Favre's demise...

Please join me in the anticipation of the demise of Brett Favre and the Vikings...

Based on their preseason efforts they clearly have gotten a late start with the Favre antics to start the season. Now there are reports surfacing that Favre and Childress are fighting. WR Percy Harvin looks more doubtful daily with migranes and other health issues. Favre's favorite target Sidney Rice just had hip surgery and is missing the first half of the season.

If they get off to a poor start, the Vikings circus could become quite a downward spiral to watch. Keep your fingers crossed that they implode, now that will be great TV!

National Basketball Association AKA NBA

So what do you think? I can still hardly control myself.

1) If I was David Stern, I wouldn't have put the Heat and the Celtics together in the season opener. Let it simmer a little bit, let them work up good records for a month or so, and then match them up in a Saturday night prime time game! It's like the NBA is already saying, "Let's get a taste of the Eastern conference finals on the first day of the season." And the Western conference day one marquee game: LA and Houston? I'm sorry, did you say Houston?? What the heck is that? Like we've all been waiting with bated breath to see a Luis Scola / Theo Ratliff match up?

2) Shaq claims that he's still a dominant force in the NBA. Come on big guy, it's time to let it go. I'm not saying he's garbage, but he's not a dominant force. If he was, we might have seen Lebron and the Cavs get a little deeper into the playoffs. More interesting is that fact that Shaq is talking with the Celtics! I have a new name for them: the Boston Geriatrics (and Rajon Rondo). The NBA is quickly becoming the "let's see how many big names we can get on one team" league.

3) I love it when articles use the term "crafty veteran". I saw it used today in reference to Jason Williams re-signing with the Orlando Magic. Is that media speak for "old guy that manages to get the job done"?

4) So who is dumber: Delonte West for ruining a $4.6 million contract by carrying weapons around or the Minnesota Timberwolves for taking him in a trade? At any rate, they cut him loose today. Good riddance for Minnesota AND the NBA. Some guys just aren't good for the sport... hmmm, wonder why nobody has picked up Allen Iverson. Practice? We're talking about PRACTICE.

5) Can you believe JJ Redick signed a 3-year $19 million contract?? Four years ago I would have bet that he wouldn't even be in the NBA in 2010. Amazing.

Please NBA, hurry up!!

And you believe it??

I've always said that I won't believe that Brett Favre is retired until an NFL season begins AND ends without seeing him in a uniform. I'm even tempted to change that to TWO seasons, because even if he sits out one, I'm thinking he'll miss it enough to come back; plus, he won't be able to stand NOT being in the spotlight.

I think it's worth noting that Favre has never actually retired, so let's put a stop to the Jordan comparisons. A Jordan comparison isn't fair, since Jordan actually missed a season or two following his first two "retirements". Favre has never missed a football game due to one of his "retirements". It just seems like he's retired since it's been an annual media frenzy for the last 6-8 years!

Let the celebration begin!

Brett Favre has retired...and we can only hope this time he is serious. I'm so tired of hearing about his poor aching 40-something body. The only redeeming part of Favre's on again off again relationship with football is how much it makes Marc mad.

Brett, enjoy Hattiesburg, MS, the car wash business, and peddling Wrangler and Grecian Formula. It's as easy as 1-2-3!

Family Weekend

This weekend my entire family (Mom, Dad, Ed & Holly & kids, Marc & Jen, Sheila, Sasha and me) were all together in Oelwein. The buildup was rife with enormous expectation thanks to Mom and Dad. There was an extended family gathering Saturday with some rock star guests expected, and another gathering on the other side Sunday. For my family, history would say this much expectation is a recipe for certain disaster and the fights and disappointment that come along with the expectations of a close family.

At the end of the weekend I can honestly say it was the most pleasant few days I've had with my family in recent memory. Everyone remained relatively calm. Of course Mom and Dad spent lots of time worrying about making sure everyone was comfortable with enough food, and something to drink, which is to be expected of such good hosts.

Highlights included cycling with Ed & Marc, hosting Marc & Jen at our house for a couple days, reconnecting with many family which we don't see often enough, and of course showing off our little daughter Sasha to everyone. As usual many promises were made to commit to see extended family more often which likely won't happen, but its still great to be able to see everyone we did.