Viking and Packer fans have differing views of seeing Favre in purple

October 29, 9:30 PMMinnesota Vikings ExaminerJoseph Oberle

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Some love it, some hate it and some are just totally confused by Brett Favre as a Viking.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Back in the mid-1990s, I worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves with plenty of Minnesota Vikings fans and a few Green Bay Packer fans. We had a fantasy football league and talked football quite often, but it never became as heated as when we talked about the border battles between the Vikes and the Pack. The passion was strong for our teams (stronger, it was safe to say, than for the basketball team that employed us), and it made the day (and nights) go by faster at work. In fact, so passionate and filled with vitriol was the rivalry that Packer backer Scott once said that he "would rather see the Vikings lose than the Packers win."

Perhaps that sentiment comes from a couple decades of losing teams (like the Randy Newman song says: "I want you to hurt like I do.") But we worked together during the modern heyday of the Packers franchise, when Mike Holmgren, Brett Favre and Reggie White brought the team back to prominence, and when they won Super Bowl (Jim said that this was his Super Bowl--since he had always heard about the other two for years from his dad). And this was also the Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper Vikings of circa 1998, so the teams were both competitive, as were our discussions.
So, what do these fans think now that someone (namely Ted Thomson and Brett Favre) have muddied the waters and cross-pollinated these two franchises with one of the most potent forces either one has ever seen. What are their thoughts more than a decade later? They all still work in the NBA, and they still follow their favorite teams--but neither team is the same as it was, and never will be again.

Dan--Lifelong Minnesotan and Viking fan who used to work for the Twins and is still employed by the Wolves.

Jim--Wisconsin native and Packer season ticket holder, now working for the Toronto Raptors.

Scott--Born in Iowa, grew up in Wisconsin and followed the Packers vehemently--works for the Phoenix Suns.

Greg--Native of Mankato, where the Vikings train; he doesn't just bleed purple but sweats it as well, and still works for the Wolves.

How did you feel about Favre coming to the Vikings when it first happened?

Dan: I was not excited about it initially because he had always been the hated enemy. The thought of rooting for Favre after so many years of rooting against him was not appealing to me.

Scott: That Favre's as interested in sticking it to Ted Thompson as he is in winning another Super Bowl.

Jim: I understood the reasons for Favre making the decision and in the end it shouldn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It’s a perfect fit for him. He’s so good he can make Simeon Rice into an All-Pro. Brett gave Green Bay fans 16 great years and doesn’t owe them anything. That is especially true in this day and age when players change teams like we change clothing. However, I was upset because I’m a Packers season seat holder and he went to our hated rival.

Greg: I definitely was against him coming to the Vikings. It was difficult to see him in purple being cheered on by a Vikes crowd.

Have your feelings changed since the season started and Favre actually played Green Bay?

Dan: Maybe I’m wishy-washy or just Minnesota nice, but FAVRE”S THE MAN! This season has been fun so far because we are winning--often dramatically -- and I believe that Favre’s been a main reason why. Playing against Green Bay already has nothing to do with it for me--it’s all about the Vikes winning. If he can continue to help the Vikes win, and maybe win it all, then God bless Brett. I can rationalize turning into a Favre backer by saying that it’s the Packers that I dislike and not Favre, personally.

Scott: Not at all; he does enjoying playing--that is obvious. He dislikes off-season conditioning and training camp and all football activities other than the game itself; he does like competing.

Jim: Nope. Not at all. In fact, it’s actually a bit more disturbing since the Vikings most likely would have had two more losses (San Francisco and Baltimore) if Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson was quarterbacking the team.

Greg: No, I think deep down I am still kind of in denial that he is actually a Viking.

How do you think he should be received in Green Bay on Sunday?

Dan: I think he should be given a standing ovation for all he’s done for that franchise, but I expect it to be a mixed reception...with maybe more cheers than boos.

Scott: Not favorably. Many forget that this issue is not specifically related to his attempts to rejoin Green Bay after his retirement at the conclusion of the '07 season. He had been threatening to retire for several seasons prior to that as well and had even utilized his threats of retirement to attempt to promote changes consistent with his own personal ideas, such as the acquisition of Randy Moss and saving then head coach Mike Sherman's job when his tenure was coming to an end. Had Thompson relented and allowed Favre to return, Aaron Rodgers would likely be playing elsewhere right now and Favre would still be threatening to retire, leaving the position a mess. As it is now, Green Bay's future at QB is secure for the foreseeable future.

Jim: I think he should be cheered and honored for all the joy and success he brought to the Packers and their fans. We were very fortunate to have had the chance to watch him play for our team. But, I have finally come around to agreeing with the Packers management that they needed to move on. Aaron Rodgers is a fine young quarterback and it would have been a mistake to watch him walk away as a free agent.

Greg: It will be interesting to see. I think you will hear 80% boos and 20% people cheering for him. Although people may not get a ideal chance to gauge it if the Vikes team is introduced as a whole (as opposed to the Vikes offense and Favre on his own).

Do you think that working in professional sports where you have seen all kinds of movement by players who have been considered the face of their franchise (Johnny Damon, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Kevin Garnett) gives you a different perspective on this thing?

Dan: I don’t think being in professional sports has given me a different perspective than a fan with regards to player movement. Whether employed in professional sports or a fan of professional sports, player movement is so commonplace that it’s just a given. I personally don’t get too emotionally tied to a player because of this.

Scott: I don't believe so; fans want to win more than anything else and that trumps any feelings for an iconic player. Favre is a unique case in that his skills do not appear to have diminished appreciably yet and he remains quite capable of performing at a high level. Had his skills diminished in a manner similar to Johnny Unitas' embarrassing end-of-career tenure with the San Diego or Joe Namath's with the Rams, there would not be nearly the emotional investment in this issue as we are seeing.

Jim: I think it takes some of the emotion out of it. I can perhaps look at it a bit more from a realistic perspective.

Greg: I am still sort of a traditionalist. As a fan, I still appreciate the old days when player movement was more limited and players spent their whole careers with one team/city and become part of the identity of that area. For obvious reasons, it's just more rare these days.

Any predictions for the game?

Dan: Vikings 23, Packers 20--Ryan Longwell with a game-winning FG in the final minute of the game.

Scott: Green Bay 72, Vikings 0.

Jim: I’d like to see Brett throw about six interceptions.

Greg: Vikes 42, Packers 0 (with AP rushing for 255 yards and 6 TDs)