Email from my friend, Donovan

Since moving to California in April 1998, I've been lucky to be able to watch 10-12 regular season Packer games on TV every year. I hate going to bars and watching games in mixed fan company. No patience for asshole fans - and a bit of a temper.

I didn't miss one Green Bay Packer game this season - fittingly, it being Brett's last year. As I've posted before, I watched most of the games at my friend's home - Donovan and Maria and Baby Grace - in Tujunga, near Pasadena (they have the Sunday NFL Ticket). Their #1 team is the Broncos, and the Packers are #2. If our games were on simultaneously, I'd be screaming in one room and D & M would be screaming in the other room and Baby Grace might start to cry and I'd say, "Gracie, come on now - Uncle Jeff is watching his Packer game, baby" - and she'd quiet down 'cause she loves me and she loves Brett Favre. I'd cheer for Denver and they'd cheer for Green Bay (except on that Monday night OT game) and once Denver was out of the playoff race, D & M (and Gracie) switched full-force to rooting for the Pack. It was a memorable year, and that is an understatement.

And their fervor was as genuine and furious as if they had born and bred in Wisconsin. Anyway, Donovan sent me this email the day Favre retired:

Dear Jeff,
I remember the moment in early 1999, when I heard John Elway was leaving the game and it was both a mournful, yet celebratory (in remembrance) day. While I had expected it two seasons ago with Farve, I did not somehow foresee it after that last, wondrous year of football in 2007. It was a wondrous year! Ironically, even though my team did so shitty, it will always remain as one of my more enjoyable football seasons ever. A good bit of that had to do with you. A good bit of that had to do with Brett Farve.

I think that anyone who loves the sport itself is somehow saddened today and, somehow, a bit of a Packer fan. I am.

Donovan
Don't Think Of A Monkey