I’m not sure there is any set of words that could completely describe Brett Favre‘s ceremony for his jersey retirement and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame induction. The stubbornness of an elderly woman I saw outside Oneida gate before the stadium opened probably summed it up though.
I don’t know who this woman is personally but I can imagine that she is a big Brett Favre fan. I came to this conclusion when she was telling the medics tending to her that even though she had heat exhaustion she was still going to her seat for the ceremony. There were definitely more expletives used than I lead on.
My best friend Reese nearly keeled over from heat exhaustion inside Lambeau Field. I kept telling him we could leave and go somewhere with air conditioning but he wouldn’t budge.
It pretty much sums up Favre’s ceremony. Fans would literally die to see Favre back in Lambeau Field.
It’s fitting when you compare it to the type of quarterback Favre was. He was a guy who played through everything and never missed a game, even during his father’s death. I guess his fans were willing to do the same for his ceremony.
Green Bay is known for being the “Frozen Tundra” but it was far from that on Saturday evening. The weather was rough. It was a nice and sunny day but the heat index was over 95 degrees. I’m sure it was over 100 degrees inside the stadium. No wind either. It was hell on earth. But I’ve never seen hell so sweet.
I never had the chance to attend a game at Lambeau Field. So for me, this was an incredible experience despite the heat. To see my childhood idol return to his stadium and get a standing ovation the way he did, just incredible.
Favre’s words to the crowd was just as incredible.
“I’m a little bit embarrassed that all this is for me. I really am. I never dreamed of standing here before you in a moment like this. It’s just way beyond what I’ve dreamed of. I’m so honored. I want you to know I celebrate this with you. We did it together.”
Two and a half minutes of a standing ovation for Favre when he walked out followed by constant cheers. It’s been nearly seven years since he walked out on the field as a Green Bay Packer, but the way the crowd responded, it was as if he had never left Green Bay.
Aaron Rodgers, you’re a phenomenal quarterback, but on Saturday evening, you were back on the bench. Just for one night, because the Gunslinger was our quarterback once again.
