I Hate Brett Farve/I Love Brett Farve by Ross Bernstein (2009. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-60078-376-0)
Every once in a while there’s a neat concept or idea, the sort of gem of a thought that makes for a dandy short story, essay, or editorial, that someone tries to inflate into a book. That’s how I see this latest effort from Minnesota’s best known sports author, Ross Bernstein. I’ve met Ross.He’s a pleasant guy and a good writer. I even have some of his other work, like Frozen Memories, a coffee table book chronicling a century of Minnesota ice hockey. His work on his encyclopedic books is flawless. The detail is great. His research is superb. His writing is crisp. I can’t say that about this latest project from Bernstein’s fingertips: It’s, in my view, simply a cute idea that’s been expanded beyond my interest in the subject matter.
Had this book attempted to be a biography, a chronicle of the Falcon/Packer/Jet/Viking quarterback Brett Favre’s hall of fame career, painting for the reader a clear picture of what makes Farve one of the most interesting sports figures of the later 20th and early 21st centuries, well, I know Bernstein would have done the story justice. But this book, simply a compendium of comments from sportswriters, fans, and players who “hate” Farve (generally the Packer side of the ledger) and similar material from the “love” side of things (representing naive Vikings supporters) is, as I’ve said, an unwarranted expansion of an inside joke into a blotted, repetitive series of quips from folks who really have better things to do than worry about Farve’s legacy.
I guess my real issue with this effort from a writer I respect is this: In a nation and world filled with so many real conflicts, many of which are tragic and have serious consequences, using the words “love” and “hate” when dealing with a professional sports figure is, in a word, silly. Grown men and women certainly have the right to enjoy watching a good game of football or whatever during their leisure time. But to get so wrapped up in a spectator sport (as many of the folks interviewed for this volume appear to be) that you actually burn a guy’s jersey in effigy? Well (and this comes from a life-long follower of most major sports in America), that’s simply nuts. To compile a book about it that simply repeats the insanity, provides little insight into Brett Farve the man, and really doesn’t add much to popular culture.
My son Jack bought me this book, personally signed, for Christmas two years ago. It took me that long to get up the gumption to get past the subject matter and dive in. I won’t say I lament reading the book: I will say Mr. Bernstein could have said what he needed to say in about 500 words: the length of this review.
2 and 1/2 stars out of 5.
