Kyle Matthies
Why won't you die already?
August 24, 2009 -
This is just the question I'm sure Packers' fans are asking right about now. Like a bad spy movie, after the villan has revealed his master plan and the hero refuses to die, Brett Favre keeps coming back. Except in this case, most Packer fans would probably argue the roles are reversed.
Brett Favre could have remained retired in 2008 and opened a string of wildly successfully car dealerships throughout the state of Wisconsin, like John Elway did in Colorado. The three-time NFL MVP could have lived the rest of his life making commercials about the latest and greatest coming out of Detroit. Instead, he came out of retirement not once, but twice, only to end up playing in the very same division that he made his name in.
It's starting to seem like Favre has unfinished business in Green Bay.
Personally, I was tired of his shenanigans the first time he retired and broke down crying on national TV. His latest return was highly publicized and seemed to drag on from speculation to rumor until the Vikings finally announced they had completed a deal with the future Hall of Famer.
Despite my feelings, I have to give the man credit for his passion for the game. Although I am a long way off, I imagine it will be difficult for me to accept my own retirement, and I'm sure that feeling is amplified by the fact that he has played football most of his life.
After all, how can someone who is still considered to be one of the greatest active quarterbacks in the NFL be expected to settle for schlepping cars over slinging touchdowns?
Stepping back from the drama of the game, there's a real lesson here for brand managers: Favre Fever has swept Minnesota.
This despite the current economic conditions and possible side effects of coming out of retirement and switching teams that threatened his reputation. Sales of TVs are booming and local businesses like AV installation service companies are benefiting. #4 has successfully reinvented his superstar brand image while taking a highly unusual path to retirement that many would not survive.
Like it or not, Brett Favre is here to stay, at least until he retires at the end of the season and announces he will be playing for an expansion team in LA in 2010.
Guess who's back?