Brett Favre is Great for Football

Isn't it amazing how America, as a country, has alzheimer's disease. When dealing with certain people and topics, all we seem to care about is "what's happening now" and completely forget about the past, especially when it comes to the entertainment industry. Things like music, movies, tv shows, electronics, and sports all flow in the direction of what the masses want. These five categories pretty much control how the economy works and ironically, it is the American people who completely control how these five categories work. But I digress.. I merely brought this theory up to explain another: Brett Favre is great for football, yet the media tends to piss on his name and legacy.

Sport talk shows trying to one-side Brett's latest story on retirement has became nothing short of comical. However, it is this negative gibber gabber that is bringing down his image, not his actions. But what is the source of this gibber gabber? Was it the majority's opinions which reached its way up to the sports writers and inturn, re-fed the public what it already wanted to hear? Or, was it the coporate executives that dictated what the public should think and believe? A classic "What came first? The chicken or the egg?"

I, however, see past the flow of things and strongly voice my own opinion. Brett Favre is one of the greatest players who ever stepped onto the gridiron; and football is a better sport because of him, regardless of the past year and a half. Saying that, the past off-season and sixteen games have been anything but picture-perfect, nonethelesss, it only makes up one eighteenth of his career. People quickly forget about his glory days in Green Bay lined up behind center, shotgun formation, hike! "Favre pulls back, looks to his right, pump fakes, Oh Sapp's got'em, wait! He spun out of it, he's on foot, scrambling, sees Freeman, launches... Touchdown Packers!" I made that one up for you Buc' fans. 

How about the Freeman catch against the Vikings in overtime, or when he passed Marino in touchdown and yards (records no one thought could be broken), or that Monday night after his father's death, and let's not forget Suber Bowl XXXI. What about the 269 consecutive games he has played through. That's sixteen plus years in a row.. How many people can say they have worked more than sixteen years without missing a day? Not too many. But, I can talk on and on about his great moments that ever football fan has already heard. These stories are not going to change the opinions of those who think he's a sale-out, overrated players, who also owns the interception record, as well. It is the stories behind the glamour, however, is it what made me a Favre fan in the first place and will hopefully change the point of view of others.

Besides football, Brett has a similar background to the average Joe. Born in a small town in Mississippi where he mainly played football and baseball. Only an average quarterback at the time, Favre received one scholarship to Southern Miss, a mediocre school at best. After college, Brett was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons where he was later traded to the Green Bay Packers in '92. It was through his early years in Wisconsin where Favre started his legacy. It was also through these years where Brett developed an addiction to pain killers and alcohol. Fortunately for Brett and his family, he sought help by entering in the league's substance-abuse program where he gave up his addiction for pain killers and later, alcohol entirely. Like I've stated earlier, Favre's father, Irwin Favre died early in 2004 and later that same year, his wife, Deanne was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

All of these stories are similiar to the average Joe. He battled against drug and alchohol, married his high school sweet-heat, stuck to his roots that so many people forget about after success, and dealt with death and sickness in the family. But, the story that has stuck out the most about Brett Favre is his passion for the game. Some people think Favre acts childish when celebrating touchdowns or big plays. And I couldn't agree more. That same childish intensity is what has drove him year after year, play after play. He is one of the few people that plays this game with a competitor's edge and at the same time, haves fun doing it. However, he is a different man after a loss, though he will be the first to take blame. Reversely, after a win, he'll be the first to say it was the great play of the team and good plays called by the coaches. A true player on and off the field. Speaking of off the the field, Brett is also very open to his fans, as well. He let's the people know of his faults and failures as a player and a person, and also his feelings towards the game. A good example of this was during his retirement speech after the 07' season. 

Like I said earlier, Favre would be the first to admit his mistakes which he did on how he handled his retirement. But, I do not believe that he should take all the blame. Ted Tompson, the General Manager of the Packers, pressured Favre to make a decision just weeks after the Giants loss in the NFC Championship game. Favre was feeling tired, old, and inadequate at the time so he made a decision best as he could. He felt he lost his passion, the passion that drove him all those years. Brett did not want to cheat himself or his teammates if he came back the following year as uncommitted. That was his monumental mistake in life? Denying his love for football? So what if he wanted to come back the next year, big deal. I'm sure Favre and everyone else on this planet has made a worse mistake than that. His just happened to be broadcasted on television. 

So, before the media and the trash talkers out there decide that Brett has no integrity and is a sham, just remember that Brett is just a regular guy who is prone to make a mistake from time to time. More importantly than that, remember all the good things he has done as a player and as a person. And instead of overlooking the past sixteen years of his career and focusing on the last one, let's try and do the opposite. Between you and me, I hope he comes out of retirement again.      

  

 

Carlin's voice of persuasion

I don't know a comedian who's has done stand-up for as long as George Carlin has. Anyone who has been around since the seventies and has been that successful has got to have some credibility in his act. Unfortunately, Carlin past away last year due to heart failure, but his memories and comedy routine will be remembered forever. 

I have heard about George Carlin since I can remember. That is just one of those names you will hear regardless of of whether you want to or not. He's that popular and has been so for over so long. But I never really appreciated his routine until recently, that is, until I started thinking for myself for a change, outside of the box. Anyone who has heard a part of his act for more than five minutes would know that his entire genre is "thinking outside the box."

After I watched a couple of his acts I had suddenly turned into a Carlin fan and wanted more more more. However, I have learned that when watching Carlin, his words can start persuading you to judge and rethink your beliefs, morals, ideals, and everything else that you hold dear. So, if or when you do watch his performance(s), do so with a grain of salt, and know that it is just an act used primarily for entertainment. It is only comedy, in the end. Nonetheless, Carlin is very enthusiastic and persuasive during his comedy as he tears apart what society deems is right and politically correct. I really love it when Carlin goes on his rampage with words and elevates his voice more and more to drive a message across. I don't think there is a better comedian out there who can use the device of persuasion quite like Carlin. It it his "bread and butter" as the saying goes. George even had an act about his act and why he has been successful doing so. 

There are some opinions that I don't entirely agree with Carlin, like religion, for one. But I know when he comes around to that part, which he inevitably will, I just respect his opinion and know it is just part of his act. I don't let it boggle me up inside with frustration or anger like some people might get when watching Carlin. Saying that, pretty much anything else outside of religion I love and agree with entirely.

Even with Carlin no longer living or passed away or "dead" as he would of bluntly put it (inside George Carlin joke) we can still see a lot of his routine in other comedians, realists, and even in ourselves at times. I had a college professor at my old school that reminded me of Carlin. My teacher wasn't as lively as Carlin though, more dry-humored. But his realistic and mostly negative mindset about the world or "people in the world" we live in was opposite of what you would normally hear. My teacher talked about the flaws in the educational system, parenting system, government, politics, religion, and even as depth as the way our brains are wired from childhood until death. He really opened my eyes to a lot. I felt I got more out of that one class, which had nothing to do with my major, than all my other classes combined. That same concept goes for Carlin. Even though his act is primarily for entertainment, I feel like I get more out of his comedy than almost any other comedian out there.

I know George would hate me saying this but, he's probably down there now, smiling up at us.

      

          

The Good and Bad of Dane Cook

Just about everyone and their mother has heard of Dane Cook. Whether if it's his stand-up or the movies he's been in, the man is "on the map" as they say when it comes to show-business. However, there are speculators out there that find Dane more annoying than funny. So how did Dane turn from average Joe-schmo into Mr. popular all of a sudden? Is he really the premier stand-up of our time for his act and talent or is it that he knows how to play the strings just right? Hmmm.... I say a little bit of both. 

The first time I watched Dane was on a Comedy Central special back in 2000. This was when I first started watching stand-up seriously, when I really starting appreciating stand-up for what it was. Yet, I didn't find Dane all that amusing. He was funny at times when he did his impersonation of "Alien" and the pains of going to the DMV; but the rest of the time, he just seemed like he was trying too hard to make his jokes funny. I felt he was more of an entertainer than stand-up comedian. When most think of comedians, they think of Cosby, Pryor, Hicks, Carlin, etc. Those comedians and others like them are/were able to smoothly operate the crowd, like a composer does his orchestra. The greats didn't need to flail around the stage desperately just to squeeze a drop of laughter from their audiences. After saying that, Dane was able to squeeze more than just a drop-full that night. No, Dane squeezed gallons full. And what started as off-beat comedy ended with me wanting more. That part is hard to explain in words. I guess it's the uniqueness in his act that I find appealing. It's refreshing to see new faces, new material, and more importantly: a new style of comedy. I had a feeling this was not the last time I would watch Dane Cook. 

Years down the road I found myself following Dane's career with acts such as: Harmful if Swallowed, Retaliation, Vicious Circle, Rough Around the Edges, and his newest act, Isolated Incident, which I went to see live on Jan. 31st. It has been fun watching Dane and his act change throughout the years. His first two acts, Harmful if Swallowed and Retaliation, were your more traditional Dane Cook where his humor was based more off of his observations in everyday life. Funny things like: trying to order fast food, car accidents, and controversial situations with people at Walgreens. Somehow, Dane Cook can turn what should be a 30 second story into a 10 minute extravaganza with jokes jam-packed inside of jokes.  

In Dane's latest stand-up, he's been more personal with his audience letting them in on the intimate stories from his childhood, the death of his father and mother, relationship problems, and sexual encounters. Dane talks to his audience as if he's talking to a small group of close friends. This style leaves the crowd feeling attached as if they know Dane personal. Well, they pretty much do.

 

Other than the personal story telling of Dane Cook's act, female interaction is another reason why Dane has become so popular. Although there is not a face of a female stand-up superstar, Dane Cook is by far the most popular comedian in female opinions. This gives Dane a larger fan-base than other comedians since he's got both sexes watching him. A major part of his act has to do with relationships/sex in which Dane will talk about the female's view of things. This is a risky tactic for it can backfire if the slightest contradiction occurs and you loose all credibility. However, Dane is able to execute these jokes to a tee leaving the female audience feeling like he understands them. Dane also has a logo called the "superfi" which stands for super finger. I see this logo on t-shirts, bumper stickers, people's myspace, binders, and other places. This logo makes people feel like they're part of a group which gives even more meaning to watch and follow Dane. All these small little gimmicks add up to a campaign to stardom.   

Dane's act pretty much follows the teenage and young adult life. If you're outside the age of thirty, it's hard to relate to the humor and therefore, "get" the comedy of Dane Cook. I noticed this when I watched him live. I would say about 95% of the audience was 30 or younger. And when you have the attention of that many teenagers/young adults, it's no wonder why you become the stand-up juggernaut. 

Although I would say Dane Cook is not an intellectual comic that can be compared to the greats before his time, his styles does, however, relate to the majority of stand-up viewers and grabs the attention of all people whether you like him or not.. Keep being yourself Dane