Andy Andrews - A Masterful Storyteller with an Inspiring Message

"Wow Andy! I am not a football fan and I must admit I know very little of the game. Yet, your message struck a chord...

You see a few years ago, I was back at the office after a very sad funeral - that of a friend and mentor who left us at the age of 49. This man left a legacy in business. When I was sharing with my co-workers all the wonderful things that had been said of him the day before, and how he had been acknowledged... my boss reminded me that had he died much later in life those moments may have been forgotten and those wonderful things may not have been said.

She said,"Lynette, when folks die at an older age - we sometimes forget all the wonderful things they did, and we do not acknowledge them. We tend to remember them only past their prime - when they were maybe not doing so well." How true and how sad...

All of that to say - I hope Brett's fans can remember him at his prime, as a football player and then remember him for his second prime - in whatever field or capacity he chooses that to be.

Thanks Andy, for once again taking the time to share,

Lynette Chartier
http://www.thepowerisinyourhands.com"

"Andy - Loved the article on Brett. As soon as someone tells you that you can't have something, it is then that you want it more then ever. As soon as you tell someone they can't play, they wany to play. Such as this. If they would have said, sure come on back, it could very well have been different. Fear of loss is a strong motivator and telling someone NO is a sure sign things will happen differently."

"Andy - I am surprised by your comments tho I fully understand and respect where you are coming from. I do think it is somewhat of an antithesis of your messages and books. Brett will have a legacy regardless. As did Joe and Emmit and still do.
If anyone came to you and said "I want to do this.... I have a tremendous passion for this. I am really good and have a lot of self-confidence. I think I 'quit' too soon. I am not as happy as I thought I would be"... What would you say to them? Anyone but Brett and you would encourage them to follow their heart. Brett has never said anything about money being an issue. It is not an issue with him. How many people have that option? I love you Andy Andrews and have followed you for a long, long time time but this time I feel you missed the mark! It is not about us, it is about Brett and himself within. Thank you for allowing me to express myself. With gratitude, Bob"

"JOHNNY CARSON IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO WENT OUT ON TOP & THUS WE REMEMBER HIM AT HIS BEST!!!"

"Andy..My cousin's husband is Brett's attorney and I have forwarded your column to her to share with Brett..Will let you know if I hear anything. I agree with you..but understand also that he wants to play..."

"Please get this article to Brett! Brett, we love you...please let us continue to love you into the Hall of Fame."

"Have you walked in his shoes?
Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned
Rather hope for him to seek true wisdom in his decision"

"Great story.

Farve is great, but please let's have some integrity here people.

Eric
Life your dream life now...
http://250k.NoExperienceNeeded.info"

"Well said."

"Remember Walter Payton going out with such style? He said one of the best compliments he received was that his agent was contacted by ALL of the other teams. How cool is that? I'm from Plymouth,MN(just named the best city to live in the United States by CNN/Money magazine).Our Brett Favre was Alan Page. The only player on defensive to ever get mvp of the league.He has gone on to be one of our best State Supreme Court justices.And we he came out to play,he ended up a Chicago Bear his last couple years. I'll admit, it was a little painful to watch. But remember, the Constitution says you have the right to pursue happiness.Let them disqualify themselves from pursuing this right. Thats not our right,responsibility or obligation to do so. Its theirs. I hope his choice for happiness works out.And yes,I will admit,if he decides to play,I will be watching.How can you not?"

"I agree with you Andy. I also feel Brett should have given himself more time at the end of the playoffs to reevaluate his future. Sometimes the emotions can fool you when you have been thru all that he has with his football career and his wife's cancer.
Now somethings have been said in the media by Brett that has left a sour note in the end. He has had such an outstanding career, and probably could play more in the future, but it should be with the Packers. They could be even better this year if he were back, but that maybe too late now. He is an "emotional" player, and I feel that is what makes him such a great player. Sorry to see all this in the media. but then again what do I know, I have never played football, nor have I made that much money in my life time"

"I loved the article and could not agree more. I have been a Packer fan all my life. The 16 years that Brett played were fun years to watch. They were different than the glory days of Lombardi as that was a totally different era and football was a much different game. I always bragged to non-Packer fans about Brett. I bragged as much about him as a person and a leader as much as I did about his football skills and the way he played the game with the same reckless abandon of a linebacker. I was very unsettled to hear he was thinking of a comeback. I was saddened for the very reasons you mentioned in your article and I was saddened because this tarnishes all his intangible qualities, or at least the perception that I had of them. In this day and age of steroids and mutimillion dollar egos, Brett was a breath of fresh air. His decision to come out of retirement detracts from all that is good about him. I hope he realizes his decision is a selfish one. It is a decision that will have a negative impact on the Paker faithful, a decision that will have a negative impact on all sports fans, a decision that will have a negative impact on the children that look up to him, but most importantly it is a decision that will have a negative impact on Brett Farve."

"The greatest baseball player of all-time, Babe Ruth should have finished his career as a New York Yankee. Instead, he tried to go on as a member of the Boston Braves. Unfortunately, Babe was way past his prime.

A lot of people gave Brett a great send-off. If he comes back to play, are they expected to do it all again in another year or two? The only exception I could understand is if injuries beseige the new Packers quarterback(s) and Brett is "asked" to come back to finish the season."

"Hi Andy,
Great thought. I too would like to see Brett's legacy be as it is; a great career as a Packer. There are so many lessons that can be derived from his career for young and old. But I think what we are seeing, even in some of our heros, is the me first side of our society today. We are taught by example (piers, media,and in a lot of cases family)that is all about me and what I want. Maybe this is good, but the results we are seeing in society does not appear to bare this out. Life is about giving to others and only in giving to others do we receive. Bret will do what he feels is best and the world will go on until the Lord returns, but we still have to live with the decisions that we make.
By-the-way, I too had two wonderful Granddads that meant the world to me. Not a day goes by that life doesn't remind me of them by the opportunities to grow that I am faced with. I am so thankful that God put them in my journey and for the life lessons they taught even though I didn't know they were teaching them at the time. I did not view them in the casket for the very reason you expressed. Love you man!
Charles"

"Hi Andy,

I too love your stuff and usually line up with your thinking, however, I must say this time I disagree. Brett will always be remembered as a Packer just as Namath is a Jet and Emmitt is a Cowboy. This is about Brett's heart and desire to play. Nothing more, nothing less. He has taken a stand saying it must be with the Packers and we know it's not about money.
I'm a big NASCAR fan and recently Hendrick Motorsports signed Mark Martin, who also a couple years ago "retired" - sort of. Mark's comments to his wife were telling. He said he didn't want to go to his grave having turned down the opportunity to drive the best equipment in the business to chase that elusive Championship. I don't think Brett is much different.
May God Bless you Andy, Polly, Adam and Austin."

"Nail on the head, Andy. Here in Utah we had to watch Karl Malone put on a Lakers uniform. For us, that was the same as Brett putting on Viking purple! Some things are just wrong...."

"I agree with you Andy. I think he should have thought things through a little more before making that huge crying production to the world. I am disappointed in how he handled his retirement that if he returns never really existed."

"Hello Andy and Everyone,
As a native of WI, I wish Brett would stay retired. Us Wisconsinites do not want to see Brett retired or even worse, go to another team but I think many of his fans and possibly Brett himself have trouble with letting things go. He cannot bring back his glory years and we shouldn't expect him to. I think people have forgotten how beat up and tired Brett looked at the end of the last couple of football seasons. At some point we all need to realize that some of our successful endeavors have passed and now what will we do to create a new and different path that will let us feel just as fulfilled? I think this drama with Brett Favre is a great example of what we all have trouble with, letting the past go and realizing that we cannot keep living in it. Let's look and move forward. HA! I think that is our state's motto "Forward". That's kind of funny! GO PACK GO!"

"We don't need to see you play again, we already know who the, "King of Quarter Backs" is. Bret Farve.....'nuff said!"

"Hey Andy first time I've ever replied to a blog. Probably how old fashioned I am. I'm not in agreement with the decided heart concept. I've made decisions that were life changing and after rearranging my beliefs and hense my reality reversed them. Sometimes right or wrong you just have to follow your passion. If the fire still burns Go For It Brett!"

"I agree with you Andy, Watching our sport-heros play for another team, much less a rival, is painful to watch. It can be an act of desparation, but as Mr. Kiefer says, follow your passion.
For an example of going out with class, Joe Dumars of the Detriot Pistons, one of the greatest competitors, sportsman of his time, went out the right way.
He's all class, and predictably will go to the hall of fame a shooting gaurd, or team president, maybe both.
Great Article."

"As a Chicago Bear Fan and Denver Bronco fan, I don't have to tell you how much I dislike the Packers. I personally watched Brett beat the Broncos in overtime last year and as much as I was upset, I had to tip my cap to one of the greatest of all time. Brett Favre is impossible for anyone to dislike. The guy is a "gamer" who doesn't have the best skills but he has the biggest heart. In a league full of highly talented players with "no heart," I welcome a return of Brett. There is a very small window of opportunity for athletes to do what they love to do and Brett still has a lot left in the tank. Note to Packers...Please don't let him go to the Vikings, Chiefs, or Raiders."

"Hi Andy,

I'm with you on this one! My father recently passed away and when he knew the end was near requested his casket be closed and at the time I wondered why... Then during and after the funeral I understood. See, he loved his one granddaughter more than life itself and he didn't want her last memory to be of him in that box. God Bless him for that...! I miss him everyday and my memories aren't of him in a casket. Thanks Dad -- and Andy.

MG"

"I find your point interesting. I've never considered how a final impression makes a lasting impression and contributes to one's legacy. That is cool. I also like how you brought out many examples of great ones who changed teams at their career's end. I love patterns and contrast/comparison studies. Thanks for sharing this with me."

"Hi Andy,
Although my Chicago Bears could sure use him, I agree that Brett should never put on anything but a Packer's uniform. I must admit that I was very happy when I saw him on ESPN talking about coming back. He is the kind of player that makes people watch football. I know that it is a sacrilege for a Bears fan to root for the Packers, but guess what? At the end of the season last year, when my Bears were on vacation after a pretty terrible season (they did beat the Packers, though...twice!)who could help but cheer on Brett Favre? (That reminds me of Something About Mary and makes me laugh). He is a great player with a big heart and actually someone that your kids can look up to. In a world full of egotistical sports people that don't give a you know what about the impact that they have on little guys like yours, I think that Brett does! I am sure that whatever decision he makes, he will press on with the dignity and charisma that we have always seen. I will be praying for him and secretly hoping that we will see him play for one more season...ending in a Bears/Packers Super Bowl with a close score and the Bears winning, of course!"

"Dear Andy: I love you. You changed my life after I saw you ONE time on public television, talking about the Life Decisions. I put your principles in my prayers, and I live by them everyday. I like being able to think you are a small part of my Board of Directors. But, even one's Mentors can be wrong. And, I'm sorry to have to tell you THE TRUTH. This business of Brett Favre is beyond belief DUMB.

In my view, the whole business of "fans" and team sports is ridiculous ! Recall that the word "fan" is short for FANATIC.

Understandably, watching a sport is fun, if you yourself, play that sport. Understandably, watching someone you *know* in a game is fun, (my brother goes to all his son's Ice Hockey games). But, I do not understand why people think that a sport team is a "thing" to love or not love just because *someone else* has given a certain group of players (players who change from time to time) a name and a garish set of colors to identify them. And I can't begin to fathom why people think that the players are "theirs".

The average "fans" do not *know* Brett Favre just because they see him on TV or at an arena repeated times. The "fans" may like the player for whatever reasons, but the player is not "theirs". And Favre doesn't know them from tree stumps!

I was fond of seeing the original Disneyland Electrical Parade, but it wasn't "my parade". When Disney decided to end it, I was sorry that I'd never hear that music again. But, immediately upon their giving the date of The End, Disney gave us another Giant Amusement: their announcement that they had decided -- (and to make *huge* amounts of money by doing so) -- to sell off each and every single little tiny light bulb (even, for all we know, the *blown-out* ones) for some ridiculous price! Score: Cost accountants- 1; The public- 0.

Disney made that economic decision, and was able to get members of the public to haul off their junk, and the public had to *apply* for the right to PAY to do so. (Since, in theory anyway, there were more collectors than bulbs.) Incredibly clever, on the one side. Incredibly stupid, on the other. Score now: Cost accountants -2; The public -0.

Brett Favre is not out there being a Packer for your benefit. He is a character actor, employed under CONTRACT in a bizarre industry. He WORKS for the employer who will pay him the most money. If the owner of the Packers decides to change the name of Packers to Unpackers, or the colors to yellow stripes and pink polka dots, it will not change a thing. Brett Favre plays for Brett Favre's benefit, for an owner who owns the team to make as much money as possible. And both try to give the best show they can, since current day 'Sports' is BIG 'Theater'.

If Brett Favre were to have decided to change teams at the end of his CONTRACT, and to go to WORK for someone else who would have paid him more money, instead of deciding to retire, it would not change anything, as far as your relationship with Brett Favre is concerned. He is an actor who runs around, and throws things. It is equally as silly for a sport-watcher to be concerned whether Favre is ACTING for the Packers or ACTING for the Bulls, as it would be for a movie-goer to be concerned whether Nicholas Cage is acting in a movie for Warner Bros. or for Buena Vista Productions.

After many years 'dark', Disney made the economic decision to resurrect the show called the Electrical Parade. Now, of course, it was the NEW Electrical Parade. They made (fewer) new floats. They bought (fewer) little tiny light bulbs. They put (fewer) people back in the new parade. They kept the same music. (Why change that? They already own the music!) They didn't think for one single little moment about how the people who had paid money for The End bulbs would feel. Not part of the Goal. Now people go to see the parade, and it delights them. Some more than others because, to younger folk, this is how it has *always* been. (Favre has ALWAYS been a Colt, or a Jet, or whatever he re-ups with, younger folk will say.)

If Brett Favre was crying when he announced he was retiring, he was not crying because YOU would be unhappy about it. He's an actor, and actors perform. He was no doubt full of emotion over his decision to give up BIG BUCKS for whatever he had in mind to do instead. And, if he (tearfully) announces that he is coming back, he will be doing it for HIS own reasons, without one thought for those of you who won't like that he'll be a Pusher instead of a Packer. Actors know if they do their personal best, you'll watch anyway. No matter what name or colors their show is in.

( This whole discussion is stupid, not to mention useless.)"

"Hi Andy,

Those of us who bleed Green and Gold know just how much Brett will miss suiting up on Sundays,whether this year, or whenever he makes his final retirement a permanent one.

The more they love the game, the harder it must be to do it. Namath, Unitas, Montana, Stabler and now Favre, all felt the need to "do it again".

Even as did Vince Lombardi."

"Alice has obviously never been involved in team sports. For a discussion that she finds so "useless", she sure spent a good amount of time discussing it.
I think it's a great topic of discussion and clearly one that people are passionate about...I guess that makes us DUMB! Way to burst our bubbles, Alice!"

"Andy - I appreciate your thoughts, but being a Packer Fan, I couldn't disagree with you more. Ironically, I have never before disagreed with anything you have ever said - ever!!! Being from Wisconsin and watching Brett and Ted Thompson over the past few years there have been numerous examples that have shown me that Ted Thompson wants Ron Wolf's legacy to be done and he could not create his own legacy as long as Brett was still around. I really believe this is about ego - but not Brett's, Mr. Thompson's. I believe Brett felt he was no longer wanted or respected by his management and he was tired of it. Brett was forced into a decision in March by them and he acted on his emotion at the time. He mistakenly believed he had no choice. Now he realizes he did and still does have a choice. (Maybe he read one of your books!) If the Packer's managment still wanted him to be there he would never have retired and we would be looking forward to another year of his amazing skill. One example of Ted Thompson's disrespect: Even when they knew Brett wanted to come back to the Packers they decided to rip his locker out of the locker room and shipped it to him in Mississippi. I am sure that felt like a "kick in the gut" to Brett. Thompson makes a public statement that Brett should have it - yeah right. Behind the scenes he knows Brett still might want to come back! We all know that locker should have been put in the Packer Hall of Fame, but Mr. Thompson didn't want any reminder that Brett was the heart of the Packers and he was Ron Wolf's find. I have always been more of a Packer Fan than a Brett Fan until now. If Ted Thompson didn't think he was as good as he knows Brett is, then he wouldn't mind if he went to the Bears or the Vikings. Why should he care? Thompson knows he can play and he doesn't want to play against him. Like Deana's book says - "Don't bet against me." I hope Brett plays and I will be cheering for him as long as he is around and I hope that is a heck of a lot longer than Ted Thompson!"

"Oh - and one more thing! Alice, the Packers are not owned by an "owner" as other teams are. They are owned by the fans - a group of shareholders like myself who can never sell there shares for a profit. Now that is a bizarre business. Team sports teach us about so many concepts that are hard to explain to people who don't understand sports so I am not going to try. We are passionate about our teams because they teach us about life. We teach our kids about working together, respect, arrogance, humility and overcoming adversity, just to name a few. I am so sorry you are missing it!"

"When Players say Green Bay is a special place to play football they really mean it and this single episode is not going to change that. It is a simple blip on the radar screen. For those of you interested I copied this from the Packers web-site about the history of the Pack. "Based on the original "Articles of Incorporation for the (then) Green Bay Football Corporation" put into place in 1923, if the Packers franchise were to have been sold, after the payment of all expenses, any remaining money would go to the Sullivan Post of the American Legion in order to build "a proper soldier's memorial." This stipulation was enacted to ensure the club remained in Green Bay and that there could never be any financial enhancement for the shareholders. At the November 1997 annual meeting, shareholders voted to change the beneficiary from the Sullivan-Wallen Post to the Green Bay Packers Foundation, which makes donations to many charities and institutions throughout Wisconsin."

A few years ago when the Packers were building a new stadium they opened it up to new shareholders who could "buy" stock for $200.00 each. It can never be sold for a profit, only passed on in a will from generation to generation. It is a novelty thing, but it does get us into the annual shareholders meeting held at Lambeau Field every year. It is this Thursday and should be very interesting! By the way, if you have never been to Lambeau Field for a Packers Game, Andy, send me an e-mail and my husband and I would be happy to get you some tickets! ( Now I bet you wish Brett would come back to so you could see him at Lambeau!)"

"For Bridget,
Great post! I have to admit I was a little heated when I read Alice's post and I was making an effort not to sound mean.
I am also hoping that Brett comes back, but only if he is treated with the respect that he has earned. I am blown away that the Packers are not coming out of their skin with excitement to have him back. As I said before, I am a Bears fan and we could really use him, but I would find it very strange to see him wearing our uniform. I do think the Bears fans would embrace him, though.
I had no idea about the fans owning the team. That is pretty cool and I can imagine that those meetings get a little loud, huh? I have never been to a game at Lambeau Field, but I have a friend who has been to three and he says it was like a religious experience. I live in California, where the fans seem to be a little more "fair weather" fans than the die hards that I see in Green Bay, Chicago, and of course Boston. I hope to get to experience that some day. In the meantime, give 'em you know what at that meeting on Thursday!"

"I totally agree Andy. I have yet to disagree with you on anything, but perhaps this is it (a memory teaser Andy, but I believe you'll know)- the better college football lost the 1978 national championship game at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 01, '79. The winning team's fans were the BEST, most gracious fans I've ever met in my 47 years of rabid college football fanhood.

Love you Andy!!"

"Well, Andy - Joe Montana did take the Chiefs to the AFC championship game against Buffalo! (Ok - let's not talk about that particular game.)

Uncle Tom"