicago also won the first match-up of the 1992 season, in Favre's first game against the Bears. But in the teams' second meeting that season, Favre led the Packers to victory -- and ever since, the Earth has once again revolved around the sun, and God and Vince have enjoyed football again.

How the Packers mashed and mauled the Marshmallows of the Midway during the Favre era:

In 28 games against the Bears, the Packers won 21 of them (75%).

On the Bears' home field, Green Bay won 12 out of 14 (86%).

From 1994 through 1998, Green Bay beat Chicago 10 straight times -- the longest streak in Packers-Bears history, which dates back to 1921 and is the oldest rivalry in the NFL.

Give Favre the credit.

"He's the chairman of the board, the best of the best, the Mac-Daddy of football," said Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache, who had been a Packers assistant. "If you're going to start a franchise, that's the guy I would start with. The guy's worth eight, nine wins [a season] himself. He's probably the scariest guy in football."

The suffering that Bears fans endured almost makes you sad for them. At one point, former Bear Doug Buffone, a talk show host on Chicago sports radio, seemed ready to forfeit rather than play the Packers.

"Favre is just murdering us. He's a killer," Buffone said. "We've tried every trick in the book to get him, but every time he plays us, it's like he owns us. We've never shut him down.

"I swear he goes into every season saying: 'Okay, I have two wins in the bag, so all I have to do is pull off 14 more."'

Favre threw at least one touchdown pass against the Bears in 25 consecutive games -- an NFL record.

Favre threw more touchdowns – 51 – against the Bears than against any other team.

And Favre used the Bears to create his own single-game record book -- most completions, 36 – against the Bears; most passing yards, 402 – against the Bears; longest touchdown pass, 99 yards – against the Bears; and most touchdown passes, 5 – against the Bears (and two other teams).

As one-sided as Favre had made things, it was surprising that Wisconsin sports fans still ranked the Packers and Bears as the state's biggest sports rivalry in a 2003 Sports Illustrated poll.

Maybe a rivalry is best when you keep beating the you-know-what out of the team you hate the most.

Here are three of Favre's best victories against the Bears:

Nov. 22, 1992 – Packers 17, Bears 3 at Soldier Field: Before this game, Chicago Tribune columnist Bernie Lincicome put Favre in a league with Don Majkowski, the man Favre replaced, and the Packers' other quarterback, Mike Tomczak. It was doubtful, Lincicome wrote, that Favre would be "any more of a long-range savior than Don Majkowski was before him."

Typical dumb Bears fan.

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Posted by arm on Dec. 27, 2006 at 2:53 p.m. (report)

As a Bears' season ticket holder, this piece was particularly fun to read. Favre is the best QB I've ever seen play live and he certainly owned Soldier Field for a stretch in the last millennium. For all his dominance, of course, he delivered exactly the same number of championships as did the Bears of the 80's. Here are some stats that didn't make it past the frothing at the mouth: (1) Between '83-'92, the Pack went 4-16 against the Bears. Favre made it a comparable 17-3 over the next ten years. In short, we did it to you first! (2) Despite Favre's heroics, the Bears STILL own the all-time series lead, both at home and on the road. And (3) the Bears STILL have more players in Canton than do the proud Packers. Oh, and one other thing, did Favre ever lead the Pack to a spotless record against all NFC opponents? Why not, I thought he was God or at least Rex Grossman? Happy New Year this Sunday, Packers fans. We'll give Favre the parting gift he so richly deserves! Don't worry - it won't be a Charles Martin-style cheap shot. We wouldn't sink as low as low as a...Packer. When it comes to this great rivalry, we're used to winning more than you are - - which, as this article notes, is what it makes it so much fun....for us in Chicago!