Sometimes The Choices You Make Are Clearly The Choices That Can End Up Defining You

OK ! Who amongst us hasn’t had enough of the Brett Favre saga ? Hands up if like me you’ve become totally sick of the will he , or won’t he aspect of this all ? Now comes word that the player has given the Minnesota Vikings a timeline in terms of a date. Whereby he will make them aware as to a final decision as to whether or not he’ll come out of retirement and resume his career with the team.

Favre speaks with members of the press after the high school practice drills he participated in with members of the Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Rogelio Solis ........

I’m not a soap opera fan. But from what I’ve led to believe there tends to be great deal of intrigue, sexual tension and a modicum of violence. All of that is done to induce the fans to watch a somewhat tepid tale with a weak storyline. Well the Favre saga has been some of that but without the sexual tension and violence. The intrigue has been that the Vikings’ executives and coaching staff have been stupid enough to be at Favre’s beck and call.

If there’s been one thing that I’ve learnt from being part of a team , whilst in the military. It is that no one man is greater than anyone else. A team’s strength lies the links and how strong that they are. And the leadership provided from within and by who is prepared to accept that role. Perhaps I’ve been mistaken but these characteristics aren’t all part of Favre’s persona. In his glory days with the Green Bay Packers . Granted , he was viewed as the team’s best player. But in terms of the leadership provided , it all came from Reggie White . He, White , was the fulcrum that gave the team its inner strength. But it has been Favre who’s been lauded and who has reaped the glory.

In the midst of this all , while I will give credit where credits due. Favre’s career has seen its highs and lows. But I can’t help but wonder if this really is the image that we want to see on his display by a primadonna athlete whose best days in effect are behind him ? They most certainly aren’t ahead of him at this juncture ! If nothing else it is the likes of ESPN who’ve seen fit to make the story their bread and butter as far stories emanating from the NFL are concerned. Granted also they’ve not actually left us bereft of anything concerning Michael Vick or Donte’ Stallworth for that matter. But that’s to be expexted from the worldwide leader in sport’s programming , and then some !

Favre throws a pass while practicising with members of the Oak Grove High School football team. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Rogelio Solis ...........................

As to Favre, one might now ask the question that if not by July 31st , he fails to come to a decision. Then what next happens in this continuing saga ? The Vikings’ organization has sat around and waited . Albeit , that at the team’s OTA’s , the incumbent quarterbacks on the team’s roster have been made to look like experimental guinea pigs. Imagine what will happen once Favre is introduced into the mix , should his decision be that of resuming his career. Will he become the vocal team leader ? Or will he willingly defer to the team’s gifted and impactful running back Adrian Peterson ?

As appreciative as I have been of Favre’s undoubted skills. I continue to question his judgement over these last few years. As he’s held franchises around him as hostages, to his every whim. Were he a child you’d expect the parent to come forth and chide him for being so infantile. But yet here’s a man who’s being glorified for all of the wrong reasons at present. I see nothing grand in Favre’s actions at present , nor do I feel that the Vikings are still obligated to wait until the end of month for a decision. But such is their want that at this juncture , that in Favre , they see their best hope for glory this season.

Amazingly enough, Favre’s reintroduction the league, should it happen. And in particular to the NFC North division will be viewed as financial free for all for the team within. And nothing trumps the game of football within the NFL, other than money. For Favre’s detractors his failures, should they manfiest themselves with Minnesota Vikings’ season imploding. Then it will only add fuel to the fire as to this ongoing saga. For his supporters then they can see the return of their hero. And even he should fail, even in their eyes , it will still be viewed as something of a victory. For the Vikings’ fans they may well view this all as something of a novelty, if nothing else. They may well be of the belief that this team is capable of quite possibly winning it all. But in reality, who’s kidding whom here ? The Minnesota Viking are good , but they’re not that good !

Associated Press:

Brett Favre just one of the guys at Oak Grove High

By Chris Talbott-(AP)

HATTIESBURG-Miss,- Micah Williams doesn’t show up to summer workouts at Oak Grove High School without gloves.

Thanks to the fourth guy in the quarterback rotation- the tall one with the gray beard-they’re required gear.

“He’s still throwing like he use to,” Williams said. ” Still with the zip. Hard. If you don’t wear gloves, your hands are going to be through.”

The senior wide receiver is talking about his summertime teammate , Brett Favre. The 39 year old quarterback, Superbowl winner and three-time NFL MVP.

Anyone who thinks Favre is adrift without a team as he contemplates a return for a 19th season , this time with the Minnesota Vikings, is very wrong. Favre has everything he needs right here at Oak Grove , where coach Nevil Barr agreed to let him join in team workouts five summers ago while Favre was still in Green Bay.

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As to the team’s fortunes this upcoming season. One can hope that with Favre at the helm they’re able acquit themselves well. However , should this experiment end in failure then the blame for this all can be apportioned equally between all of the parties concerned.

If you’re fan of the NFL , you can’t but wish Favre good luck. But at the same time you can’t but harbor him some form of ill will, merely because demeanor towards others. While he’s in the spotlight of the NFL , the game is Favre’s safe haven. Away from it and he’s like a child seemingly lost because he can’t find either of his parents.

Shut Up And Drive ……I Think Not !

With all of the brouhaha surrounding ‘Jeremy Mayfield Affair’. I’d like to think that NASCAR has the best interests of the sport, its drivers and their ancillary staff , but most of all the safety of the fans at heart.

Jeremy Mayfield under undue pressure having failed a second mandatory drug test in which it'd been found that the driver was said to be taking methamphetamine. Mayfield denies all allegation as to his drug use. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Matthere Shawe ............

It’d appear that Mayfield after having been caught not once , but twice of contravening his sport’s own drug policy , still seems to be in denial. The fact that a second test came up positive for him having taken methamphetamine ought to serve as a cautionary note and warning for all of the employees of NASCAR .

And while I understand that Jeremy Mayfield has a right of recourse and to face his accusers. What is becoming apparent with each passing moment. It is that the driver , himself, has no respect for his peers or the rules , or NASCAR’s authority as it applies to him. And even if on that rarity of occasions where in-fact it’s said that a test has come up flawed. How is that this time around with a second test , the same result , a positive one , is arrived at again ? Not wanting to appear naive but from where I sit Mayfield has a great deal of explaining to do. And someone within the hierarchy of NASCAR ought to demanding one from the driver. Rather than Mayfield being able to circument the sport’s rules by using jurisprudence (law) , to still compete. Albeit that he’s not set foot back on the track in a NASCAR sanctioned event. And thankfully so !

Rules and the rule of law are meant to be applied judiciously and with impartiality. OK , so at times on appearance it appears to favor the wealthy . But it ought not to hide the fact that Mayfield with each of these incidents has been less than forthright with the fans much less everyone else. Rightly or wrongly he feels that he oughtn’t to be held accountable for his actions. Hoewever, were this a case whereby he’d been caught driving while being impaired . I’d like to know what sort of stance would now be taken by those out there who are throwing their support behind the driver ?

It’s felt that NASCAR is somewhat archaic with regards to its competition rules . And what it apparently deems to be appropriate for each of its events. Either at the top echelon in the Sprint Cup Series down to the Nationwide and Truck Series . And it contiues to be not just a complaint from the drivers themselves , but also from the owners and fans alike. And until NASCAR gets its house in order , controversies such as this will continue to arise.

As for Mayfield it’s extremely hard to now view him in a positive light. He’s not produced any evidence that would at all back up and make case for his argument as his suffering from any type of medical illness. Safe for the fact that he’s stated <em"…….I've been a long time suffer of ADHD “(attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder). Nothing eividentary was produced by his attorney to back that up. But yet the judge presiding over his hearing felt that NASCAR ,as the defendant didn’t act appropriately in informing Mayfield of his rights. The order was rescinded and ‘a stay’ was placed wherein Mayfield was allowed to return to resume competing in the Sprint Cup Series.

Yahoo Sports : In conjunction with AP

NASCAR: Mayfield again tests positive for meth

By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer

Jeremy Mayfield tested positive again for methamphetamine , NASCAR said, igniting another round of denials from the driver, who anrgily accused the sanctioning body of paying his stepmother to lie about his alleged past drug use.

The positive test from a July 6 random test was introduced in a U.S. District Court filing Wednesday that asked the federal judge who lifted Mayfield’s drug suspension to reinstate the ban.

The filing included an affidavit from Mayfield’s stepmother , Lisa , who said she witnessed the driver using methamphetamine at least 30 times over seven years.

“I don’t trust anything NASCAR does, anything Dr. David Black does, never have, never will, ” Mayfield told the Associated Press in a phone interview. Black is the administrator of NASCAR’s drug-testing program.

“And they picked the wrong woman to use against me that (expletive) is trash and has got nothing on me but lies .”

According to documents , Lisa Mayfield said she first saw the driver use meth in 1998 at a race shop in Mooresville , N.C. She said Mayfield cooked his own drugs until the ingredient pseudoephedrine was taken off the shelves and it became too difficult for Mayfield to obtain the ingredients. She said her stepson began to purchase meth from others.

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NASCAR President Mike Helton (left) and Chairman & CEO Brian France (right) , seen here addressing members of the convened press at NASCAR organized press conference in Concord, North Carolina,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Harold Hinson ……………

Whilst we all have an opinion on this issue and what we all believe to be just. One can’t help but wonder what action ought to be or should’ve been taken to begin with. NASCAR’s inaction from the get-go has been one where on appearance , that they’re making up the rules as they go along. You get the opinion that the sport’s governing body lacks a great deal of professionalism as to how it conduct business. Seemingly the thought is that its Chairman & CEO Brian France , whilst the consumate businessman would prefer to defer on the issue to a subordinate in Mike Helton , NASCAR’s President.

However, both France and Helton have stated that there’ll be ‘…. zero tolerance policy with regard to the sport’s drug policy , without exception.’ So it’s not as if the the drivers weren’t forewarned. Well up comes the addage ‘…… stupid is, as stupid does.’