Columnist Calls Favre 'Diva-Like'

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Perhaps one of the worst insults an NFL player could receive would be for a "local media and political" commentator to venture into sports and use an effeminate phrase to describe a tough guy.

Yet that is exactly what David Brauer of MinnPost.com did while writing about the StarTribune.com's new Favre Web page on its Web site.

Both newspapers cover the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

"Even if you loathe the diva-like signal-caller, this is a big story right now and it only helps readers to aggregate their ongoing coverage somewhere," Brauer wrote.

In fairness, Brauer may be a big sports fan, or perhaps he isn't.

It doesn't matter because he is a media commentator, but how often do you have a non-sports writer calling a future Hall-of-Famer diva-like?

It's priceless, but so telling in Favre's case.

Both news organizations cover sports, but that is where today's Web sites' similarities end.

Favre-worshipping fans of any jersey, who expect a future Super Bowl, can only be generously described as suffering delusions of grandeur.

Realizing a way to build readership, the StarTribune has taken the mind-numbing Favre retirement-unretirement odyssey to its ultimate insanity.

Here are some of the headlines and links devoted to a quarterback who will turn 40 during the season:

• "Childress says he is willing to wait for Favre"
• "More confirmation Favre will wear purple"
• "Judd Zulgad blogs that the chances of Favre joining the Vikings are '99.9 percent' after his comments today"
• "Coordinator Bevell visited Favre with trainer"
  
• "Darrell Bevell made that trip along with a trainer, and he's the first coach to see the QB throw. Decision time remains uncertain."
  
• "Friends, family of No. 4 know it's Favre from over"
• "... Favre is often depicted as a prima donna. ..." {Really?}
• "Green Bay's Jennings doesn't care what Favre does"
• "Burning bridges between Favre and Packers fan"

My head is spinning, like an out-of-control ego.

Brauer's newspaper had a rather dull sports page today, as noted by these headlines:

• "Our rich cycling culture: Getting to know the pedal pushers"
• "Biking basics: Rules of the road in Minnesota"
• "Bike trek: Tour of Twin Cities bike trails"
• "Poker players relieved as Minnesota backs off effort to block gaming sites"
• "Minnesota paradox: 'Hotbed for poker talent' is a leader in opposing online gaming"

Yawn.

Perhaps MinnPost.com could start a Web page that features the disaster wrought by the 1989 Minnesota-Dallas trade.

Remember Herschel Walker?

It's the trade that delivered catastrophe and failure to Minnesota, rather than NFL glory and a Super Bowl, or two.

It's the trade that propelled Dallas to a near dynasty in the early 1990s primarily through a remarkable draft that made Cowboys out of Russell Maryland, Emmitt Smith, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson.

Remember, all the Vikings needed back then was a proven running back, yet the coaching staff never really utilized this great runner.

The StarTribune is the same newspaper that came up with the unfair-to-Walker "Herschel the Turkey" label for Minnesota sports figures who do not live up to expectations or who aren't of the good character that law-abiding Minnesotans expect.

Now the same news organization is featuring a Brett Favre page?

Although draft choices and money are not an issue with Favre, my point is that signing him will be as catastrophic in terms of team cohesion and Minnesota's future as the Walker trade.

Remember, Minnesota's coaches never really utilized Walker or warmed up to him. The trade ruined team chemistry.

And what if this high-risk gamble by the Vikings doesn't pan out, what will be named for Favre?

The chicken or dumplings?

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