Shame on you, Brett Favre

It's time to get over yourself, Brett Favre. I'm sure you must love being on the cover of every sports website, magazine, and television show. Someone obviously cares that your arm is sore after practice today, since both ESPN and si.com felt the need to make it a top story.

I, for one, am sick of it. And while I was never a Packers fan, I did enjoy watching watching you play. You seemed to have a love of the game that transcended ego.

But obviously your ego was too big to retire. Instead you thumbed your nose at the loyal Packers fans, asking to be traded to Minnesota or Chicago in order to compete against Green Bay.

What did those people ever do to you, except love you unconditionally? Even when you threw wild passes and had more interceptions than touchdowns. Even after a mediocre 8-8 season in 2006.

Those cheeseheads deserve better. So I therefore vow to root against the Jets every game they play this season. Even if it's against the Giants or Eagles.

Rock on, Aaron Rogers.

I have to wonder about your legacy. When you're inducted at Canton, will anyone be in the stands wearing #4? Probably not any Packers fans.

Top flight

Congrats to my boy Sonny Weems who won the slam dunk contest on ESPN tonight. They're replaying it several times this weekend... he's amazing! Taylor's pretty amazing too.

Why I love sports

If you get the chance, read Rick Reilly's column in last week's issue of Sports Illustrated. While Reilly certainly has his critics, I find his weekly rants mostly amusing. But if I were making $2 million per year, I probably could find a way to be funny, too.

Last week's column discussed how sports is more than just a game. Sports allow us to band together with strangers for a common cause (victory, recognition, hatred of Houston Nutt, etc.). There's little gray area in sports, with clear winners and losers. And it's okay to dislike someone for his or her athletic allegiances.

Want to get someone's dander up? Simply don a baseball cap with a rivalry's logo. Just ask LeBron James about that. Three years ago my nephew's friend dared wear a Longhorns cap to an Arkansas vs. Texas game, and let me tell you, Hog fans aren't afraid to shout obscenities at elementary school students. Especially after a loss.

I've been thinking a lot about why a lot of us (mostly men) are so obsessed with sports. Why we eat breakfast during "Mike and Mike" on the Duece and dinner to "SportsCenter" on the original. My best guess is that sports allow us to believe in something. To have heroes. To watch mere mortals accomplish great feats. To cheer for a team simply because our grandfather liked them. Because, at the end of the day, we all want to be winners. Or at least cheer for them.

Which leads us to the good news of the day... guess whose two favorite teams are now ranked first and second in the NFL? Boy, it's a good NFL season to be me.

Aren't those chin straps itchy?

In anticipation of tonight's AFC showdown between the reigning Super Bowl champion Colts and the only once-defeated Jags, I submit to you yet another reason why everyone thinks my family is so weird.

Seems that third cousin Matt, far removed branch on the family tree, former Razorback standout and first-round draft pick, who started for the Jaguars in his first two seasons and is now coming in off the bench, has refused to shave until he catches his first TD pass this season. ESPN commented that, since he's playing Indy tonight, he might look like Moses soon.

Either way, Redbeard should make for a good Halloween costume. Or maybe he's looking to make a longer comb over.