So Brett Farve would have you think Mississippi Burned (Shannon Sharpe Video)

By Kevin Boynton

If you’ve ever been slapped in the face then magnify that insult times 100. 

According to multiple news reports, the governor of Mississippi and National Football League Hall of Famer Brett Farve misappropriated funds to the tune of 11 million dollars to build a state-of-the-art volleyball facility. If true, this can only be described as a tasteless act of greed and deception. Keep in mind where there is smoke there is usually fire.  

As a writer and social observer with Mississippi roots, I am challenged the most by the lack of media coverage for what is a crime of great magnitude. From my perspective, traditional news and social media platforms have all failed in their coverage of this alleged atrocity. And sports media especially. 

In recent months we’ve witnessed leading sports media platforms and cable channels such as ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, ABC Sports, TNT Sports and NBA TV call out Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving for a post that many considered was in poor taste and even antisemitic. However, the Irving post was not illegal or alleged to be illegal.  

Irving’s statements are often linked to the antisemitic comments of rapper Kanye West on the Alex Jones show.

According to an investigative report from Mississippi Today, Farve’s alleged actions and involvement with his pal and former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant are that they plotted together to use welfare funds meant to assist poor residents in Mississippi to build a new stadium.

Based on never-before-seen text messages between Favre and Bryant from 2017 to 2019, it was revealed that the former Packers quarterback collaborated with Governor Bryant to funnel upwards of $5 million to build the stadium on the campus of his alma mater and where his daughter played volleyball. 

To add insult to injury, Farve, a native son born and raised in Mississippi who attended the University of Southern Mississippi, appeared to be aware of the impropriety associated with his action. 

Equally as important: one would have to live under a rock to miss the glaring difference in media coverage of this alleged illegal and shameful travesty versus the onslaught of attention and coverage given to Kanye and Kyrie over their social media posts and statements that fall under freedom of speech. Maybe the intense coverage of Kanye and Kyrie was because of their ethnic heritage and background? Just a thought! 

Revealed text messages between Farve and others with knowledge of the alleged plot should have earned this story much more attention or at least the coverage level of Kanye and Kyrie. I find the lack of coverage by news and sports media outlets despicable. 

Farve’s defense throughout this entire matter is “his lack of knowledge.” From where I stand his defense is not a defense at all. This alleged plot deserves a full and thorough investigation and not a gag order. Until then Mississippi is still burning.