Here's a plea to the powers that be over at the new SiriusXM company, that newly minted company created by the merger of two struggling satellite radio providers. Do. NOT. I REPEAT. DO.NOT. MAKE. SPORTS.FANS.HAVE.TO.SWITCH.SERVICES.

Like approximately 18.5 million folks out there joined with moi over the years and chucked terrestrial radio for the commercial-free comfort of satellite radio. Trust me, many people I know asked if I was crazy to be paying for radio.

But with the evil Clear Channel empire laying its insidious plot to stamp out originality in local radio broadcasting for the past decade, it was a no brainer for me. Commercial free music, most cable news networks (although I'm still pissed that XM ditched MSNBC from its lineup), and sports, sports and more sports. I was in my version of Nirvana. I could listen to any baseball game I wanted or most any major college football game that I wanted. All I needed was the NFL. Unfortunately, I backed the wrong horse in that race. I had XM and Sirius lured the nation's No. 1 sport to its satellite waves.

But I never wavered, primarily because I'm normally working Sundays during football season anway, but now, I'm hoping that this new behemoth will see the light. How so?

The deal is too complex for my brain at this hour of the night, but here's the gist of their new packages. You can find XM's here.

The plan that most sports fans will likely be interested? the XM and Select Sirius and Sirius and Select XM plans for one simple reason - SPORTS.

With XM having the MLB package and Sirius the NFL and NBA, this is a marriage made in sports heaven. And personally I have little doubt that those packages are among the most popular for each service.

So here's a tip should muckety mucks for either company should be reading (yeah, right), do the right thing and make sure sports fans are taken care of in this deal.

Yes, Alan and Larry, much to your dismay, disdain and disgust, I have returned. I could go into the myriads of reasons about why I stayed away, but I get heckled enough already. I don't really need to give you guys anymore ammunition now, do I.

Anyhoo, on to the business of the day. Or the soap of the month that is - the continuing saga of one Brett Favre. You know that guy - former NFL MVP, Super Bowl quarterback, most durable guy to every play the position. He has a new name now - Man Without a Team.

You see, Ted Thompson, who runs the Green Bay Packers franchise had decided that the future of one of the NFL's most storied franchises is in the hands of one Aaron Rodgers. Yeah this guy:
Rodgers of the 35 completions in 59 pass attempts fame. Yeah, that guy. Listening to the Packers' Thompson earlier today it's clear it's all about his team moving on to the future. Excuse me? Unless you're the New England Patriots, in the NFL the future is now.

When it comes to the Favre soap opera, Thompson should be asking himself one question: Which quarterback gives me the best chance to win the Super Bowl this year? It's not a difficult question to ask and it's not a difficult question to answer. If anyone out there answers anything but "Brett Favre" I want to party with you.

The Packers came within one game of the Super Bowl last year for two big reasons - a young, ferocious defense and a rejuventated Favre. Thompson, may believe that he's doing his fans a favor by moving forward. With all due respect, until Rodgers wins anything any reasonable fan will view it as a general manager who may be allowing his best chance to win a Super Bowl get away.