August 18, 2008 IT’S POSSIBLE It’s possible that Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever. It’s also possible that Jesse Owens sticking it in Hitler’s face in 1936 was much more socially significant. It’s possible that Aaron Rodgers has a terrific year. It’s also possible that he’s a flop and that Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy made a horrific mistake. It’s possible that the Brewers beat out the Cubs for the division title. It’s also possible that the Cardinals beat out the Brewers for the Wild Card and the Brewers are home in October. It’s possible that Brett Favre’s tenure with the Jets will be a disaster. It’s also possible that Favre leads the Jets to the playoffs and adds to his legend. It’s possible that the last weekend series of the season between the Cubs and the Brewers decides a division title or wildcard. It’s also possible everything’s been settled by then. It’s possible that the Bucks makeover will result in a playoff berth. It’s also possible that it will take some time for a vastly new team to gel into a cohesive unit in an improved Eastern Conference. It’s possible that the Badgers will earn a BCS bowl bid this season. It’s also possible that their quarterback situation blows up and they underachieve. It’s possible that the “Redeem Team” is the USA’s best-ever basketball squad. It’s also possible they would have been crushed by the 1992 squad that never broke a sweat. It’s possible that this was a great blog entry. It’s also possible it wasn’t. August 12, 2008 RODGERS DESERVES BREAK I was relieved that the majority of fans at Lambeau Field Monday night were supportive of Aaron Rodgers. I liked what I saw from him on the field but I also realize that it was one quarter of the first preseason game. The tests will get harder and keep on coming. The point is, no matter if you worship Brett Favre or totally agree with the Packers decision to trade him to the Jets, Rodgers isn’t the enemy here. This guy has had to put up with kids swearing at him on the way to practice. How ridiculous is that on so many levels? I’m not saying that Rodgers can’t be booed or criticized. But at least let it be for things that he did (or didn’t do) on the field, not the off-field soap opera that he didn’t cause. I have to say that I think the Packers are taking an enormous gamble by not having a veteran backup for Rodgers. As we saw Monday night, all it takes is one failed blitz pickup for Rodgers to get creamed and possibly hurt. I like both Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn and think they both have NFL talent. But if the Packers have to play them this season, they’re going to be in trouble. As for Brett Favre with the Jets, of course I’ll be watching with interest. If you can look at it as simply an NFL fan, it will be a fascinating storyline. I doubt it will have a happy ending, but I’ll still watch. August 4, 2008 ON FAVRE AND BREWERS I’ve said all along that Brett Favre gives the Packers the best chance to win in 2008. I wish it hadn’t been this messy. Everyone involved got some dirt splashed on them. I also feel terrible for Aaron Rodgers but the NFL is a cut-throat league. Sunday night had to be one of the most bitter pills any Packers player has ever had to swallow. Rodgers had worked for over three years to make his debut as Packers starting quarterback in the Family Night Scrimmage. Instead, he was left as Page 3 fodder as Brett Favre triumphantly flew into Green Bay with the fanfare of a savior (which Favre is not.) I’m not sure anybody knows how this will turn out. The Packers still could trade Favre. I see Favre winning the starting job and then it’s up to him. He either leads the Packers to the playoffs as the bitter hero sticking it to management—or plays himself out of the job with declining skills due to age. The only way this ends well for Rodgers is if Favre fails or gets hurt and Rodgers comes in and wins. Otherwise, he’s going to start to think that “ill-fated” or “star-crossed” are part of his name. As for the Brewers, there was too much buildup to the Cubs series and too much hand-wringing after it. Hey, the Cubs dominated the Brewers. Ryan Braun even used the word “embarrassed.” Nobody’s arguing that. But, with 50 games left, the Brewers still can make the playoffs and yes—they can still win the division. Certainly they had some lessons shoved down their throats by effective Cubs pitching and by patient and disciplined Chicago hitting. It will only be a true setback if the Brewers didn’t learn from those painful lessons. July 21, 2008 1958 MILWAUKEE BRAVES: 50 YEARS SINCE “ALMOST”