Brett Favre: Arm in Minnesota, Heart in Wisconsin

When the Vikings rolled into Lambeau field and Favre jogged onto the field, Packers’ fans rained down a chorus of boos toward their ex-quarterback.

Signs filled the stadium, some praising love for Favre, but most of them bashing their grey-bearded ex-hero. Signs like “Judas only betrayed one, you betrayed us all” really got me wondering just how blind Packers fans had become.

While working and living in Wisconsin, the office buzz in Wisconsin during 2009 was filled with hate filled rants about Favre. On Mondays, every water cooler conversation, every cubicle visit, and every meeting seemingly started with a 10-minute Favre-venting session.

However, while wearing purple, Favre was still doing more for Green Bay’s fans than their current starter Aaron Rodgers—at least off the field.

While Favre was throwing touchdowns to Sidney Rice, he was also throwing a lot of money to Wisconsin charities. 

In 2009, Rodgers helped Donald Driver break receiving records while “The Favre Foundation” donated $100,000 to the “Ribbon of Hope Foundation” in Wisconsin which helps fight against breast cancer. This is just one of countless donations the foundation made to Wisconsin communities in 2009.

Deanna Favre was getting 20-30 requests for donations per day according to Christine Lader, Deanna’s younger sister.

“The demand was getting too great,” Ladner said on the number of requests.

It’s obvious Favre still loves the people of Wisconsin despite what fans and the media may say about him. Favre’s generosity didn’t stop after he left Wisconsin and it won’t stop after he leaves Minnesota.

Sometimes fans get caught up in the sport and forget players are real people. Sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back from football and realize who really cares about the community he plays for on and off the field. 

So the next time we Wisconsin folk open our mouths and think about bashing Favre we should remember just how much he has done for our local communities and how many people he has helped and will continue to help throughout the years.