Bitter Steeler Fans Want to Sue Super Bowl

Actually, I can't blame fans for being pissed about the ticketing fiasco. It's pretty bush league what happened to them, especially those who were fans of the teams playing.

That said, the NFL, to its credit is going out of its way to minimize the fallout.

Don't try and sell that BS to Matthew Rush.

From CNN.com:

Matthew Rush, 40, a Steelers fan originally from Pittsburgh, was one of the 400 or so fans left without a seat Sunday night. After spending the whole day being moved around to different parts of the stadium while officials tried to accommodate them, Rush and the others were eventually moved to a glassed-in bar just below field level where they could watch the game on television monitors, he said.

What view they had of the field was obscured by those standing on the sidelines, he said.

"It was happening 300 feet in front of us, but (it was as though) we weren't there," Rush told CNN on his way back from Dallas on Tuesday.

After halftime, Rush said, he and others were so frustrated that they left the stadium, and he watched the remainder from his hotel room.

Rush said he spent a total of about $5,000 to attend the Super Bowl with his wife. He spent $800 per ticket, which he purchased through the Steelers' season-ticket-holder lottery.

The NFL promised to give free tickets to next year's Super Bowl and a refund of triple the cost of the $800 face value of the ticket to the 400 fans denied seats on Sunday, but Rush said that doesn't make up for the anger, frustration, and disappointment he still feels at missing his beloved Steelers at the big game.

Based on the bare bones SueSuperBowl.com website that is championing the cause, Mr. Rush can use all the cash money he can get his hands on.

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In Addressing McNabb Trade, Former Eagle Takes Shot at the Ol' Gunslinger

Since announcing his candidacy for US Congress, former All Pro lineman Jon Runyan is asked as many football questions by reporters as political ones.

With the recent Donovan McNabb trade, however, there was finally something good (football-wise) to ask the former Eagle about.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, now, what's the story about Donovan McNabb? You played with him with the Eagles. Why the Redskins? What's that going to do for the Redskins and what's that going to do to the Eagles?

RUNYAN: Well, I think the Eagles were in a unique situation where they actually had three starting quarterbacks on the roster, so they were able to shop, you know, each one individually, and it ultimately ended up being Donovan going to Washington, which surprised a lot of people around here, especially the fact that they're playing in the division twice a year. So it's going to be an interesting thing. I mean, they have traditionally in Washington, they have a great defense. You know, if they can come out and put together some -- put -- you know, put together some scoring drives and put points on the board, they're a very formidable team here in the NFC East.

VAN SUSTEREN: You know, it's a little like having Donovan McNabb go from the Eagles to the Redskins because it's the same -- they're going to play against each other -- it's a little bit like Brett Favre going from the Packers to the Vikings. You know, they're both incredible rivalries, and now they've -- they've lost -- they've now lost or given away or however you want to describe it, their quarterbacks.

RUNYAN: Yes, but minus the "I want to play, I want to retire, I want to play, I want to retire" fiasco.

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Separated at Birth: Aaron Rodgers Doesn't Get the Fact That Rollover Minutes are Just as Good as New Minutes

And he really likes breaking his mother's balls.

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Separated at Birth: Bat Out of Hell

Packer Coach Mike "Meatloaf" McCarthy.

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Brett Favre and the Pursuit of Happiness

Play As Long As You Want Favre.

While sure to rile up some folks, I really don't have a problem with Brett Favre coming back to play for the Minnesota Vikings or anyone else. Do I think it's a problem that Vikings Coach Brad Childress just slid his two current quarterbacks out of the way to make room for Favre after saying he wouldn't? Yes. Was it absolutely draining tht ESPN covers his every move in a potential comeback like a presidential campaign? Yes. But these aren't Favre's problems. I know there are a lot of reasons people have speculated as to why Favre is coming back. He wants to come back to get revenge on the Packers when the two meet up twice this season or maybe he is just looking at another payday. I'm sure those will all be nice parts of the package, getting some 25 million for two years and also a chance to take down the franchise that no longer wanted you have to be incentives, but I think at the end of the day he just wanted to play football again.

Photo: Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune, via Associated Press

I am by no means a lifelong Favre fan but I can totally understand someone wanting to still do something they love even when others feel like it's time to move on. What has soured many folks on Favre is the back and forth on his retirement that has gone on for nearly the last decade. Perhaps he is like your friend at the diner who never knows what he wants and can't fully make up his decision until the waitress demands an order. Then after he gets the grilled cheese he knows he made a mistake. We all know people like that. It just so happens this isn't our friend, and these decisions aren't taking place at the diner. And yes I'm aware that playing professional football is more important than ordering food, but it feels like the same thought process for Favre. He seemed resolved finally to place his order of retirement, and in a rare move he was given a chance to order yet again, and this time he figured out what he really wanted deep down, to play.

Anyone who has seen the latest installation of the Rocky Balboa movies knows where Favre is coming from. As the "Rock" says, Favre probably still has some stuff left in the basement that he wants to get out. Just like in Rocky alot of people don't get why Favre is doing this. What does he have to prove? Why risk further injury? Why be greedy? Truthfully, it's not really about any of these things, at least I don't think. I'd like to think it's about a guy that just loves a sport and wants to keep playing it as long as possible. To anyone who has ever played three-on-three basketball until it gets dark out, or has thrown the football around until you can't see it anymore in the night sky, we have all had this feeling. The feeling to want to maximize as much time as you possibly can doing something you truly enjoy.

Unfortunately most fans now don't get to play or do the things they love as much anymore. They have jobs, families, committments, and sometimes bodies that can't do it anymore. Instead they are saturated with just a fan experience of highlights shows, fantasy stats for players, and bottom lines with repetitive updates about things like if a quarterback will once and for all comeback. Maybe that has made some of us cynical or jaded because we can't make decisions like Favre just did. We can't up and decide we will play sports again full time, or start up the old garage band again, or whatever the dream might be. I can only imagine if most fans were given a similar opportunity they would jump all over it. To further that I like the idea that he keeps playing because that's probably what I would do. I'd keep playing a sport until it was physically impossible. As Rocky says when informed of the pursuit of happiness, "the point is I'm pursuing something and nobody looks to happy about it"

Who knows what will happen this season, maybe Favre's arm isn't strong enough and he doesn't even make it all the way through, or perhaps he has a rejuvenation and leads the Vikings to the Super Bowl, or maybe it's just an average season that ends in a very average way. However it ends, Favre will have gotten another chance to do what he loves to do and we should all be so lucky.

-Posted by Cadillac Mescallade

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"People just want to be around my husband"

...or something to that affect.

Muttered by one of the women on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. I don't watch the show, but I am always hanging around while the wife is catching up with what feels like a 43 hour marathon. Anyway, the paraphrased quote was from Lisa Wu-Hartwell the wife of former NFLer Ed Hartwell. To put the quote in context, the Hartwell's find that the easiest way to get investors involved in their business plans or to get their foot in the door anywhere is to 'career drop' Ed's former profession. Sure his name might ring a bell with local Atlanta sports fans/business men but when you attach 'former NFL player' then everyone takes notice. Everyone wants to meet and rub elbows with former athletes.

Lisa and her husband are entrepreneurs, trying to make his fleeting fame and money last for as long as possible by investing in other businesses and starting a few of her own. Every athlete needs to plan for the future whether it's in broadcasting, sports writing, fund raising, or even the private sector. Then there is the rare athlete who thinks he can excel at them all. Or anything really.

Take for instance, Pags.

Mike Pagliarulo, a below average third baseman best known for his porn 'stache, opened shop at Dugout Central, where "Mike Pagliarulo and baseball fans discuss our national pastime." While Pags is seldom correct about anything he jots down, to his credit he has surrounded himself on the site with some reasonably informative and knowledgeable writers.

Why do I bring this up?

Well, recently, HHR reader and sometime contributor Assassin Ave brought to our attention DorseyLevensReport.com.

Yes, it appears Dorsey Levens has a football blog ala Pags (only not as bitter and full of misinformation).

Despite rave reviews by pseudo-celebrities and former athletes:

• “Great website Dorsey! Colorful and informative!” Bernard Berrian - WR, Minnesota Vikings
• "Coolsite. Way to go, Dorsey!" Bill Bellamy, Comedian
• "Great site!" Michael Merriweather, Retired NFL Linebacker 1982-93 Steelers / Vikings
• "Love the site, keep up the excellent work!" Mark Jenkins, Celebrity Trainer
• "This site is awesomely creative. For one guy who played in the NFL to another, this is the site that every NFL fan should be looking at!." Roger Craig, former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back

It's rather, how you say?...rather pointless?

Not nearly as pointless as the aforementioned former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Roger Craig's fantasy site: http://www.rogercraigfflrush.blogspot.com/.

While some people may just want to be around other folks' husbands, it seems some of those husbands more accurately just want to be around people.

Don't get us wrong. We find the practice of athletes, current and former, taking their message directly to fans admirable. We would just recommend said messages be entertaining, informative and/or newsworthy. Otherwise they risk coming off as former jocks not willing to give up the spotlight they spent their entire formidable years basking in.

You're Serious?

For the Brett Favre fan that has everything...

Get your US Mint "All Time GREAT" coin which "features a meticulously detailed portrait of Brett Favre complete with his certified reproduced autograph and the Statue of Liberty beautifully embossed on the reverse."

"Certified reproduced." Interesting.

And by "officially licensed" they mean "just short of the point where we can use the official Packers' logo."

Bet these coins end up in the wrong people's hands - just like a Favre pass.

Click for commercial video link.

Favre Wrangles His Way to NY

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been staying up nights wondering what was going to happen to Brett Favre. So imagine my surprise when I found out last night that Favre is going to channel his inner Vinny Testaverde to take over the QB reins of the Jets at the advanced football age of 38.

Without a doubt, this move improves the Jets passing game for the simple fact that downfield throws have been reinstalled into the weekly game plan. Whether it makes the Jets good enough to compete with the Patriots … well, no, it does not. The Jets are clearly still second fiddle in the AFC East.

Meanwhile, Chad Pennington got dumped on the street like last week’s trash. Of course, the internal anatomy of his right shoulder is trash, so there is some merit to the analogy.

That said, Pennington sacrificed a ton for the Jets: he played hurt, he underwent multiple surgeries to get back on the field, and played the good soldier role even as he and Kellen Clemens alternated turns being trampled by the oncoming Patriots pass rush. That still doesn’t qualify him as the best quarterback for the Jets, but as the eloquent poet Rick James used to sing, Pennington being waived is just a little cold blooded.



It’s been said that the NFL means “Not For Long”, but in this case, I suppose it could mean something else: “No F**king Loyalty”.

But who cares about Pennington? If anything can be gleaned from this disaster it’s that Favre doesn’t care who he runs over on his way to posting double-digit interception numbers this season.

For God’s sake, Brett had the “itch” to play ball! (Just on his terms and no one else’s.)

-Posted by Rev. Shaw Moore

Training Camp Postcards, Part 3 of 8: NFC North

As you may or may not follow, SI.com has dispatched "10 writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country" and is featuring their reports throughout August in their Training Camp Postcard segment.

Here at HHR, we prefer to look at actual postcards sent by players to their loved ones, as opposed to Peter King drivel.

Today, we take a look at what's going on in , WI (Packers), Mankato, MN (Vikings), Bourbonnais, IL (Bears) and Allen Park, MI (Lions) from a player's perspective.

To See the Complete Parts 1-8, Click Here.

Former Packer QBs Lining Up to Compete for Starting Job

When they heard Coach Mike McCarthy was offering retired Packer quarterbacks the chance to compete for the starting gig, several former Green Bay signal callers felt they still had a little gas left in their tanks.

Bart Starr
Age: 74
Pros: More mobile and able to escape pocket than the elderly Favre. Starr has an NFL award named after him. The Bart Starr Award recognizes outstanding character, a lack of which by Packer QBs lately has caused this pre-season mess. He's a Hall of Fame quarterback and when a Hall of Fame quarterback who has been an icon for your team says he can still play, nothing else matters. And he's the only one actually in the Hall of Fame.

Bart Starr Statue
Age: 4
Pros: More mobile and able to escape pocket than the elderly Favre. Never addicted to pain killers. Doesn't cry at press conferences.

Don Majkowski
Age 44
Pros: Has a Majk touch. His injury paved the way to Brett Favre seeing the field and subsequently finding success. That should account for something. You OWE him Green Bay. You owe him.

Doug Pederson
Age: 40
Pros: A long-time Favre backup, he knows the system, without having to take a beating by actually having to play. He can hold the spot down for Rodgers and teach young Aaron a thing a two, much like he did for McNabb in Philadelphia.

Ty Detmer
Age 41
Pros: 2 for 1 deal, apprenticed under brother Koy in the craft of holding. He's a Heisman winner with a bloodline. Cares more about football than he does hunting and fishing in Mississippi. Can spell "Mississippi."

Can We Laugh at Brett Favre Crying Like a Woman Now?

When Brett Favre tearfully announced his retirement following last season, it seemed we were one of the very few sports blogs at the time that found it downright amusing.

Further, we wondered how many bloggers had the audacity to call out Laura Ingram for putting him in his place and questioning his manhood, when they have no qualms poking fun of every little misstep athletes make.

So now we wonder.

Can we laugh now?

Can we make fun of St. Brett?

Can we offer a collecting blogger appology for calling Laura Ingram every dirty word in the book generally associated with the female anatomy? Maybe her words seemed off at the time, but doesn't a "real man's" word mean something? Isn't a real man a man of honesty, integrity and loyalty?

Anyway, just for fun, let's take a look at some of those terms of endearment bestowed upon Ingram in March (WARNING - POTTY MOUTHS):

Crazy 'Woman' Calls Brett Favre 'Woman': "... but it's worth pointing out that FOX News commentator/yapcunt Laura Ingraham laid into Brett Favre for his emotional display at the press conference during which he announced his retirement." (With Leather)

Favre Found to Be Female; Will Never Be Successful Sports Blogger Now: "In a shocking development, wingnut batshit yapcunt radio host Laura Ingraham has revealed to the world that once-revered Green Bay Packers quarterback is, in actuality, a woman..." (KSK)

FOX News Commentator Calls Brett Favre A Woman For Crying During Speech: "That's right guys, it's NOT okay to cry, and you WANT a woman like Laura Ingraham in your life! Seriously.....I can't even put the words together to say how irresponsible and downright stupid that message is." (Awful Announcing)

Brett Favre is a woman, says someone who is sort of like a woman: "Upon further review, however, I think the fact that Miss Ingraham works at FOX News disqualifies her from being a normal woman." (Shutdown Corner)

Here's what some FanHouse commentators said..

"laura is a whora" (nyranger26)

"Sadly, whoever steals Ann Coulter's crown for Queen of the Harpies gets all her book deals." (JCN)

"Someone should punch that self-righteous bitch in the face." (Ned Yost is Kenny Rogers)

"LAURA INGRAHAM IS A STUPID BITCH - I DIDNT KNOW THERE WAS A USELESS IDIOT WHO CALLS HERSELF A JOURNALIST. WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OTF TIME THIS SCUM IS. I AM SURE BRETT IS REALLY LOOSING SLEEP OVER THIS. SHE MUST HAVE NEVER SEEN IT WHEN STEVE YOUNG RETIRED - GO GET A JOB YOU MORON,." (sarlocks)

"lura you suck ya bitch.if you would stop and think how much BRETT FAVRE Loved football,more then any football player in history.but no.bitch you suck." (joseph matusick)

---

HHR would like to thank Laura for saying what needed to be said. Despite the backlash she received, at least she stick to her convictions, unlike some sniveling little self-righteous effeminate QB.

WFAN's Craig Carton's Campaign for the Jets to Get Brett

Much to his co-host Boomer Esiason's lament, former Jersey Guy Craig Carton (accompanied by producer and one-time Ron & Fez lackey, Al Dukes) proceeded with his megaphone-enhanced "Let's Get Brett [Favre]" crusade at Jets camp yesterday.

MSM's Erroneous Reporting?

No, you hang up first!

On Tuesday we cited a Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal report that Brett Favre had used his "Packers issued" cell phone to communicate (illegally) with the Minnesota Viking staff.

Well shame on us for assuming the Sentinel-Journal was a legitimate source.

Today, ESPN is reporting "Packers didn't give Favre team-issued cell phone" according to sources of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

We'd expect this kind of irresponsible reporting from "full of shit" bloggers, not from genuine newsman.

Favre Caught in Web of Espionage

And by "espionage" I mean "stupidity."

From Access Vikings:

As we await the NFL’s decision on the tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with Brett Favre, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

Three things are obvious here:

1. Favre is a snake with no regard for his team or its fans.
2. He probably also emailed the Vikes staff repeatedly from his Packers email account, with little or no restraint.
3. As a spokesman for T-Mobile, his credibility is shot, as he obviously does not patronize their services.

Ray Ratto: Superfan

Move over, Bill Swerski.

The SF Chronicle's Ray Ratto was a guest today on Jim Rome Is Burning's Forum. And while his mouth was talking about Brett Favre and the Pack, I have no doubt in my mind that the only thing running through his brat-fattened head was...

"Daaaaaaaa Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears."

Brett Favre/T-Mobile in Cahoots

As Brett Favre continues his annual jerking around of the Packers franchise and fans, a new T-Mobile commercial features Brett saying "Good Bye to Good Bye."

Robert Ferguson on Favre: "There are a lot of things that are positive about the way he retired."

Really? Which parts were positive? Which alleged retirement are you referring to?

As quoted in the Star Tribune's Access Vikings, the former Favre teammate and current Vike said, "It’ll be good for the simple fact that they are retiring his jersey, he left the game on his own terms. There are a lot of things that are positive about the way he retired. I’m happy for him and happy to see him go into the second chapter of his life."

On his own terms, indeed.

Asked if he thinks Favre will stay retired, Ferguson said: "I’m not sure, I’m not sure. That’s a good question. I know he still wants to play. He just doesn’t want to be in training camp and things of that nature. But he still loves the game. He’ll probably always love the game regardless of if he stays retired or not."

So is Fergie hinting Favre's really not content on being retired and that this is just a ploy to avoid training camp?

Someone put Aaron Rodgers on suicide watch.

Sports Figures Headline NJ HoF Innaugural Class

Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi, Yankee Yogi Berra and Former Knick/US Senator Bill Bradley were among 15 first-ever inductees into the New Jersey Hall of Fame this past Sunday.

Joining them were Frank Sinatra, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, publisher Malcolm Forbes, and Gen. Robert Wood Johnson II, "familiar to many through the philanthropic foundation that bears his name, was represented by his grandson, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson."

The final inductee was a former amateur pitcher with very unorthodox form. Bruce Springsteen was honored despite his inability to put away Craig Nettles. His friend, a big baseball player back in high school, failed to make the cut, and is said to be very bitter. The two are no longer on speaking terms despite recently seeing one another at a local bar, sitting down and having a few drinks.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - GLORY DAYS
by pierrot77

Brett Favre Retires (from Helping the Less Fortunate)

As if sticking it to his teammates, fans and franchise with his constant retirement drama weren't enough, the NFL's all-time leading interception thrower now decides to stick it to the impoverished of Wisconsin.

News from from Packers Blog is that Favre will no longer be hosting "the annual Packers offense-defense charity softball game." Hosting duties will now belong to Donald Driver.


To his credit, Driver takes the high road in not calling Favre out for his selfishness, and instead sets an example for all Wisconsinites to follow: It's time to replace Favre and move on.

"I always enjoyed playing in the game and being part of a fun tradition. Now I'm glad I can take over for Brett and host it for all my teammates."

For all his teammates. With that little add-on, he's already surpassed Brett in my eyes.

Favre Chatter

Brett just won't go away will he? The media darling continues to be a pain in the ass for coaches, teammates and fans alike.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Packers Blog's Greg A. Bedard...

Mike McCarthy on Brett Favre's un-retirement talk:

"I've talked to Brett a number of times and my understanding is that he's very content with his decision. I think he's going through the normal emotions that any player goes through. He's got a lot of time on his hands and I'm sure the first year is going to be tough on him."

McCarthy "on whether he's bothered by any of the things Favre has said, namely the chatter about him coming back if Aaron Rodgers gets hurt":

"It doesn't bother me because really anything that's talked about, a lot of those conversations Brett and I have had. Now, we didn't talk about all that but we talk regularly so I have a pretty good idea of what's going on."

Right tackle Mark Tauscher on Favre's statements to the press:

"It's tough when you're getting a lot of questions. I'm sure he loves playing, he's made his decision and we as a football team are ready to move forward. We're not going to worry about all those speculations. We respect Brett. He was a great teammate. But this is Aaron Rodgers' team right now."