Don’t even get me started on the vote that decided an over priced rennovation to a 35 year old stadium was a better option for the Royals than a Downtown stadium. Or the ridiculous scare tactics and lies used in the extensive advertising campaign to pass the ridiculous deal that led to rennovations instead of exploring the glorious potential of a brand new Downtown stadium. How’s the Sprint Center and Power & Light District working out??? Wish you could vote again don’t you Kansas Citians? And I won’t mention the failed years of horrible drafting based only on signability that has crippled this team so badly it’s sad. Today is about optimism. Today is about the new stadium.
In April of 2009 the Royals claim that the new stadium will be complete and in full glory on opening day against the Yankees. And along with that will come several new seating options. The 2 I’m excited about are the Diamond Seats and Diamond Boxes. The Diamond Seats are the sections directly behind home plate. All new padded seats, in seat service, a private entrance to the stadium and full access to the Diamond Club Lounge. And Diamond Boxes bring back old school box seating with all the same amenities of Diamon Seats plus the added advantage of $20 in food/merchandise credit including on every Diamond Box ticket. I’m very excited about these seats - hoping to have a pair in both sections and can’t wait for the K in 2009!
I’m kind of glad something came up that I wanted to write up. I really hadn’t had anything to compelling that I wanted to spout off about and was kind of bummed. I was going to try to avoid my first post being political but the day after the Ohio and Texas primaries I thought that was all I’d have. But instead Brett Favre retirement mania strikes.
First let me say that I’m not 100% convinced this is a done deal. The soap opera that has been Favre retirement talk in the past years makes me believe there is a chance, although slim that we haven’t heard the end of this. That being said it’s as close to a done deal as we’ve seen with Favre to say the least.
I guess my first thought is - at least it’s over. We no longer have to hear will he or won’t he, should he or shouldn’t he. He’s retired, it’s done. Unfortunately the reality now sets in that the NFL is losing one of it’s all-time greatest players. And when I say greatest I mean on many fronts. Toughest, most fun to watch, and most talented. I’m not going to list the stats and yes I know the INTs are a black mark on the resume but Favre made plays better than anybody who ever played the game. Does this mean I think he’s the best QB of all-time? It does not. Success is measured in many ways but let’s keep in mind that football is a team game and the ultimate goal of that game was to win the Super Bowl. Montana won 4. Case closed. Elway won 2 so as a long time Kansas Citian and Chiefs fan it pains me to say Elway would be ahead of Favre on any mythical list of the best all-time. But you won’t get through too many more QBs on any such list without having Favre there.
The NFL won’t be the same next year and the Packers won’t be the same without Favre. That doesn’t mean they might not be better even but they won’t be the same. I don’t anticipate Aaron Rodgers ducking under a sure sack, rolling to his right and flipping the ball back handed with his left hand to a TE 8 yards down field. Or while being dragged down throwing into the corner of the end zone for a TD. Now maybe it’s a good thing that he won’t be trying but seeing Favre try such things - often succeeding - will leave a void in the highlights each week.
Brett Favre was a special player. He was tough, he was exciting and he truly enjoyed the game, he loved simply playing. A lot of players like to say “I’d play for free” but most don’t really mean it, especially in today’s game. I think Brett Favre would have paid them for the chance to play. His final game in the snow at Lambeau was fitting and in a sad ironic way the fact that his last last past was an INT seems appropriate. Even more poetic is that it was in OT of the NFC Championship game.
Brett Favre will be missed. He will be missed by me, by fans of football, by fans of good guys, by fans of America and Brett Favre will be missed by the NFL.
