Did MNF Really Compare Brett Favre to Jordan and Tiger?
Uncategorized October 30th. 2007, 2:02pm
We missed the majority of MNF last night, but can anyone who watched answer this: Mike & the Mad Dog, two radio guys here in New York, just spent about 15 minutes lambasting ESPN for blowing Brett Favre last night. According to these guys, the MNF announcers (they mentioned Kornheiser specifically) called Brett Favre one of the transcendent athletes of the modern era, and placed him alongside Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods in terms of significance and accomplishmen. Before offering a dimestore opinion, we’d like confirmation that this actually happened.
38 Responses to “Did MNF Really Compare Brett Favre to Jordan and Tiger?”
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October 30th, 2007 at 2:07 PM
Yes, it was in TK’s “essay” at the very beginning, and it was terrible.
Favre might be a Top 5 QB of all-time, but he’s not “transcendent” in the way that MJ and Tiger were/are. It’s really hart for an NFL player to reach that status, isn’t it?
October 30th, 2007 at 2:08 PM
Yep. It happened. It was disgusting. I thought Tony Kornheiser was going to start weeping with joy as he made the comparisons. I immediately started arguing against their reasoning the second they brought up pictures of Tiger and Michael. I didn’t even have to hear the rest.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:08 PM
yea. I think PFT mentions it in their live blog of it (not positive), but it happened.
favre is cool and all, pretty awesome QB, but Tiger and MJ? Come on…anyone with a brain in their head realizes this is outrageous. i guess i could see it from an “all of them are polarizing, visable athletes” angle, but we’re talking about two guys who are maybe among the top 10 greatest athletes of all time in all of sports. ive heard logical cases for favre not even being one of the top 10 greatest QB’s ever.
its been said a million times but it seems to me the only people outside of wisc. who consider favre this great are a few choice members of the media. he’s great, ok, thats pretty obvious, but its not like the entire country is focused on this guy’s every move like TK and PK seem to think.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:09 PM
I didn’t see it but I can tell you it happened. In fact, I called it on a post I commented on last week, that we could all look forward to listening to Brett Favre get his knob slobbed, little did I know we would hear Deanna Favre get her muff munched
October 30th, 2007 at 2:12 PM
They did do it…I’ve been a lifelong Packer fan and that comparison seemed odd to me. He is one of the best QB’s ever, but still doesn’t have multiple titles like Montana or Brady even. Jordan won a bunch of championships, Tiger wins majors left and right. Favre has one.
Even Brad Johnson has won a single super bowl…
October 30th, 2007 at 2:12 PM
mike F. I agree, for a football player its hard as hell to reach that point. you could argue that joe namath did with the guarantee, maybe jim brown…its just too much of a team game.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:12 PM
Dude, i was just listening to the Fan and heard the same commentary. i was throwing up all last night at the Favre coverage. right before a commercial break last night, i said to my friend, “are they showing wedding photos ?” at one point, Jaws said, “Favre is the most accurate passer in football”, to which i replied, doesnt he hold the ALL TIME record for INT’s ?
and it wasnt just favre they were slurping. jaws said about Al Harris he was the best something in the league, maybe best bumper ? i dont know. what i do know is when he was here with the Eagles, he was a 3rd down back good for 2 interference calls per game, usually in the 4th quarter.
Someone gag me with a spoon.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:13 PM
I’m a TK defender for the most part, and love watching Favre play….but even I thought that whole thing was ultra cheesy.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Don’t worry. Tom Brady will be even more transcending than Brett Favre next time the Patriots play on ESPN. And then Peyton Manning will be even more transcending than him.
ESPN thinks any person who plays on its network that night is the “best ever” at that position.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:17 PM
So you guys are anti-Favre? In my book that’s anti-American you commies! (“Commies” – used in correct parlance today)
October 30th, 2007 at 2:18 PM
I wish ESPN would have done a split screen of Deanna Favre in the stands and the game, at least then I could have seen a decent replay instead of only getting to watch Deanna’s reaction to every fucking GB possession.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:19 PM
What’s more Un-American than Ron Mexico moving to Canada so he could get free Valtrex. HA !
October 30th, 2007 at 2:21 PM
PBR999: “at one point, Jaws said, “Favre is the most accurate passer in footballâ€, to which i replied, doesnt he hold the ALL TIME record for INT’s ?”
Well, yeah! That’s just him being accurate to the other team.
Oh, wait, doesn’t he also hold the record for most incompletions? I bet he does.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:21 PM
INT’s doesn’t mean he isn’t accurate, it just means that he takes gambles and throws it into coverage. If you don’t think the man is accurate, check out the winning TD pass…50 yards on a rope, dropped it into Greg Jenning’s hands over the outside shoulder without making him break stride…that’s accuracy. just sayin’…
October 30th, 2007 at 2:25 PM
lol. spencer: INT’s are exactly what being inaccurate means. You throw it to your guy. If the other guy catches it, that would make that pass inaccurate. Whatever the excuse, a lot of INT’s an inaccuracy tend to go hand in hand. I’m sure some guys are worse in that they throw it in the dirt or ten yards over their receiver’s head, but throwing picks is on a most fundamental level, “innacurate.”
October 30th, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Neither Tiger nor Favre ever appeared on any episode of “Pro Stars,” so Jordan has perfect reason to refresh his browser now.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:29 PM
There was NOT a comparison made amongst the three in terms of “greatest ever” or “best ever” or anything of the sort. The comparison was in terms of players who you want to watch when they’re on TV to see what they will do next. Simple as that. It’s really not that hard to understand. I’m a Favre fan myself and while the opening montage was way over the top and they focused on him too much during the game, I saw the point in the comparison. I don’t watch golf unless Tiger’s leading a major (or close to it) and I despise the NBA but would always tune in if Jordan was on. Today, there’s not a NBAer that does that for me.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:31 PM
I DONT CARE IM STICKING BY MY STATEMENT!!!!!!!
yea i know what you’re saying. i just needed a douche-minute.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:33 PM
So since TBL was mentioned on ESPN last night does that make TBL the best blogger ever???
October 30th, 2007 at 2:36 PM
Spencer–I once threw a bomb to Mike Schlerin in my backyard and he didn’t have to break stride. Hit that fucker right in his tiny woman-like hands. That doesn’t mean I’m the most accurate passer in the NFL. C’mon, man. Every quarterback can throw a ball like that every once in awhile. Favre is NOTORIOUS for making daring throws that are often intercepted. Like Sean John alluded to, throwing an interception is the worst possible result of inaccuracy.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:38 PM
If only there were a way to measure accuracy….
October 30th, 2007 at 2:40 PM
Favre has a better career completion percentage (61.2%) than either Elway (56.9%) or Marino (59.4%).
The raw number of interceptions is mostly a function of attempts and seasons played than it is any kind of inaccuracy. Favre’s INT rate is 3.277% – I don’t have numbers handy on every quarterback that every played, but that’s only marginally higher than Elway (3.177%) or Marino (3.015%). His TD:INT ratio is better than Elway’s, too.
Most accurate passer of all time? Naw. But he’s a pretty fucking good quarterback, even at this late stage of his career. You talk about ESPN slobbing his knob, but don’t forget that there’s a reason – this isn’t Eli Manning we’re talking about here.
As to his transcendence, well, I don’t know and I doubt Favre himself gives a shit about that. He has had significantly more crossover success than most other football players ever had. Namath’s guarantee is a legend, but a random person on the street probably doesn’t even know who the hell Joe Namath is, or who he played for. But I bet a lot of non-football people still know who Brett Favre is. That’s some kind of transcendence.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:42 PM
I don’t think it was statement that he was “transcendent” like them in terms of accomplishments or stature in the game. It was about why people love to watch him. If you actually listened to what TK said, you would know that his entire premise was that people love to watch Brett Favre for the same reasons we watch Tiger on Sunday or Jordan on, well, any time he had the ball. Just like Tiger is one swing away from doing something you didn’t think could be done or might never see again, or Jordan is capable of hitting any shot in any situation, no matter the difficulty, Brett Favre is, moreso than any football player in history, always one snap away from making the most amazing play you’ve ever seen, and then celebrating like a 10 year old who just won his first pee wee game. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady might be efficient or clutch or anything else Favre is, but they aren’t, and probably never will be, as exciting. TKs whole essay was about how people love Brett Favre because of the way he plays the game, not that he was on the same level accomplishment-wise as either of them.
That said, how can anyone not think he is the best QB of all time. He is currently #1 in passing TDs, atts, comps, and wins. He is #2 in yardage, and will most likely finish his career as the leader in that as well. He lead the league in yardage twice, TDs for times, and is the only person to win NFL MVP three consecutive times. He has thrown for 20+ TDs a record 12 straight years, threw for 30+ in a record 5 straight years, and threw for 3000+ yards in 12 consecutive seasons. His 8 total seasons with more than 30 TDs is also a record. He has started every game for 15 straight seasons, and won a Super Bowl.
I just don’t understand what anyone else has done that makes them better. Sure Marino may have been prettier or a little more accurate, but if Favre has a ring and leads him in every single category, then isn’t he #1 until Manning comes along and breaks them, if he is able to.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:45 PM
JamJam is correct in that they weren’t talking best ever….just about the guys that make you sit down and watch. I agree that the whole thing was overdone but I am sure TK has been walking around with a stiffy today because look at what happened…..game goes to overtime and Favre throws an 80 bomb on the first play…..exactly the point of TK’s essay.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:46 PM
I just watched that intro, that was the most emotional experience ive had in the last six months
October 30th, 2007 at 2:46 PM
come on now, i semi-redacted my statement, no need to pile on…i was just devil’s advocating…
realize that im not used to seeing a qb actually throw an accurate pass as the browns have had tim couch, kelly holcomb and charlie frye as prominent starters.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:52 PM
I’m not sure, but I think Tony asked Deanna if Brett had tender nipples.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:01 PM
“If only there were a way to measure accuracy….” Travis Henry, Shawn Kemp, Willis McGahee……
October 30th, 2007 at 3:03 PM
CRM with the clear win there.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:05 PM
Spencer–sorry, I posted that before I saw your next post. No piling on here. I feel you on the qbs. The Falcons had Chris Chandler (AKA Crystal Chandelier), who was pretty accurate. Then he literally fell apart. That’ s it for us.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:39 PM
The problem with the MNF booth is that the commentary is too often polluted with knee-jerk, position switching reactions. Plus, Tony is the king of hyperbole.
Examples: Tony KILLED Favre on PTI for 2 years, saying how he was old and needed to retire. Now, he’s suddenly god’s gift to the sport. The other week he PRAISES Eli, whom he has consistently killed for years on PTI as well, then when he starts to go south in the second half, he jumps all over him, as if he hadn’t just been verbally fellating him the entire first half.
It’s hard to take him seriously when his opinions on players and teams change over the course of a half or a quarter. Everything doesn’t have to be the GREATEST this or the BEST that or the WORST ever.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:57 PM
I think Big Ben is more compelling to watch, just because when it looks like he’s dead to rights and down on the ground, he gets away and makes a crazy play.
No telling how that might shorten his career, like it did Culpepper.
I guess Tony forgets last year, when Farve fucked up more than a few times. But of course he does, he’s a NOW kind of guy, ESPN is a NOW network, we need NOW, NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW.
Could someone give those ESPN corporo-drones some decaf.
Do they even bother remembering Bradshaw, Montana, Elway, hell, Stabler…Jim Kelly, Warren Moon.
I guess compelling means that he is a grizzled old guy who was hooked on script painkillers, just so Korny could get all Norman Mailer on us.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:05 PM
I strongly disagree with anyone’s assessment that Brett Farve is the best QB of all time (Dman). He’s the NFL leader in interceptions. End of argument.
In becoming the all-time leader in INTs, he’s thrown more drive or game-killing picks in key situations. Almost always a result of dumb decisions, too. But I guess it doesn’t much matter, since all people will remember is how the writers and broadcasters perceived him. Most people don’t know that Joe Namath had more career INTs than TDs. (220 to 173 – not exactly elite numbers, but hey, he played in NEW YORK!!!)
October 30th, 2007 at 5:20 PM
We know how Suzky Kolber remembers Joe Namath.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:01 PM
I lost all respect for Favre the day he pulled one of the most selfish, cruel stunts I ever saw on a football field. Remember that Michael Strahan needed one sack against the Packers to break the (bogus) single season sack record. Favre’s right tackle (Chad Clifton?) made it his business not to allow Strahan to get that sack, and for almost four quarters he fought off Strahan. How did Favre reward the effort of his own teammate, his right tackle? By laying down for Strahan. Favre demonstrated that his most likely wholly media-invented relationship with Strahan was more important to him than his relationship with his right tackle. Screw Brett Favre.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:57 PM
At the beginning of PTI today, Wilbon made some cracks about how TK was ’slurping Brett Favre last night’.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:45 AM
We’ve known for awhile that Berman, TK and “those of their ilk” gargle Farve juice every Sunday or Monday. I think the real issue here though is race. Wait jealousy, I meant jealousey. The Strahan incident was shady I’ll admit, but he won a Super Bowl with the Packers, a classis team like the Steelers that old men love to hump so I understand the bandwagoning and the subsequent backlash but man Green Bay had they not given up that Chicago game with vintage (and true) Bret Favre picks, they’d be undefeated. So wait for his inevitable crappy playoff game then put him on blast but let him and his breast cancer fighting wife have their Monday Night Moment you Nazi’s. I thought the 82 yard bomb was the bomb and if you want to hate on anyone, hate on Brokeback Broncos. Favre beat Baily and Bly both so boy you better rekognize! and one more thing TBL, if I have to read one more article about Tony Blomo or Tom Brady (ah he’s so dreamy) banging one more hot actress or model, i just might have to take the 409 and the baby wipes to my keyboard, again. enough is enough, i get it, i’m miserable, the mariners tanked, the seahawks lost to new orleans at home and the sonics will be ropin steer next year, but leave me my dignity and let me hump my ugly wife in peace.
October 31st, 2007 at 2:29 AM
WTf just happened above.
And whoever is saying Favre “makes y ou wanna watch” or “puts you in your seat because he’s about to make the most amazing play ever”….umm..ARE YOU KIDDING ME? A QB???! WHAT IS HIS SPIRAL GONNA BE SO TIGHT ITS GONNA RIP A HOLE IN THE UNIVERSE AND HAVE IT COLLAPSE ON ITSELF!
I dont have the historical view that you guys do, but guys like BARRY SANDERS, or ERIC DICKERSON, or RANDY MOSS, were the guys that made you want to watch. Petyon Manning and Tom Brady play the QB position at a far higher level than Brett Favre EVER did.