By Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Mar 06, 2008 at 5:04 AM
In the fall 2006, OnMilwaukee.com published exclusive excerpts of Tom Kertscher's book "Brett Favre: A Packer Fan's Tribute." The book, which featured pictures by Packers team photographer Jim Biever, was recently updated and could be due for another after Favre announced his retirement earlier this week.

Kertscher, a newspaper reporter, answered a few questions for us shortly after Favre announced his retirement.

OnMilwaukee.com: What was your reaction to the news?

Tom Kertscher: A mix of disappointment and a strange sort of peace. I'd like to see Favre come back and make one more run for the Super Bowl. But I also feel that, if he's decided he can't do it anymore, that I'm satisfied. He's given his all for a long time. What more can we fans ask?

OMC: Is Favre's legacy diminished in any way by the loss to the Giants, the interception or the fact that he won one Super Bowl?

TK: I don't think the Giants game diminishes anything. With only one Super Bowl ring, he ranks a little behind the (Joe) Montanas and (Terry) Bradshaws. But as an individual performer, with his starting-games streak, and the passion and love he had for the game, he's in a class by himself.

OMC: Will any other athlete in Wisconsin approach Favre's status with fans?

TK: I don't see it. He played the game the way we as fans would like to think we would play it if we ever had the chance: Going all out on every play, never giving up in a game and having as much fun as any kid. With that, on top of bringing the Super Bowl trophy back to Green Bay, he's the greatest.

Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.