Brown paper packages, tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things.

The end of Brett Favre's streak -- I don't love the fact that the streak ended. The best way would have been for Favre to end his streak and career after winning a Super Bowl. But the fact that he couldn't play and so he was inactive shows, once again, the mensch he is. It would have been easy to let him take a snap or two to keep the streak alive. But Brett Favre has always been about playing football. If he couldn't play. he wouldn't set foot on the field. I hope that all the Favre haters will pause today to recognize just how amazing this streak is and put aside their hurt and anger for good. It's over folks. Get over it.

The Green Bay Packers -- What an offense. Great receivers. Incredible passing attack. Who needs a running game, Ted? As long as we've got A-Rod we're fine. And boy, that Matt Flynn is one hell of a backup. Anybody remember the days of a quarterback who never went out with injuries? Ever.

Andrew Bogut -- Remember when he was drafted and there was this huge debate about whether the Bucks ought to pick the guy? Well, how you feeling now you doubters. Through hard work and despite some incredible injuries, Bogut has emerged as one of the best centers in the league. He's got that wonderful baby hook with either hand, he can pass and dribble, he blocks shots like crazy and is a rebounding force. Not much else you want out of the guy who is undoubtedly your most valuable player.

Little girls in tutus and gleaming white skates at the rink Downtown -- Watching these kids try to do a spin or a jump or an axel is sure bring a smile to your face. These kids are so serious with their dreams of glory sometime in their lives. They probably won't get glory but they will give lots of joy to people and that's probably better.

The Football Writers Association of America -- These scribes, learned men all, proved that stupidity is not limited to the world outside of sports journalism. On the same day that Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy, the FWAA named its All-American team and chose the Boise State quarterback, Kellen Moore over Newton. Amazing.

The Milwaukee Admirals and the Milwaukee Wave -- When you look up the word "plucky' in the dictionary you see the logo of these two teams. Both have been fighting uphill battles for about a quarter of a century and they show no signs of slowing up. They're as tough as Santa's reindeer.

Doug Melvin and the entire Milwaukee Brewers' front office -- I don't know if I like this as much as just admire it. But there are never any leaks from the Brewers about what they are planning. This may be to their credit or due to lazy journalism, but whatever, the Brewers operate only on Brewer time.

Frank Caliendo -- Maybe the most famous graduate of UWM, Caliendo's work on the Fox Football Show is continually astounding. Not only are his impressions spot on but he is funny as well. Forget magic shows. What I really wonder is how those impressionists do it.

Skip Robinson -- Hardly anyone knows who the community relations director for the Milwaukee Bucks is. But under Robinson's guidance, and with a deep corporate commitment, the Bucks do an awful lot for charity. Part of having players of good character is having guys who donate lots of time and money to help those who are way less fortunate. This is especially one of my favorite things this time of year.

And finally, my favorite thing ... the truth -- What you are about to read is the first three paragraphs written by a major sports columnist after a big MMA fight last week. For those fans who think this crap is just a civilized foxtrot around an eight-sided dance floor, to wit (and notice some of the words).

MONTREAL -- Georges St. Pierre was brilliant. He closed Josh Koscheck's eye in the first round of their match for the UFC welterweight title in front of 23,152 bloodthirsty fans in the main event of UFC 124 at the Bell Centre. There was little his coaches wanted him to do that he didn't accomplish, running the table by winning all five rounds and racking up a one-sided unanimous decision victory.

By the middle of the third round, Koscheck's face looked like a bag of ground chuck. He had welts up and down his leg from the kicks that St. Pierre was landing.

When the fifth round began, Koscheck's right eye was grotesquely swollen so much that he couldn't see out of it. At that point, as St. Pierre was closing out his eighth consecutive victory, a thought occurred: What would have happened to the opponent if he'd been fighting four full rounds with one eye against champion Anderson Silva and not St. Pierre?

Like I said, Truth, Justice and the American Way!