Real champions, the kind of champions the rest of the world wants to be, are full of class.
That's our Green Bay Packers. Champions. Champions with class.
And now is the time to show just how classy we can be.
By nature, I'm a healer. Ask anyone who knows me well and they'll tell you that I'm uncomfortable with stress in a relationship and I'll go to great lengths to restore calm and civility.
And it is with that background that I have a proposal to heal Packers Nation, which has been torn asunder by the continuing, but hopefully done, drama with Brett Favre.
I will confess this idea isn't original with me. My son-in-law, Brian Bodendein, bleeds red and white for his Badgers and green and gold for his Packers. He's also a very smart man, proven mainly by the fact that he married my oldest daughter. This is his idea with some script details supplied by me.
Work with me here as I take us step by step through the opening game of next football season.
The day before the first game next season Brett Favre announces he has unretired and has signed a one-day contract with Green Bay Packers. He says that he has taken this action so that he can retire as a Packer. He apologizes for any problems he caused and says that no matter what, his heart will always bleed green and gold.
The next day the game starts. Before the game the Packers hang the World Champion flag.
The first offensive play shows Favre at quarterback. The play is a quarterback sneak which gains one yard.
The Packers call timeout and Favre stands alone, the football in his hand.
Aaron Rodgers jogs onto the field as the applause begins. He runs to Favre who holds out the football, hands it to Rodgers and gives him a hug. The applause continues to build.
Favre shakes hands with Rodgers, takes off his helmet, and waves it to the crowd. The crescendo of applause rocks Lambeau Field as Favre jogs off the field. After the game he announces he is retiring, for good, and retiring as a Packer.
The wound has now officially been healed and we can now go on, without distraction, in pursuit of a Super Bowl, again.
Now, I recognize that there are some obvious mountains that have to be climbed before making this dream come true. Someone needs to convince the Packers this is a good idea. Somebody needs to convince Favre that it's a good idea.
The obvious choice for this is Henry Kissinger, who has lots of experience with shuttle diplomacy, or Jimmy Carter who got Israel and Egypt to sign a peace treaty. But those choices are probably not interested in helping solve this problem.
The one person who could make this happen is Bob Harlan, the former team president. Harlan loves the Packers and he loves Favre. Both sides would listen to him. And this team now should act with the grace and dignity that befits a champion.
But in order to convince Harlan to undertake this mission, there ought to be a groundswell of support from the Packers' fans. What we need is fans to start a clamor of support for this idea.
So, let's go folks. Get on board this train as it pulls out of the stadium.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
