Favre's pilot saw it coming
Bill Novak — 3/04/2008 11:13 am
Brett Favre's pilot knew this day was coming.
"I knew he'd been struggling with this since the end of the season," said David Thomason, when contacted at his home in Phoenix this morning after hearing the news that the legendary quarterback for the Green Bay Packers was retiring.
"This is absolutely not a shock," Thomason said. "I actually thought he'd announce it last week."
Thomason has been Favre's personal pilot for the past 14 years. He is also partner with Brian Anderson in running the official Brett Favre Web site at
www.officialbrettfavre.com, and he handles Favre's memorabilia both online and through the Fan 4 Ever store in Sun Prairie.
Anderson said the Favre web site crashed this morning because so many people were trying to place orders for Favre gear.
"Orders are coming in every minute and a half right now," Anderson said. "It's bigger than Christmas."
Thomason said Favre could see the handwriting on the wall this off-season when Packer management wasn't going after big-name players, such as receiver Randy Moss, to push the team to the next level.
"I'm glad Brett did this," he said. "For the past three years, it was just killing him that they weren't bringing anybody in to help him out."
The Fan 4 Ever store, 338 S. Grand Avenue in Sun Prairie, is stocked with Favre and Packer merchandise as well as gear with logos from the Badgers, the Brewers, the Bucks and other teams.
Anderson said the store will be busier this week because of Favre's retirement, but he doesn't see an end to the Favre love affair anytime soon.
"This will go on forever," he said. "Brett is to football what Michael Jordan is to basketball."
Favre's web site didn't have any comments from No. 4 himself on his retirement, but a story posted this morning on the official Favre Web site summed up what Packer fans feel.
"While we can't predict what the future will hold for No. 4, we look forward to a warm day in Canton, Ohio in July of 2013 when we will gather collectively, in spirit if not proximity, to relive the greatness of our legendary gridiron hero," the story said.
Thomason said Favre will probably lay low for awhile.
"He seems very happy right now," Thomason said. "He'll adjust better in retirement life than most people think."
Flying Favre to Wisconsin doesn't seem to be a part of his immediate plans, however.
"I don't think he's coming to Green Bay to make an announcement," Thomason said.
Anderson said he's just thankful he's been able to be a part of the whole Favre mystique.
"We've had a terrific run with Brett," he said. "He was terrific for Green Bay and for football."
Fans react
The news about Favre's retirement moved almost instantly. Less than two hours after the first Web sites posted stories, local fans knew about it.
At the Northeast YMCA in Sun Prairie, one Favre fan was still in disbelief and wouldn't hear of the retirement until it came from No. 4.
"I haven't heard it from his mouth so I don't believe it yet," said Cindy Harrison. "Until then, it's just ugly rumor."
Brian Wesner, 24, of Madison, grew up only knowing of Favre as Packer quarterback, nobody else.
"I was upset, because when he first started his career is when I first started remembering football, so basically his career is my entire memory of football," Wesner said at the YMCA.
At Beans'n Cream Coffee House in Sun Prairie, Larry Sveda said he thought Favre would play one more season.
"With the kind of team they had, and the way they ended it, I didn't think he'd end his career on that," Sveda said, referring to the team's deep run into the playoffs.
"Everything comes to an end, and new beginnings start. It's his decision."
Capital Times reporter Todd D. Milewski contributed to this report.