Apparently, there's some talk about a former Packers quarterback coming out of retirement to play for the Panthers or the Dolphins or something.
But I don't know for sure, because the Milwaukee sports world is talking about only one thing this week: the trade for reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. (or CC, depending on who you talk to) Sabathia.
Obviously, I'm kidding a little bit. This recent Favre talk is huge news, and any other time, would be the only story on a Wisconsin sports fan's mind.
For the record, I think the Packers should take Brett back, but force him to commit to a two-year deal and promise to stop threatening to retire. They should trade Aaron Rodgers and accept that fans would rather see an aging Favre throwing picks than watch an up-and-coming team struggling for a 9-7 season. For my money, I'd be fine watching a feeble Brett play till he's 80. Yes, I know what that means for the franchise, and I know that Favre has screwed the team by dangling the retirement card in front of them for five years. I don't care. Brett has been at the helm as long as I've been a serious Packers fan, and I'm not ready to move on.
There, I said it. Now back to my point.
It's baseball season, not football season, and the Brewers are now equipped to make a serious run at the post-season. Arguably, they were poised to make the playoffs last year, but this is a much more talented team that what they put on the field in 2007. Nabbing an ace who is potentially better than our own Ben Sheets -- and doing so without giving up a major-league player -- is amazing, and it's a testament to the brilliant general manager Doug Melvin.
It's huge news, and it deserves to trump the wishy-washy, rumor-laden Favre talk. The Crew plays both the Cardinals and the Cubs in July, and if the stars are aligned, we could find Milwaukee solidly in first place by the end of the month.
The only news not being reported is what happens after this season. Everyone is certain that Sabathia is a half-season rental, and most seem convinced Sheets will leave for a team like the Yankees.
My colleague Drew Olson assures me that I've lost my mind, but I'd like to know if it's hypothetically possible to re-sign both players. After all, none of us knows just how wealthy principal owner Mark Attanasio is. Drew tells me, however, that it would be insane to pay two pitchers $35 million next year, especially considering that these aces are looking for four- to six-year deals.
OK, fine. But let's get to the playoffs and see what happens. And let's not forget there is a slim chance (Drew rates it at 40 percent) that Yovani Gallardo could pitch in October, too.
Melvin, Attanasio and Ned Yost said their goal is to win now. As a fan who has obsessed over this team for a long, long time, this is sweet, sweet music.
Sabathia may be our Don Sutton, our Rollie Fingers. The Brewers may not win the division or even the wildcard. But it's gonna be a good run.
And for now, I'm more than happy to let the Favre scenario play out behind the scenes. I've got all winter to think about the Packers.
Right now, I've got a case of Brewers Fever ... and CC (or C.C.) may be my cure.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
