OPEN COURT: All eyes on Brett

Look, I know you’re tired of Brett Favre. I’m right there with you.

We’re all annoyed with the media’s unbridled, unchecked adoration anytime he does anything. We could go the rest of our lives without seeing another Wrangler’s ad. We’ve all stopped pretending he wasn’t terrible in “There’s Something About Mary.”

But you’ll be watching him tomorrow night (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.). Don’t try to pretend you won’t.

Brett Favre will take part in yet another Vikings-Packers rivalry game. This time, he’ll be wearing the wrong colors.

It’s already been disorienting enough seeing Favre in purple and gold, but I don’t think anyone is adequately prepared for just how jolting it’s going to be to see Favre playing against the Green Bay Packers.

It’s not unique to see a legend finish his career in a weird spot. Willie Mays with the Mets, Joe Montana with the Chiefs, Michael Jordan with the Wizards — I could go on all day. But it’s an almost unprecedented event to see an all-time great playing a pivotal role for his original team’s arch rival. The only reference point we have is watching Roger Clemens throwing heat against the Red Sox while wearing Yankee pinstripes.

The difference between Favre and most of those other guys is that it seems like Favre is still playing at a reasonably high level.

The Vikings kept the 39-year-old gunslinger (or, dangerously erratic interception machine, depending on your interpretation) under wraps early in the season, mostly handing the ball off to devastating tailback Adrian Peterson and asking Favre to throw short slants and screens.

Last week, the Vikings needed Favre to do a little more.

Minnesota found itself deadlocked with the surprising San Francisco 49ers, needing a miracle to keep that unblemished record intact. Like he has dozens of times before, Favre delivered.

And here’s the real shame in the whole messy Favre situation — we’re so sick of him, we can’t even fully appreciate it when he makes a phenomenal throw to win a game.

Make no mistake, that might be the best throw anyone makes all season. Given the circumstances, the pressure, the blitz in Favre’s face and Greg Lewis’ plastic-man act in the back of the end zone, it was just incredible.

Better yet, it was the perfect throw to set up what is sure to be the most-watched program in ESPN’s history. Favre versus the Packers in the Metrodome, with the future Hall-of-Famer possibly breaking the hearts of all those Green Bay fans who used to adore him.

On a purely athletic level, this is one of the most compelling events of the year. Everyone you know who is even remotely interested in sports has an opinion about Favre, and all of them will be watching him on Monday Night Football.

Of course, ESPN will spoil it, because this is a media entity that doesn’t know when to say when. Heck, it seems like it goes out of its way to antagonize its audience sometimes (witness this bizarre SportsNation stunt where they’re planning to attempt to break the record for “most mentions of Brett Favre in a single show”).

Regardless of the white noise that constantly surrounds anything Favre, this is clearly a major sporting event. Love him or hate him, it’s still must-see-TV.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747