No more debate. No more speculation. No more goofy, incredulous denials from agent/sideshow Bus Cook.
Brett is, most definitely, coming back.
Yep, Brett Favre so wants vengeance against the Green Bay Packers that he’ll let somebody stab him to make it happen. According the to St. Paul Pioneer Press, renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews will cut into Favre’s shoulder later this week to repair the quarterback’s torn biceps tendon.
Even if you prefer the ESPN.com report that somewhat refuted the Pioneer Press story, specifically the immediacy of the surgery, the premise remains the same. He’s still willing to go under the knife if that’s what it takes to play again.
So if you don’t yet believe that Favre will be a Minnesota Viking, then you surely doubt the lunar landing, too.
No way Favre has this procedure unless he’s dead set on coming back. Not with the notorious dislike he has for surgery. Not with all the other circumstantial evidence, from his newly minted “can’t stand Green Bay” reputation to last year’s dalliance with the Detroit Lions.
And certainly not in light of the latest Favrian quote, brought to light by the NFL Network’s Scott Hanson. Apparently, last year during a conversation with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Favre said, “He [Packers GM Ted Thompson] doesn’t want me going to Minnesota because he knows I’ll kick his ass twice a year!”
Ted, time to go buy some padded pants.
And while you’re at it, paint that quote above the locker room door. Because Favre isn’t just saying he’ll kick Ted’s butt, but those of his former teammates, too. The guys who used to have Brett’s back. Now, it’s a back they’ll be all-too-happy to break.
It’s a terrific soap opera, a drama of epic proportions. Favre starring as a mob boss intent on revenge, a man obsessed with taking out anyone who dared go against the family, collateral damage be damned. And if one of those innocent bystanders is Favre’s own legacy, well, it’s a price he’s willing to pay.
What a show. No football player has been this entertaining since Art Donovan sat next to Johnny Carson.
But Donovan told funny stories. Favre’s show? Nothing but a Greek tragedy.
Because no matter who wins, in the end, everybody loses.
Rough Weeks
This should be a feel-good time for Milwaukee Brewers fans. Make that a feel-great time.
With nearly a fourth of the season gone, their team is in first place. It has the second-best record in the National League and is tied for the third-best mark in all of baseball.
But suddenly, Brew Crew fans have a cloud to go with their silver lining. Because we’ve had better weeks in Milwaukee.
Erinn Lobdell lost on “Survivor.” Danny Gokey lost on “American Idol.”
And now second baseman Rickie Weeks has been lost for the season.
Weeks was finally in the midst of a long-anticipated breakout campaign, but now needs wrist surgery and a recovery time of four to six months. The leadoff man was batting .272 with nine homers, 24 RBIs and 28 runs scored. Once a lightning rod for the fan base’s criticism, he had turned into a fan favorite.
Today, those fans are officially bummed. Weeks’ performance had taken Milwaukee’s already-good offense to the next level.
But is his loss fatal to Milwaukee’s playoff chances? Absolutely not. The offense is good enough to lose one bat, and backup second baseman Craig Counsell may soften the blow further. He looks reborn with his new batting stance – he’s hitting .339 – and Counsell is actually an upgrade defensively.
There are four players this Brewers club can’t afford to lose – Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo, Trevor Hoffman and Prince Fielder. If any of them go down, then you can hit the panic button.
In the meantime, Brewers fans, grieve for Weeks’ loss, but don’t give up hope because of it.
Minor League Moment
The Milwaukee Brewers have unearthed a hidden gem of a pitcher. But they may never get to use him.
Mike Burns, an off-the-radar offseason Triple-A free-agent signing, has turned into an ace for the Nashville Sounds. He improved to 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA on Sunday, and looks like an attractive big-league callup should the Brewers need reinforcements from the minors.
But as well as he’s pitching, even Burns admits he’s a longshot to put on a Brewers uniform this season. “Realistically, as far as me getting a shot, something would have to go wrong,” Burns says. As in a slew of pitching-related injuries in the organization.
See, Burns isn’t on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster, so even if the Brewers wanted to bring him up, they’d have to cut somebody to make room for him. Meanwhile, other Triple-A pitchers (like Tim Dillard, Chase Wright and Nick Green) happen to be pitching well and also happen to be on the 40-man, so it’s much easier for the Brewers to promote them.
“I’d love to get up there and that’s the whole goal,” Burns says. “But it’s a numbers thing.”
So Burns, most likely, will continue toiling in Nashville, a 30-year-old who’s pitched in five organizations, but hasn’t run out of big-league dreams. Part of the reason: a wife and a new child. “I’m playing a little bit more for people other than just myself.”
Burns has enjoyed something of a bulldog reputation during his 10-year career, most of it spent in the minors. Never pegged as a pitcher with great stuff, he’s nonetheless posted a career ERA of 3.66 in nearly 1,000 minor-league innings. He had brief big-league stints in 2005 and 2006 with Houston, Cincinnati and Boston, posting a combined ERA of 5.88. But those clubs used him exclusively as a reliever, and his best success has come as a starter.
Case in point: his 2002 season for the Midwest League’s Michigan Battle Cats, when he won 14 games with a 2.49 ERA in 181 innings. It was the best season by a starting pitcher in that club’s history, beating out a couple of better-known former Battle Cats. Perhaps you’ve heard of Roy Oswalt and Johan Santana?
Now Burns is putting together another great season. And he’s also hoping that someone not only notices it, but can actually make use of it. He’s not only auditioning for the Brewers, but also other major league clubs or even a team in Japan.
“You never know,” Burns says. “My goal right now is to pitch as best as I can. All you can do is control what you do out on the mound.”
Home Sweet Home
It could be worse for Burns. He could be in an assisted-living center. Like this minor leaguer.
Don’t forget to check out our fitness column, Training with Tim.
And tune in every Tuesday morning during the 6 o’clock hour when I join Doug Russell and Mike Wickett on SportsRadio 1250 AM for Tuesdays with Howie. You can also find the segments in their Audio Vault.
