By Larry Fitzgerald
Originally posted 3/31/2010
Vikings future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre may have Vikings fans on pins and needles with their fingers crossed on his eventual decision to play or not in 2010 for Minnesota. However, Favre — an extremely private person who guards his personal life — any day now will become a grandfather for the first time.
His oldest daughter, Brittany Nicole, will soon give birth to her first child.
The three-time NFL MVP Favre will be 41 on October 10 this year. He’s also won more games (181) as a starting quarterback than any player in NFL history.
I’ve learned that Favre may return for his 20th season. According to a source close to Favre, “I think he [Favre] does not mind trying it again.”
If all goes well in Mississippi for his daughter Brittany, and Favre returns, he would likely be the NFL’s first active player-grandfather.
NCAA Final Four: Michigan State-Duke-West Virginia-Butler
When you consider that Michigan State and Butler are in the Final Four, the Gophers season was not half bad. Minnesota was the first team to beat Butler, winners of 24 straight games, and the last team to beat Michigan State, in their second consecutive Final Four. This clearly could have been a special year had the two season-long player suspensions and the academic issues of Al Nolen been avoided.
The loss of those players was evident in the long haul. Despite reaching the NCAA tournament, the Gophers failed to win a single game all year that they trailed in by seven points or more.
“We got back here,” said Tubby Smith. “We took the same step we took last year.
Obviously you want to take another step. But we didn’t. Everything is not measured on wins and losses and how far you go in a tournament. It’s about,
I think, doing things the right way. Every kid dreams — every basketball player, Division I player — dreams of playing in the NCAA tournament.
“So these guys have been a part of it for the last two years; [they] have lived their dream. Maybe…the dream didn’t take them as far as they wanted to go, but they lived the dream of being a part of something special.”
Fitz Notes & Quotes
The San Antonio Spurs have won four NBA titles since 1999 and have won at least 53 games every year except 1999, a lockout-shortened season.
Tim Duncan is a big reason why. Without point guard Tony Parker, until next month the Spurs are fighting for their playoff lives in the rugged Western Conference.
However, they are 12-4 in March and just beat Cleveland and Boston back to back.
Last year, the Orlando Magic reached the NBA Finals. Since Stan Van Gundy has been the head coach of the Magic, they are 125-20 when they score 100 points or more.
One of the biggest mistakes the Minnesota High School League made years ago was adding two classes to the boys’ basketball tournament.
The state coaches voted to go from Class AA and Class A to four different classes: Class 4A, Class 3A, Class 2A and Class A. Attendance has suffered since, and it was changed for the wrong reason.
The state coaches had serious issues with the fact that the Minneapolis city schools were consistently stronger. So they chopped the teams up.
Regulating competition is never a good thing. And having four teams saying, “We’re number one!” is misleading.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2).
Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
