Editorial: Reasons to like No. 4

Published 7:37 am Monday, August 24, 2009

We’re officially giving any and all Vikings fans the right to drop your feigned indignation about the signing of Brett Favre.

Really, it’s perfectly acceptable to admit your giddiness, to acknowledge that “Skol, Vikings!” has been playing in your head ever since the news broke. You might as well stop pretending now, because you won’t be able to keep it up for more than a week or two anyway.

Yes, he’s a prima donna with an ego the size of Lake Mille Lacs. Sure, he signed late simply because he didn’t want to go to Mankato and endure the rigors of signing autographs and playing catch for 10 days. And granted, he isn’t the poster-boy for locker-room togetherness — his idea of mingling with teammates is leaving the blinds open in his private office.

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But hey, this is professional football, not real life, so there’s no point in holding Favre to any normal standards of human conduct. He’s an entertainer, and he’s joining a troupe that, for nearly five decades, has been clapping politely as someone else hoists the trophy. We’ll tolerate just about anyone who isn’t under federal indictment if there’s a chance he’ll bring us that elusive Super Bowl championship.

Favre might be that guy. And, if that isn’t reason enough to embrace No. 4’s arrival, here’s our Top 10 list of other reasons why you should be glad he’s here:

No. 10: He’s got a better fastball than most of the Twins’ current pitchers.

No. 9: Vikings could gain some pharmaceutical sponsors by renaming the Metrodome “The Vike-o-Den.”

No. 8: Picture this — collectors’ edition purple-and-gold Wranglers, with “Favre” stitched on the back pocket. Nice.

No. 7: Thousands of 40-something Minnesotans will kick that expensive “Just for Men” habit.

No. 6: The real estate market would have collapsed if Favre had to unload all of the million-dollar homes he’s supposedly purchased already — ya know, just in case.

No. 5: We won’t hear an endless series of TV commentators say “Sage Rosenfels is a smart quarterback. After all, his name is Sage.”

No. 4: Packers fans have even more reason to hate us, so all is right with the world.

No. 3: If Favre is booed off the field by Week 8, the Coen brothers will have fodder for a sequel to “No Country for Old Men.”

No. 2: TV blackouts? We think not.

No. 1: Favre is easier to spell than Tarvaris…Tavarais… Tavaris … whatever.

— Rochester Post-Bulletin, Aug. 19