In what may be my most controversial post yet (not a lot of competition for that title, I realize), I have a few words to say about two subjects: BF who is no longer my BFF and mayo.
Today I was walking around the square when I was essentially accosted from some number 4-sporting uber-nerds who had just exited an Illinois-plated minivan decorated in high-school-state-competition-bound-green-and-gold paint with sayings like, “Save Brett.” As if, I said to self. Though, I admit Brett may need some saving from himself and Greta Van Susteren’s grip, I suspect this is not the saving the FIBs intended. Annoyed and suspicious about the idea of Illinois “fans” coming to the Square to rally folks around Favre, I told myself just to walk by and not get involved. After all, it was really just a few weeks ago that I was ready to welcome him back with open arms and prepared to say, “Aaron who?” But today’s a different day and Favre’s said some things since then that I can’t really see him being able to undo. I was actually ok — at first — with the brazen idea that he tell “his side of the story.” I became more skeptical when I learned that it was Deanna who had emailed Van Susteren seeking such an opportunity. Deanna has GVS’s email address? This can’t be good. Oprah? Hell yeah! Katie Couric? Sure. Meredith Viera? Ok. Tyra Banks? Fine. But GVS? One of only two current archenemies of mine?!?!? Egads. This is not going to be good. If skeptical, I still was open. But as soon as terms like “bluffing” and “pressure” came out, I was out. And day two and three of the interviews, and the days that have followed, have only confirmed my feelings. So, when the suburban Chicagoan asked, “Are you Packer fans?” I enthusiastically answered, “Yes! And that’s why I’m not signing your petition.”
Let me be clear. I LOVE(d) Brett Favre. When I was in high school, I remember my dad calling him stonehead and said he had a head full of rocks (this is a negative thing). But I defended him. He was so cute and so passionate and who doesn’t love a football player who runs around picking up his teammates and slinging them on his back in moments of sheer joy, as oppposed to the players who do some sort of odd choreographed dance work? He was impossible not to watch and impossible not to delight in. I watched the Superbowl in January 1997 in a discotheque in Florence in the middle of the night and took some really rude harrassment from the few Pats fans in the room. My exuberance could not be contained. I remember my friend Heather Keyes (a Minnesotan and really not much of a football fan either way) sending me stateside pics of the Wisco capitol proudly waving the Packer flag. This was about the Packers, but Favre really WAS so much a part of anyone’s love of the team then. And that was true until about last week or the week before.
We have been Packer fans before Favre and will be so long after Favre. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the state as we watched him announce his retirement decision. Recognizing how hard a choice that was for him to make, we tried so very hard to respect him for it. We tried to understand it and to emotionally move on to what it will mean to start a Packer game without him. This has not been an easy process, but one I think we have really tried to make with grace and acceptance.
So now, here’s Brett, months and months later complaining that he has not been accepted back by the team, the town and the management that has done nothing but adore him for years and years. He made a decision. He told us he was serious. He promised it was real. Ted and Mike went into the draft with the understanding that that decision was final. Aaron has been preparing because he, like all of us, was told that that decision was final. Aaron has patiently and respectfully waited his turn for years now, knowing that it was unknown when his starting days would begin. He has been impressive in the few games he has played, but even more impressive for his enthusiasm on the sidelines for a team and a town that has yet to really embrace him. But now it seemed they had. But today there are Illinois-ites on the sidewalk of Madison trying to shove him away.
And maybe that’s part of my problem with all of this, too. For all of our — and the country’s — love and admiration of him, Brett has always seemed to remain half-Mississippi, half-Wisconsin. Though he’s undoubtedly handsome, he hasn’t had the off-field career that, say, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady have had. We witnessed his attempt at acting in a comedy and while it was hilarious, not really for the right reasons. He’s got the sort of everyman charm of Manning, but he can’t act so he can’t do those type of commercials. And while he’s very good-looking, no one is going to buy cologne from seeing Brett in an ad for it. It’s easy to believe Brady primps, but Favre? Anyway, so I think so much of what we’ve loved about him has been his, for lack of a better word, humbleness. Not that he doesn’t have ego, but he doesn’t run around and shove it in our face. Until now. It just seems so un-Wisconsin-y and un-Mississippi-y. I’m now left wondering who Brett Favre really was all those years. Maybe we just wanted him to be humble so we decided he was and looked the other way when he wasn’t.
Most of us don’t have the luxury that Favre has — to make a decision that we come to regret so we go on national tv and whine about it and have a couple of folks start a petition on our befhalf. And while I appreciate everyone’s passions run high on these matters, I really hope that I would never act as he has acted in recent days. Even if I had the luxury to do so.
I think Favre could have avoided this whole debacle by asking to come back, taking a seat as a back-up and coming in and saving the day when Rodgers breaks a nail in his first start.
As for mayo, I just don’t like it. And when it came me on my Cafe Soleil take-out sandwich today (despite ordering it without the condiment and watching the counter person write it down just as such, “no mayo”), I admit I teared up. It just always feels personal. As if the chefs know how much I hate it, and just don’t care. Or worse, put it on there just so I won’t eat the sandwich. As if to say, “Yeah, we saw you ordering and you don’t deserve/need lunch.” Is that as self-centered a feeling as Favre’s disbelief in how he’s causing all sorts of trouble in Packerland?
life and puppies 
I think AO was right… the FIBs had a nefarious purpose.
I heart Brett Favre, but enough already. I’m over it- lets move on!
Kate, I did not know you were into football!
I’m on the fence – I think it’s kind of poopy for BF to be coming in last minute and making demands/allegations (let’s not forget all the $$ he’s raked in over the years – he wouldn’t be anywhere without the Packers), but on the other hand, if the Packers want to win, you gotta go with BF. Trade Aaron away, give Brett another go?
Not know I was a football fan? Well, we simply must get together more often. There are two sets of season tickets in my family, one of which I was privileged to buy last season!
I’m just annoyed. I know that’s obvious. I just worry that bringing him back will just add so much drama to the team that we could lose focus. Plus, that Dallas game last year that Favre really played lousy in was a terrific game for Rodgers. I do think, though, that Favre has more game left in him.
Also, the FIB with the minivan is apparently some guy somewhat from Sconnie…I’ll link to him. My favorite thing to do!
I don’t really pay attention to the football, as Kate knows, but I do know, from my six months as a resident of Mad City, how very important the Packers and BF are. So, I’m sorry for your troubles Packer fans.
And as for the mayo, I had a similar experience with tomatoes lately. I hate them so much, and no matter how emphatically I tell someone I want lettuce but NOT tomato on my sandwich, about 70% of the time the sandwich comes with the tomato. Recently this happened, and I almost cried. I feel you KL.
Kate, I really appreciated this blog, as I had no idea what the heck was going on, and I certainly wasn’t about to ask anyone. That would be embarrassing.
I do have to say, I totally agree with you. I mean, I know my vote doesn’t count since I’m really not included in the football world, but after reading your blog, and doing some outside reading up as well, I just couldn’t agree with you more. The decision was made. Man up. And, if he wants to revoke his decision, well then, it’s time to literally take one for the team.
As for mayo, tomatoes, sushi, I feel strongly that no one should judge. We all have specific likes and dislikes and it’s really unfair to have any of those be poo poo-ed. As for being selfish? Absolutely not. You are paying for the food. You should enjoy it. I mean, I have people re-doing the menus according to their tastes at comme ca. Last night two vegans came in and asked for steamed vegetable plates- at a french brasserie! No mayo? That’s just a minor adjustment. Very common, very understandable. Vegan food in the world of the French? Now that’s asking a lot.
Funny you should mention vegans. Last night I kinda went on a tear about the whole thing. It’s just not something I really understand. I mean, plants are alive? And why is eating honey bad? If it were wild honey would that be ok? And you left enough for the bees? I don’t get it! And someone once said to me that it must be really weird for Bush to go to State dinners in, say, France and not have wine. I mean, kinda gauche, really. But can you imagine Dennis Kucinich on a trip to Venezuela running around saying he’s a vegan? I mean, so insulting.
And I’m trying not to judge! But veganism really gets me.
Well Kate you already know this, but the veganism just burns me up. My only vegan friend totally reverted back a few years ago and nothing made me happier than seeing her eat a bacon cheeseburger after years of having to buy her vegan approved candy from this special list I found on the internet. Grrr. Peanut Chews and Mary Janes, btw, are vegan approved. In case anyone is in the market.
PS I still hate that I’m grey. Look at Sarayu’s pretty blue configuration! Sigh…
What in the hell are mary janes? Are you always grey? Did she just get sick of being so high-maintenance?
I know. I makes me nuts. I mean, I was a vegetarian for 10 years, but this whole vegan thing is just taking things too far. Vegan shoes, nail polish, clothing? Where do you draw the line?
I mean, it’s fine if people just want to stay at home and cook food for themselves all the time, but going to out to restaurants and re-working the menus? And do they really think that whatever they order won’t be contaminated by bacon fat and butter? I have a few friends that have recently become vegan and there’s just nowhere to go eat together anymore. I feel like a murderer if I eat meat in front of them. And don’t get me started about vegans who travel. They really should only go to India. Stop trying to go to France or Spain or Italy or anywhere for that matter. Ugh.
It’s just too much.
Mary Janes…hmmm. How to explain? They come on yellow and red wrappers and are kind of toffee-ish with little peanut pieces in them. YUM. I don’t really eat them any more because of all my dental work, but they were very popular on Halloween when I was little.
I’m always grey.
OMG. This is why facebook is such a problem for me. I was wandering around in the face world and found the 1993 west alum group. Well, Sarayu, I assumed you were on it and since Leah had added me as a friend and she’s the admin and I could see that she “invited” me to the group before but sent it to a super old email, I “requested” to join the group. But then I got freaked out and “unrequested” and now I feel like I look like a total idiot. Oh dear. Oh dear.
Sorry about the grey. I really like Sara H’s deep green.
Of course I’m not on it. Totally scary. Also, it outs my age and you know how I feel about that. I have too many casting director friends on facebook. I can’t be taking that kind of risk.
I don’t think anyone will know that you opted out, will they? It doesn’t post stuff like that. You actually may have done the smartest thing. She’ll think you joined and not notice that you got back out.
//blushing// aw thanks…. oh wait, the computer picked it for me.
Too bad I can’t get my dog’s pic there!
Have we seen this afternoon’s news that BF was making LOTS of calls to the Vikings from a Packer-paid cell? Sounds like there’s actual evidence of tampering.
And on a completely different note, OMG, Christian Siriano’s collection is now available on Bluefly.com! But I don’t like any of it.
Rut roh.
New PR tonight, yes?
Thoughts on PR? Here’s two not very interesting ones: (1) The beginning of a new PR season is always hard because usually my favorite dress is in the group that gets dismissed without any discussion; and (2) I guess I missed something because everything they were creating looked kinda crappy in the workroom and then I was surprised as hell when most stuff came down the runway looking good. Anyone else?
I absolutely agree on both counts. My favorite dress (although I did really like Kenley’s too) was by Terri (I think?). It was navy blue, plunging neckline. I thought that was perfection! Certainly better than Stella’s which, while a huge improvement over last week’s, did not really fit and was not very pretty IMO.
And I do think we missed a lot of the work that went into the dresses. For dramatic effect? Time constraints because there are so many of them?
All in all I am enjoying this season this far though. I could listen to Michael Kors critique the friggin’ phone book.
Oh man, I DO love that Michael Kors. And holy cow is Natalie Portman tiny. She was a lilliputian next to that towering German.
I totally agree! I was not into Stella’s dress at all. I thought the lace-ups were even trashier, and what happened to Nina’s critique on Wesley’s dress? “I think short, tight and shiny is the fastest way to look cheap.” Wasn’t that appropriate for Stella’s dress also?
I did like both Suede’s dress and Bettie Page’s dresses (I can’t remember her real name) but I really can’t take much more of Suede’s 3rd person talking. It feels like an act and I don’t think it’s a good one.
The thing is, I don’t know if I like this group very much. I’m having a hard time having any real interest in any of them. I think they’re talented but I also feel like they’re a little whiny as a group. They seem to have this false confidence and then as soon as they get put to the test, they crumble. Have they not seen the show before? It’s challenging! Maybe it’ll change as things keep moving, but right now, I’m not super drawn in.
Not that I’ll stop watching, of course.
Oh, the double standards last night. Someone needs to explain to me how Nina’s most excellent comment that “shiny, tight and short is the fastest way to look cheap” did not apply to Stella’s dress? With lace-up sides, of all things out of a Whitesnake video? Michael Kors, you liked that? Really? (although I do love that Michael Kors – bring back the WWE divas, I loved watching him crack up!)
Also, how did that peacock outfit escape criticism??
I’m looking forward to narrowing down the competition so we see more of a smaller number. And I hope the smaller number does not include Blayne. You are no Christian Siriano, honey.
Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to echo comments, I was posting at the same time!
No apologies for echoing! You two are in sync. My favorite was Jennifer’s orange number. I thought it was sooooooo pretty and fun.
And those lace-ups were disgusting. My stomach is still heaving from having to look at them.
Orange? orange and grey? Must go look at pics and remind self.
OK looked at pics. LOVED the orange and grey. LOVED it. Second fave. And now that I look again, Kenley’s is genius and I think between she and Suede (it’s annoying to even type his name) she should have won.
I definitely like Kenley’s better than Suede’s, but did it bother anyone else to see the Elizabethan collar — so popular in season four — pulled out already? I don’t know. It was gorgeous, for sure, but something bugged about that. I’m putting orange and grey jersey at number one, and navy blue showstopper at number two. I do think they probably made the write call, though, in the one they ousted.