Never Trumpers Lost, Pro-Life Movement Won

So thankful your anti-Trumpist obsession and damaged ego failed to keep the country from this moment. If you had gotten your way, this day would have never happened. You should repent for your continual slanders against those who had far more courage and wisdom.

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 24, 2022

David French and his fellow NeverTrump obsessives are engaging in stolen valor from pro-life leaders who had to waste valuable time and resources fighting him and his ilk as they worked to bring the country to this moment. Note this from his "Ego over country" tirades in 2020: https://t.co/NQsNYZBVHf

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 24, 2022

Thank you, Mollie Hemingway, for making this valid point. Sean Davis also notes that French and Never Trumpers worked to uphold Roe v. Wade.

If you had gotten your way, today never would have happened.

If you had gotten your way, Hillary would have appointed THREE Supreme Court justices.

If you had gotten your way, Roe would be alive and even more unborn babies would be dead. https://t.co/drBspIU3yv

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) June 24, 2022

Donald Driver: Greatness Is Born (Video)

Watch the video that was shown at the Donald Driver retirement event at the Lambeau Field atrium yesterday.

Other videos of the event can be found at Packers.com.

Mike McCarthy's remarks are especially touching, seeing him choke up like that.

Watch Governor Scott Walker and Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt pay tribute to Donald.


Walker declared Wednesday "Donald Driver Day" in Wisconsin. Schmitt announced that the statue in front of Titletown Brewing, the one that used to be outside the old Hall of Fame, will be transformed into a Donald Driver statue. Also, the street is on track to be renamed "Donald Driver Way." He deserves those honors and more.

Watch Donald Driver's remarks, so gracefully and beautifully delivered to more than 1000 fans at Lambeau and countless others watching on TV and the Internet.

"To the fans, I want to thank you all for the love, the joy, the cheers, the ups and (downs), though we haven't given you too many downs," Driver said. "This day is not just for me, this day is for you.

"Twelve years ago, I signed my first big contract for the Green Bay Packers and I promised you all that I would never wear another uniform. So today, we make that official. I keep my promise to you. The loyalty you all have instilled in me and my family, I have to keep my loyalty to you and not play for another team and to retire in the green and gold."

I will miss Donald so much, but as he has said, he's a Packer for life.

Congratulations, Donald.

Thank you. Thank you for retiring as a Packer and your tremendous legacy.

And good luck on getting those squirrels out of your attic.

Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers: AWKWARD! (Video)

So we're catching about the last hour of the NFL Honors.

We couldn't believe it when we heard the tease that coming up Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers would be on stage together to present the award for Comeback Player of the Year.

WHAT???

It was so bizarre. It was so awkward.



Oil and water.

From ESPN:

Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, who haven't spoken much since Favre's 2008 attempt to return to the Packers, presented the league's Comeback Player of the Year award to Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. The appearance -- and their willingness to joke about that tense time five years ago -- was a sign of a thaw in their relationship. An awkward handshake and hug attempt indicated there is work yet to be done, assuming that was not also part of the script.

Here's how the funny, if scripted, by-play went:

Rodgers: We're here to present the award for best comeback player.

Favre: You know Aaron, everyone loves when a great player makes a comeback.

Rodgers: Yeah, not always. Sometimes … some people wish that great players would retire and just stay retired.

Favre: Good to see you, Aaron.

Rodgers: You too, man.

As the crowd laughed, Rodgers stuck out his hand. Favre clasped it and seemed ready to hug Rodgers, but neither man knew exactly what to do at that point. After a few moments, Rodgers smiled and said: "That was awkward, uh … ."

Video here.

And here:



If this was a sign that "Favre is ready to reconcile with the Packers franchise, retire his number and get involve[d] in its alumni activities," it was awfully shaky. The awkwardness spoke volumes.

Without question, Donald Driver's number should be retired before Favre should get that honor.

Seeing Favre with Aaron only served to remind me what a jerk Favre has been, all the terrible things he's done and said and the many things he should have said but never did.

Whose idea was this reunion anyway?

I didn't like it at all.

Some relationships are irreconcilable. Some need a very long time before any sort of reconciliation is a possibility.

It's going to be a long, long time before Favre will be embraced by Packer fans. I think a couple of generations will need to die off before that happens. Give it about forty years.

Donald Driver Retires

Donald Driver knows how to retire from playing professional football - with class.

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Donald Driver, one of the most popular and productive receivers in Green Bay Packers history, has decided to retire.

The team announced his decision this morning, and Driver will make a formal announcement next week during a ceremony that will be open to the public.

It will take place Wednesday at the Lambeau Field Atrium at 11 a.m.

“I played my entire career in Green Bay and have always enjoyed a special bond with the fans,” said Driver. “I can think of no better way to retire than to celebrate with them and the Packers organization.”

...Driver is the Packers' all-time leader in receptions (743) and yards (10,137) and will go down as one of the great success stories in franchise history.

Unquestionably, Driver stands as one of the greatest players in Packers history.

Fans are invited to attend the event on Wednesday. Here's info:

Fans are invited to the announcement. A limited number of tickets, free of charge, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in person at the Packers’ ticket office at Lambeau Field, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. Distribution will be limited to four tickets per person.

Of course, I'm sorry to see Donald retire. I'll miss him, but he'll be around. When you're a "Packer for life," you don't go away.

Best wishes to Donald and his beautiful family!



Thanks for the sweet memories!

_____________________

From 620 WTMJ:

Listen to an indepth interview where he tells Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Gene Mueller and Greg Matzek his reasons for retiring, gives a special thank you to Packers fans and discusses his future.

Packers Beat the Bears (TD Video)

I liked Donald Driver's touchdown dance!

(The beer after his Lambeau Leap was pretty gross.)

Here's video of the Tim Masthay/Tom Crabtree fake field goal turned touchdown:



Go Pack!

Donald Driver Day

Governor Scott Walker has declared today, May 23rd, DONALD DRIVER DAY in Wisconsin.

May 23rd is now officially known as "Donald Driver Day" in Wisconsin! Incredible! Thank you!!! twitter.com/Donald_Driver8…

— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) May 23, 2012

Cheesehead domination continues.

Donald Driver Wins DWTS

Like Packers fans across the country, I did my part to help secure the prestigious "Mirror Ball" trophy for Donald Driver on Dancing With the Stars.

This is the first season of the series I've watched. Donald Driver was the one and only reason I devoted my time to the show, but I did enjoy it.

From WISN:

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver took the Lambeau Leap to the ballroom and is going home with the Dancing With The Stars Mirror Ball Trophy.

Driver, 37, competed in season 14 of the ABC show and defeated Telenova star William Levy and classical singer Katherine Jenkins to win the competition.

...Driver and partner Peta Murgatroyd earned their first 30 of the season in their second-to-last dance during their freestyle routine.

From ESPN:

Driver is a great athlete and competitor, and perhaps he was already a good dancer before this show. But his emotional reaction to winning was an indication of how hard he needed to work to secure this accomplishment, and how much satisfaction he felt upon achieving it.

(Having Packers fans supporting you in the viewer voting doesn't hurt, either.)

Driver will have a few whirlwind days of publicity but could re-join the Packers for offseason workouts as early as next week. His agent, Jordan Woy, tweeted: "Congrats to Donald Driver winning DWTS!! Now it is time to get ready for another season with the Packers!"

Here are some other Packers reactions via Twitter:

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers: Speaking of teammates, am so proud of @Donald_Driver80 and his accomplishment tonight!!! Enjoy the whirlwind the next few days quickie!!!

Tight end Tom Crabtree: Donaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaald Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?#titletown? ?#GoPackGo? ?#dwts? ?#football? ?#dance? ?#America

Linebacker A.J. Hawk: Congrats @Donald_Driver80, Champion, not even close!

Guard Josh Sitton: My little cousin @biigwilly won the sate baseball championship tonight an @Donald_Driver80 won dwts ! What a great night! Congrats guys!!!!!

Receiver Randall Cobb: Quickie has to write a book about this! Congrats to @Donald_Driver80!!!

ESPN analyst Andrew Brandt, a former Packers executive: Donald! Remember skinny 7th round pick coming in saying he would make a name in GB. Great story.

Here's a clip of Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews giving some words of encouragement to their teammate:


Here's Stephanie Sutton's interview with Donald Driver's wife, Betina, his son, Christian, and his daughter, Christina:

What a lovely family!

The kids are adorable. Christina is so sweet and Christian is so funny. "HE WON!"

When Donald and Peta were announced as the winners, Donald obviously was thrilled. I expected him to jump for joy, but I didn't expect the "stop, drop, and roll" reaction.

It was very classy of Donald and his wife to thank the Packers fans for voting, and to acknowledge our part, the easy part, in his victory.

All in all, the season was a lot of fun and a nice diversion from Wisconsin's political nightmare.

Can't we all just ballroom dance?
_________________

Donald and Peta's freestyle dance, green and gold, perfect 10s:

DWTS: Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Mike McCarthy

UPDATE, May 22, 2012: DONALD DRIVER WINS THE MIRROR BALL TROPHY!

During the finale, Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews offered words of encouragement to their teammate:


_________________

The Green Bay Packers showed their support for Donald Driver as he performed in the Dancing With the Stars semifinals.

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

If it were a Green Bay Packers game, it would be all tied up late in the fourth quarter and just one spectacular Donald Driver catch away from victory.

As the Packers wide receiver has done all season on "Dancing With the Stars," he got awfully close to crossing the goal line — including the lofty one set by impossible judge Len Goodman — on Monday’s semifinals but again came up just short of a ballroom touchdown. He and partner Peta Murgatroyd are in third place with a 57 out of 60 heading into tonight’s elimination, which will narrow the field to the final three for next week’s finale.

...With such a close field and no obvious choice for the next couple to go, Packers fans could find themselves in unfamiliar territory tonight — sweating Driver’s fate for the first time in nine weeks. But for anyone nervous, just heed the words of Driver’s young son, Christian, who said adorably in a segment for the cameras with his sister, Christina, "When he stands at the end, it’s gonna be a 10. And I know it will."

...With Green Bay Packers players Clay Matthews and Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy cheering him on in the front row of the audience, Driver and Murgatroyd, both visions in white, performed an enchanting waltz to “Kissing You" from “Romeo + Juliet" that the judges found worthy of a 28.

...Driver and Murgatroyd switched gears in the second round for a more flirty samba to “Mr. Big Stuff" that Goodman found “here and there a little bit careful," Tonioli praised for being outside of the traditional realm of Brazilian dance and Inaba classified as “A+ game." On a night when two couples got perfect scores, Driver came up just a point shy with a 29. And yep, it was Goodman who still didn’t give up the 10.

...Each of the four stars shared the stories of their upbringings in videos. Driver talked of growing up in a tough neighborhood in Houston, his dad in prison and his mom struggling to raise five children. He teared up as he told how his mother, unable to care for all her children, sent Driver and his brother to live with their grandparents. Driver found trouble there, including crime and selling drugs.

"I was a great athlete, but I was always a troubled kid. I stayed a troubled kid all the way through college. The turning point was when I met my wife," he said.

Betina Driver recalled their first date at McDonald’s — "the only thing we could afford in college" — and how she told him it was either going to have to be the drugs or her. "If you love a person that much, you’re willing to give up everything to be with that person," Driver said. "And I was willing to give it all up."

Rodgers also appeared in the segment, saying, "Donald has always let his playing do the talking for him, and then he backs it up with that incredible smile and personality."

Very inspiring.

Where would Donald Driver be today if he hadn't met Betina?

What a great influence she had on him!

It was nice to see Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews and Mike McCarthy in the audience to support Donald Driver.

It was a surprise to me. I didn't know they were going to be there, even though it was no secret.

Usually, after Driver dances, we see a shot of his smiling wife and adorable kids. This time, we also saw three men applauding Driver. I didn't recognize them at first. Then, I realized it was Rodgers. I also noticed Matthews. I didn't have time to identify the third in the trio. After Driver's second dance, I saw it was McCarthy.

I hope Packer fans don't let Driver down. I did all I could to help get him to the finals. I cast my votes.

Clay Matthews and Aaron Rodgers are on the set of @DancingABC to support Donald Driver. See #ClayRod here: twitpic.com/9l66kl

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 15, 2012

Donald Driver - Shirtless (Video)

Donald Driver received his best scores so far on Dancing With the Stars.

I can't say if it was his best performance. I wasn't really watching him dance. I was sort of distracted by his costume. My attention was focused on how he was dressed.

It was very impressive.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

There was no topping a topless Donald Driver on Monday’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

The bare-chested Super Bowl champ delivered a powerful paso doble that scored big points with the ladies and the judges. Carrie Ann Inaba predicted it would go down as one of the most memorable dances of season 14. He topped the leaderboard with 27 points.

From ABC:

The NFL star had the entire ballroom’s attention when he ripped off his vest and danced a powerful paso doble, complete with pyrotechnics at the end and a Gene Simmons-esque protruding tongue. Tonioli called Driver “muscular, masculine and magnificent,” while Inaba raved that the performance was “psychedelic, bizarre, sexy, raunchy hot damn!” Driver earned 27 points, taking the top spot on the leaderboard for the first time.

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

On a night when the “Dancing With the Stars’’ judges weren’t feeling particularly generous, Donald Driver brought out the big guns to blow them away and jump to the top of the leader board.

The Green Bay Packers wide receiver dropped the shirt, ditched his signature smile and flexed his muscles to show off the body that his partner Peta Murgatroyd said she wanted to use to their advantage for an aggressive, driving paso doble that scored them the most points of the Week 4 competition.

Dancing to "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix, a bare-chested Driver took the Rock Week theme with neck-snapping seriousness, whipping Murgatroyd around the floor and flashing a crazed, wide-eyed, tongue-out rock face a la Gene-Simmons. The performance catapulted them from their previous fourth-place standing to first with a score of 27. The judges proclaimed it both his best dance thus far and one for the Season 15 "DWTS" scrapbook.

Isn't it Season 14?

Whatever.

Driver was spectacular.

Here's video:

Donald Driver - 'Recall Attempt'

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a bizarre way of covering Donald Driver on Dancing With the Stars.

Instead of showing mercy and permitting the program to serve as a break from politics, Duane Dudek decides to inject recall fever into dance fever.

Election results of a different sort were on the line on Tuesday night’s “Dancing With the Stars” results show, during which Green Bay Packer Donald Driver and his partner Peta Murgatroyd survived another recall attempt.

"Recall attempt"?

Good grief.

That's especially lame given that today's election in Wisconsin wasn't a recall; and being sent home from DWTS isn't a recall of any sort.

The Journal Sentinel really has recall politics on the brain.

Sick.

Donald Driver: Apology from DWTS Judge

Donald Driver's second dance on Dancing With the Stars scored better with the judges than his first.

In addition to getting better scores this time out, Driver also got an apology from judge Len Goodman.

From Entertainment Weekly:

Wonders never cease! Judge Len Goodman delivered a shocker on Dancing with the Stars Monday by admitting that he ”under-marked” NFL Donald Driver for his premiere night Cha Cha. And then he apologized for it!

Goodman explained that after watching the episode, he realized he was wrong to give Driver a 7 for his crowd-pleasing Cha Cha. (Driver’s overall score of 21 left him close to the bottom of the leaderboard). “I apologize,” Goodman said during the show. “I under-marked you… I watched it back. You did a great job.” Goodman went on to explain that unlike in football when referees have access to instant playbacks on video screens, ballroom dancing is judged live and, well sometimes things happen!

Afterwards, Driver said the mea culpa felt good. “I think we both thought it was a low score, but we made history, so if we continue to make history, we’ll be good.” Driver and Partner Peta Murgatroyd scored a 24 Monday for their fierce Quick Step. “He’s a great judge,” Driver continued. “Len, he’s man enough to step up and say he made a mistake and you don’t really get that from too many people today. His integrity showed today. We are smiling ear-to-ear right now.”

Driver's scores were low compared to what the other contestants delivered a week ago.

The apology from Goodman was unexpected but deserved.

Based on Driver's place on the leaderboard and his popularity, there's no way he's going to be the first to be eliminated.

Go, Donald!
_______________

Watch Donald Driver's second dance here.

The video includes Goodman's apology.