“Brett’s Onto Something…”

With all the attention focused recently on Brett Favre’s retirement announcement, it is hard not to be affected by his decision. It seems that people of all ages, races, geographical regions and basic ‘walks of Life’ have some emotional response to the announcement of his retirement from Professional Football.

Not being a huge fan of professional football, I have not been the ‘Brett Favre Fanatic’ that quite a number of people apparently have been. However, having been aware of and somewhat familiar with our ‘Hometown Hero’ since he rocketed to fame as the University of Southern Mississippi’s star quarterback, I have developed a certain respect and admiration for his talents. In recent weeks, with all the constant media attention, I have begun to feel a sort of ‘connection’ with Brett Favre after considering some of the similarities between the two of us.

We were both born in South Mississippi; we both grew up and attended school in South Mississippi; he developed his passion for his chosen sport while growing up just as I developed my passion for my chosen sport during my formative years. He began his NFL career in 1992; I began my Official SERA Event-Organizer career in 1992. He has received a lot of recognition for doing things he could never have done without the other members of his team; I have received a lot (but not as much) recognition for doing things I could never have done without the other members of my team.

He is the NFL’s only three-time MVP; I am the SERA’s only two-time Sportsman-Of-The-Year. He led the Green Bay Packers to two consecutive Super Bowls; I led the Mississippi Hi-Point Enduro Riders to consecutive ‘Hare-Scramble-Of-The-Year’ awards in ‘92 & ‘93. I have heard Brett Favre mention that he is physically tired and mentally tired; I currently feel the exact same way. Brett Favre has been on TV a lot lately; I was on TV this past Saturday Night.

It just seems that there are so many similarities between Brett Favre and myself that I can not continue to ignore the growing feeling that my time has also come. The decision has not been easy, but sometimes we all just have to face facts and come to grips with what Life has handed us.

In addition to all the other ‘similarities’ between Brett Favre and myself, I add this one last detail: Brett Favre has retired in 2008. After thinking long and hard, taking into consideration an enormous number of possibilities, I have made the decision that I, too, will ‘retire’ in 2008. Too many things just seem to be leading me in that direction to continue to ignore the call to bring down the curtain on my relatively short yet illustrious career as an Event Coordinator. Just as the Green Bay Packers will find someone to take over as quarterback, I am sure that someone will step up to fill the vacancy left after I am gone.

I have enjoyed most of the last 17 years (the precise length of Brett Favre’s NFL career, as it turns out), but the time has come for me to “pass the torch” to someone else with something to contribute to the Off-Road-Riding Community.

With the satisfaction of the 2007 Smokey-Bear-Whiz Enduro (an event that many predicted would never take place) and the ‘near perfect’ execution of the 2008 Blazing Saddles Hare-Scramble, I feel that I am “going out at the top of my game” with fond memories of all that I (with a lot of help from a few friends & associates) was able to contribute through the years.

Looking back upon the various aspects of the last 17 years, one thing that I have learned during my relatively short yet illustrious career as an Off-Road Event Coordinator, with significant experience in dealing with Forest Service paperwork is that many of the things that are most vitally important are usually found ‘in the fine print’ included in most documents. In this instance, also, that would appear to be a fact. Possibly the one truly real detail that sums up all that this farewell address was originally intended to communicate is this: APRIL FOOL!!! I can’t quit now; too many people would be left with nobody to curse and complain about if I give up promoting SERA Events.