A different perspective on Favre v. Thompson
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 21, 2009
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/40028457.html#comments


Indianapolis -- I wasn't going to post anything more about the situation between Brett Favre and Ted Thompson, but I received an email last night that came from an unbiased point of view. And considering the source of it, I thought Packers fans would like to hear it.

It came from Ed Hanner, the son of the late, great Dave "Hawg" Hanner who as a player, coach and scout had a 44-year career with the Packers. He died in September at the age of 78.

I asked Ed if I could post the content of the email, and he said I could.

This is what he said:

Before his death, Mr. Hanner watched last summer's Favre saga unfurl from his hospital bed in Florida. A day after Favre's interview with Fox News, Ed and his son, Tommy, visited Mr. Hanner.

"My dad was as honest a man as there was," Ed Hanner wrote. "He loved Brett Favre and was with (Ron) Wolf and the team when they traded for him. Brett could almost do no wrong in my dad’s eyes. Dad had been quoted in the past that he was the greatest Packer of all time and the Packers may not have lost a game if he had been there QB during Lombardi years."

Ed asked if father if Thompson was the person Favre described in the Fox News interview.

"I worked with Ted for a number of years and Ted not only was very honest but never would or could tell a lie," said Mr. Hanner, who then shook his head. "That person Brett is calling a liar is one of the most truthful people I knew."

Ed concluded his email by saying: "I know that hurt him because of how much he liked Brett. It bothered him a lot because he thought Brett could do no wrong and he was verbally attacking a man my dad knew was as honest as a man could be. It made him very sad to even discuss it."

YAWN


Why do you keep doing this? What are you trying to prove?

Think you have the wrong Greg.

I would ask Greg Bedard the question.

I think it is pretty easy to see who was at fault. The situation is pretty typical. Employee starts to lose his perspective and becomes disgruntled and gripes about the boss. Eventually the griping becomes a habit or mechanism and has little to no objectivity. The protaganist (Farve) takes the details he doesn't know (can't read TTs mind, TT is not accountable to Farve) and distorts them to fit his mental fantasy. In reality, Farve should not have been worried about what TT is doing. He was in no position to judge. His first mistake was not realizing that. It's all downhill from there.

This is not rocket science. Brett behaved like a (insert descriptive term here) and made TT, MM, everyone at 1265, and all of the fans across the nations' lives some degree of miserable. Forgive him if you like, or don't. I don't care.

Thank god we're still not talking about this BS still THIS offseason...


oh wait...

I dont. Its been almost a year. Why rehash things 4-5 times a week?

Can this thread go in the Brett Favre section? I know it's theoretically about Ted Thompson, but nobody's going to come on here to post about what a great guy Ted is, because we don't know him personally. It's really about The Favre Incident, and as such I think it belongs in the loony section where I don't go and therefore can avoid reading any more about it.

This is a new and interesting point of view Greg, please continue to enlighten us on the subject.

It was but somehow it got moved here.

I dont understand why a Favre bashing thread has to be involved with the TT section?

Moved back here.

That's really the sense I get from Thompson. I know I don't "know him" personally, but I feel like I know where he's coming from and what he's about. Of anyone in the Packers organization right now, I think I would want to meet him more than anyone. I'm sure it's not the most meaningful thing in the world, but I wish he knew that there are a lot of fans that see the good, hard, honest work he puts in and really respect him for how he lives his life and for how well he runs this organization (this team will excel under him because while he's not a typical leader, he's an honest, talented person and has a lot of help from a great organization to fill in some of his weaknesses like public speaking).

It amazes me how many people will worship the most selfish Packer I've ever known, but can't spot a good, honest man when he's standing up on a podium taking all of the nasty fire a famous, pampered star can dish out without so much as a finger pointing back or even a sign of anger. And for those that actually listen to Thompson, it's not about not caring. He cares about every one of those players. It's about understanding and not holding mistakes against people. The guy is good, but so many people hate him. Honestly, it's sad. 90% of it has been built up by one guy and yeah, it bothers me. I think it is a great wrong Favre has done, and is still doing. You wait. This will not die. Favre will be on TV and he will sling needles until he feels he won. I just hope more people who know Thompson personally will come out with these storys. People need to know the truth.

No kidding? Gee I wonder why...

Nobody is forcing you to read it, Luvda. If it doens't interest you, don't open the thread.

I'm a huge fan of Thomson (both the person and the GM) and I'll be here to defend him because he's too selfless to do it himself and because I feel like I'm doing something good for a good person.

Hawg wash. Favre fans feel the same about him. Whats the point anymore. This is a pro Ted sight. He won. You won. The Pack is preparing for the '09 season, as I am, as a fan.

Nobody here is saying anything bad about him. What do you have to defend him from? Some guy who is not on the team anymore? What are you trying to prove by baiting and trolling?

And I know nobody is forcing me to read it. I find it downright amusing. I have never seen more of a case of manlove then you have for TT.

I feel like Im watching Brokeback Mountain.

If you enjoy it, stop complaining

Jump right in and have fun.

And no, I'm not baiting. I'm actually came from a different forum that defends that guy like he's their father, husband and brother all in one. If I have my edges up, it's probably nobody's fault here. Diesel and you make a good point. 99% of the sentiment here is pro Thompson. I can see how you'd see my frustration as odd

About a month ago, I got a two week break from the forum I used to attend because I said the best part of the offseason is that we don't have to deal with the selfish drama of a year ago. Some guy started freaking out, calling me every name in the book. He got booted and I got a two week break for not being pro Favre. So, if you want to know why I'm frustrated, I'm frustrated because it's hard to leave a forum once you know everyone and it's hard to be at a forum when you aren't allowed to speak your mind. I'm finally letting it go and not getting kicked off, so to you guys it's probably like whoa. . . To me, it's more like finally being able to vent.


As far as the man love, I think it's pretty normal to admire people you think are good in some way or another.

Greg -

One thing I have noticed about this site - no matter how much the admins here agree with your point of view - if all you do, day in and day out, is post things to stir things up...

You will not last very long here. Especially since you just admitted that all you are doing is gloating and rubbing it in.

For some reason, as I read this... I just can't get this image out of my mind.

I said I was rubbing things in? I said I was defending a guy I think is getting treated poorly for no reason and venting but if you read that, wow, I guess people really will believe whatever they want.

Ok....

gloat: to observe or think about something with triumphant and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight

OK, agj, anyway.

I think Thompson is a good guy and a good GM that gets unfairly vilified.

I'll jump in and beat the dead horse on this topic. I think TT is a good GM in most respects and have no doubt that he has the Packers best interests at heart. However, I don't know if he is a good guy and wouldn't really want to have an opinion unless I had personally met him. Being a good guy is not a prerequisite to being a good GM so to the extent that he is a "good guy" I am happy for him but don't think that gives him any slack for his decisions. Heck, I don't think most people thought Sherman, Rhodes or Infante were not good guys and they all got sacked. The record will tell the tale as this is a bottom line business.

As for Favre, I don't think he is a bad guy either. Nobody won in this situation. Things happen in life. Most of the time you learn from it and move on. Grudges don't usually benefit anyone and time will heal these wounds. The instant news cycle and text messaging and blogs have made it much harder to get perspective on an event because opinions set so hard and fast. People are forced to pick a side and the middle ground is hard to find. We know where your allegiances fall. I know we all hope TT is a good GM, regardless of what he is perceived to be as a person. My unsolicited advice is to stop doing this to yourself, unless you gain some therapeutic value in starting these topics.

I will now step down from my soapbox.

I think it's pretty hilarious that Greg bashes anyone and everyone that says a mere word in defense of Brett Favre as a man -- a guy who played for the organization for 16 years -- but has no hesitation to defend a man whom he's never met before, someone who he hasn't got a clue what he's like beyond what he sees on tv, and someone who's been here what, 5 years.

Welcome to hypocrite-ville, population: Greg Jennings.

Shall I continue with your ownage?

Thompson is a great guy and not only is he very honest but he would never or could never tell a lie.

He's a regular George Washington.

This appears to be a contest on who gets the last word....

I'm taking it....