Its not the score, Its the Journey

“What were you doing in September of 1992?” Trey Wingo, of ESPN, asks as he, and many others, commemorate the 297 game starting streak of Brett Favre. For all of the football fans—or even sports fans in general—Brett Favre is a name that immediately deems respect upon its mention.

As I watched Monday night’s game, Vikings vs. the Giants, everyone was on edge as they saw Brett Favre get tackled from behind, injuring him on to the reserve list for the first time in nearly 20 years. However, Favre’s reaction has he was interviewed about his ending jaw-dropping streak was surprisingly light hearted and accepting. He recognized that it was just time; and that he had gone through a career which he began with a full head of hair, and ended it without—not by choice. He held his head high and accepted that he had had the privilege of playing a game that he loved for much longer than most in his field (no pun intended).

What really caught my attention was not Favre’s humility, but the reactions and comments by not only his companions, but his competitors. As ESPN commentators commemorated Favre’s career, they respectfully spoke of his commitment, perseverance, and passion for the game. Each and every one of them looked to him as a role model, and a person to be admired.  Tom Jackson reiterated the passion that Brett Favre had for the game; and that when you spoke to him, his attitude and energy radiated onto his teammates and into the crowd. Trent Gilford, recalls the hair on his arms standing on end as he and his teammates listened to the Green Bay crowd cheer as they announced Brett Favre’s name.

No matter what team you cheer for, or what sport you watch, I believe Brett Favre to be the leader of his sports generation. His entire demeanor is the kind that I revel about throughout my career. The affect that Brett has had on the game of football is one that will be remembered. Seen as an Iron Man, he set an example of mental strength that can only be attained by commitment and goal setting. He played not for himself but for his team, and was revered as a true leader among the NFL. His legacy as a football great will live on not because of his record, but because of the journey he took to get there.

“What were you doing September of 1992?” Merrill Hodge responds “playing against Brett Favre at that first game…and at the end of the day he demands respect.”