Favre Returns to the NFL and the Vikings!

After another cliffhanger with the media hot on his trail, Favre's first throw last night signaled his triumphant return to football. The throw was to RB Adrian Peterson for a gain of 13 yards. Favre was expected to go ten plays in the preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, however, Favre only went four plays due to a sack by the 49ers defensive line. The rest of the game didn't go the Vikings way either. The second string QB's for the Vikings were struggling, and on a third and two, 49ers QB Nate Davis threw a bomb for a 60 yard gain that probably sealed the deal.

It is official! B. Favre, Inc. is back in business. The 40-year-old hall of famer still has some fight left in him. Make that a lot of fight. So don't touch that dial! Favre will go a few more plays this Saturday, at home against Seattle.

At halftime last night, Favre sits down and talks to NFL commentator Al Michaels. Brett Favre is back with a new multi-million dollar contract. When asked by Al Michaels, Favre said of his contract, "I've always made a lot of money. But that in itself was not the deciding factor." Favre claims he returned to football after rumors of his supposed retirement for the comradeship, the whole football experience which is a rush that cannot be achieved any other way than lacing up and going out onto the field.

The Vikings are glad Favre decided to come back. A living legend, Brett Favre is confident that this year will be a success for the Vikings. Favre is only hopeful he can live up to the numbers he put up last year, which include an impressive 4,202 passing yards, with 33 touchdown passes, and a 68.4% completion percentage! These numbers are staggering considering they tie and even surpass some of the years when Favre was considered "in his prime." In Favre's words, "My three MVP years did not compare to what I did last year."

After leading the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC Championship game last season but losing to now Super Bowl defending champs the New Orleans Saints, Favre still has a chip on his shoulder especially considering his last throw in the heartbreaking game was an interception.

This year, Favre, head coach Brad Childress and the rest of the Vikings hope to take it one step further, all hopeful that Favre can lead the organization through an extremely competitive league this year, and Favre might as well have a bullseye on his forehead, especially when it comes to the Saints. Interestingly enough, the Vikings will take on the New Orleans Saints Thursday September 9th in the NFL Regular Season Kickoff Event!

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach turned NFL commentator Tony Dungy had this to say of Favre, "Brad Childress wanted Favre to play. Childress said, 'You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket."

Will Favre be the winning ticket for the Vikings this year?

Or are the odds stacked against him?

Will a QB who will be turning 41 throughout the regular season be able to handle the beatings men half his age are dishing out?

The truth is that with age comes wisdom, and the Vikings need Favre to propel them this year with the veteran leadership that only the B. Favre can offer.

-C.T. Minardi

Looking for Number 600

Alex Rodriguez is looking to become the 7th player in history to reach 600 home runs. Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey, and Sammy Sosa are the only players to have earned more career home runs than Rodriguez.

So let's get the steroid thing out of the way first. Bonds and Sosa have both been plagued and possibly discredited by alleged steroid use. In February 2009, A-Rod publicly admitted to using "performance enhancing drugs" in response to allegations that he was juicing during the 2001-03 MLB seasons when he was with the Texas Rangers. Now at 599, A-"Roid" Is on the brink of a milestone in his career by getting his 700th home run.

The question is, do people care? Has Rodriguez's reputation been permanently scarred because of confirmed performance enhancing drug use? Does it matter whether the substance he used was HGH (Human Growth Hormone) or Anabolic Steroids, both banned from MLB because they are said to give players an unfair advantage?

Is A-Rod not a true Yankee?

The fact remains that Alex Rodriguez is an amazing athlete, and, steroid use or not, it takes a real stand-up guy to admit his mistakes.

Football players use steroids too! Recently, four players for the Oakland Raiders, linebacker Bill Romanowski, center Barret Robbins, and defensive tackles Chris Cooper and Dana Stubblefield have tested positive for a new steroid called tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG.

That doesn't make it okay, but there is a biased opinion when it comes to MLB players like A-Rod who are in the limelight. Why don't we hear more about football players taking roids?

At a time when America's favorite pastime, baseball, was seemingly gaining popularity, it also attracted scrutiny. Performance enhancing drug use may forever taint the face of baseball unless fans and critics are able to leave the past behind.

This afternoon, A-Rod will get another shot at 600 against the Rays.

As the future of baseball develops, the question remains whether or not MLB greats like Alex Rodriguez go down in history as heroes or cheaters?

Fans can look towards A-Rod's 600th home run and beyond to answer that question.

-C.T. Minardi