Posted:
This begins with NFL. I'm not a fan of American football. In fact I call it hand peanut and rugby for nancies. However, being a cheesehead in Wisconsin the anticipation and furore over Sunday November 1st has reached fever pitch. Even if you are from out of the country visiting Wisconsin, you cannot escape the Packer mania this week.
Why?
The ugliest divorce in sports history hits close to home and divides the children.
For those who do not know what I am talking about - a brief recap if at all possible. Brett Favre is a Packer legend. He is an NFL hall of fame quarterback. He played with the Packers from 1992 to 2008. He was the catalyst that revived the failing Packers back to the glory days of the sixties. However, he was getting old and wishy washy about retirement. In the 07/08 season Packers reached Superbowl but lost. After which Favre announced retirement because he did not see the team winning any more superbowls.
With Favre retiring Aaron Rodgers who had bee waiting in the sidelines with Favres wishy washiness since 2005 was made quarterback. However, later that season Favre wanted to comeback out of retirement for the 08/09 season. Favre was getting old, his committment was uncertain and also the coach wanted to keep the morale of Rodgers, finally give the kid a chance and break him in for the future. Favre was told he could be back as second string. He threw a fit over it and had himself traded to the Jets. After the season he announced retirement again. But come closer to the 09/10 season he wanted to play again and signed a very hush hush controversial deal with Minnesota Vikings, after continuously denying he was in talks with them.
Now the Vikings are the arch rival of Packers. The result is that many who had supported Favres comeback also deserted him. They started to see him as an indecisive old guy who has no team loyalties or committments and thinks only of himself. Sports commentators across the nation have also been severely critical of him, especially since he started trash talking the Packers. He has gone from being a legendary hero to a villain, a self absorbed diva. Although he still has some hard core supporters. On Sunday many fans plan to boo and heckle him, while some plan to cheer him and give him an ovation.
But to many Brett playing against the Packers as a Viking in Lambeau field is like watching the death of a game before their eyes.
Now that the blah story is done - its made me wonder
When you follow a sport and cheer players/teams, who is more important, the team or the player?
Would you support your star player irrespective of how they treat their team?
Would you support your favorite team irrespective of how it treats players?
What do players and team owe each other, what are your expectations?
Cricket also has experienced the whole old vs new conflict - whats your take on age and sports? When should the new learn from the old and when should old make way for the new?
Those who follow sports know the passion of the most intense arch rivalries - do you think the greatest act of a traitor in sports is signing from one team to the arch rival?
In situations with players like Favre who retire/unretire - is it the love of the game? the attention? or the money?
League sports unlike international sports are franchise sports. Unlike selectors choosing people to represent the city/state/nation in the team, players are bid on. They are traded all the time. Players also are free to negotiate once a contract is done. Which system is better selection or trading? Popular players move to bigger franchises all the time, weaker players may get traded out..what effect does trading have on team morale and spirit?
Do you see cricket leagues like IPL seeing drama like the Favre/Packer divorce saga in the future?
Why?
The ugliest divorce in sports history hits close to home and divides the children.
For those who do not know what I am talking about - a brief recap if at all possible. Brett Favre is a Packer legend. He is an NFL hall of fame quarterback. He played with the Packers from 1992 to 2008. He was the catalyst that revived the failing Packers back to the glory days of the sixties. However, he was getting old and wishy washy about retirement. In the 07/08 season Packers reached Superbowl but lost. After which Favre announced retirement because he did not see the team winning any more superbowls.
With Favre retiring Aaron Rodgers who had bee waiting in the sidelines with Favres wishy washiness since 2005 was made quarterback. However, later that season Favre wanted to comeback out of retirement for the 08/09 season. Favre was getting old, his committment was uncertain and also the coach wanted to keep the morale of Rodgers, finally give the kid a chance and break him in for the future. Favre was told he could be back as second string. He threw a fit over it and had himself traded to the Jets. After the season he announced retirement again. But come closer to the 09/10 season he wanted to play again and signed a very hush hush controversial deal with Minnesota Vikings, after continuously denying he was in talks with them.
Now the Vikings are the arch rival of Packers. The result is that many who had supported Favres comeback also deserted him. They started to see him as an indecisive old guy who has no team loyalties or committments and thinks only of himself. Sports commentators across the nation have also been severely critical of him, especially since he started trash talking the Packers. He has gone from being a legendary hero to a villain, a self absorbed diva. Although he still has some hard core supporters. On Sunday many fans plan to boo and heckle him, while some plan to cheer him and give him an ovation.
But to many Brett playing against the Packers as a Viking in Lambeau field is like watching the death of a game before their eyes.
Now that the blah story is done - its made me wonder
When you follow a sport and cheer players/teams, who is more important, the team or the player?
Would you support your star player irrespective of how they treat their team?
Would you support your favorite team irrespective of how it treats players?
What do players and team owe each other, what are your expectations?
Cricket also has experienced the whole old vs new conflict - whats your take on age and sports? When should the new learn from the old and when should old make way for the new?
Those who follow sports know the passion of the most intense arch rivalries - do you think the greatest act of a traitor in sports is signing from one team to the arch rival?
In situations with players like Favre who retire/unretire - is it the love of the game? the attention? or the money?
League sports unlike international sports are franchise sports. Unlike selectors choosing people to represent the city/state/nation in the team, players are bid on. They are traded all the time. Players also are free to negotiate once a contract is done. Which system is better selection or trading? Popular players move to bigger franchises all the time, weaker players may get traded out..what effect does trading have on team morale and spirit?
Do you see cricket leagues like IPL seeing drama like the Favre/Packer divorce saga in the future?
Mr And Mrs Parshuram
