When ESPN picks up on a big story and blows it up, be very careful when it goes into wall-to-wall Storm Mode.

During all the hubbub of Hurricane Brett, I must have gotten my signals crossed and my channels screwed up.

I got so concerned that I went out and bought bottled water and batteries.

Much like that 2004 storm season, this Brett Favre retirement thing keeps blowing through again ... and again ... and again. If you want to look at the past forecasts, see August of 2009, and 2008.

The only people No. 4 isn’t holding hostage are the weathermen – at least the ones who don’t wear purple. There’s a whole lot of people to whom the decision whether he plays football at the Metrodome this September, or bridge at the VFW hall, is a big, big deal.

One ankle could kick so many people right in the gut.

Start with the NFC North. If Brett is in Mississippi, the Green Bay Packers are suddenly the darn-near shoo-in to take the division title. Aaron Rodgers, and the kids who now wear his jersey, would be most happy about this.

The rest of the NFC is next. You’ve heard stories of the Las Vegas-based sports books changing their conference champion odds, over a matter of hours, faster than a bus schedule.

Television execs, from Fox to NBC to ESPN, have probably started gazing out the windows ­– to see how far down the ground is. Makes you wonder which of the three got through to Roger Goodell on their red “situation phone” wired right to his office to issue their plea: “Make Brett play!”

But, none of those folks pay most of the bills by footing for a place to put their butts, the jerseys to put on their backs and the grub to put in their guts. Fan reaction during all this has been – to my delight – comical.

On Tuesday, when the first gust of retirement air came out of the Twin Cities – and a few of the radio and TV talking heads followed it up with, “And I think he really means it this time!” – the folks of Green Bay answered with a block party.

Just shows that Cheeseheadville still respects him. Why? Because he was gouda. Or at least cheddar than most. (Thank you, folks! I’m here all season!)

Vikings fans have shown remarkable versatility over the last year. For 14 seasons, they hated Favre.

Then the Vikings signed him. “We love Favre!”

Then he threatened to retire and deep-six their Super Bowl chances. “We hate Favre!”

Hate is a strong emotion, but apathy, not hate, is the opposite of love.

Nice to see that they still care, at least. It would be nice to see if Favre still cares. There’s one thing that he’s made  clear: It’s not about the money.

For once, an athlete means it. What’s it about for Favre?

It’s about hating training camp.

Why sweat for a month before anything you do really matters when you can just say you’ve got a bum wheel, right?

He’d get more respect for being openly anti-training camp and saying, “I’m too old for this, I’ll see you first week of September,” than holding everyone hostage. To his credit, he’s getting good at this.

Each season, when the games end and he’s all beat up, he’s looked in the mirror and said, “I’m done,” and meant it in his heart.

But, come July, when he’s healed and it’s time to go back to football and there’s truly nothing else to do, he realizes that he HAS to play football to breathe.

It just has to be in games against guys wearing another color, right Brett?

“If I’m healthy, I will play.”

So are you healthy?

“I haven’t decided.”

When will he decide? Well, the first NFL Sunday is Sept. 12. So keep an eye or ear to ESPN Storm Central at your Labor Day cookout.

Right around the time, a new storm will probably be brewing. Tropical Storm T.O., perhaps?