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Nov. 1, 2005 Man! I hate to see things like this happen. Another sports icon lets his or her ego make the decisions that matter, and rather than live on in their fans memories as the hero that they were, they will forever be remembered as the illiterate guy that couldn’t read the writing on the wall. Come on man, 1 and 6? 5 interceptions in one game? 0 and 4 on the road? Bottom of the NFC North? Losing to the Vikings? Now I realize that one man cannot single handedly win in this league, I also know that a team very often is only as good as its leader. It has happened time and again. A great athlete sees the career that kept them in the limelight for so long slipping away in the twilight. Rather than accept that age and abuse have already checked out, because their life’s work is finished, they insist upon a stiff upper lip, and carry on in the grandest tradition. Highly commendable. Congratulations on your intestinal fortitude. But what about the hoards of 8 year old kids, who can’t recall the glory years, that had not even been born yet? What image will they call up when the name Brett Favre is mentioned? I know the first one that will come to my mind, if Favre never played again starting right now. That is the one of Brett stumbling past the line of scrimmage and throwing the ball in desperation as time ran out last Sunday, then collapsing in a heap, exhausted. A valiant effort, granted. But you are not doing yourself, your team or the game in general any favors. So what will it take? Is it going to come down to finally being traded to another cellar-dweller, as has happened to so many in the past that just didn’t get it? Are you that bent on following in Montana’s footsteps? Favre knew it was over last year. The season long struggle, the injuries, blown out of the play-offs. Brett actually made the correct choice at one point. Then he let his insatiable desire to be in the spotlight get the better of him. Yeah, it’s the same old story, and there are people that fall all over the map in the end. Not everyone terminates their career in defeat and disgrace. George Blanda was still making a contribution to his team’s effort after he had turned 50. Drew Bledsoe is driving the Cowboys toward the play offs this year. George Foreman came back and did the impossible. Lance Armstrong defied the odds, cheated death and took the Tour de France 7 times. Vinny Testaverde is…oops, sorry, bad example. How desperate do you have to be to call up a QB with the nickname ‘Interceptaverda?’ However, for every touchy-feely story of success there are at least 2 of abject failure. The great Johnny Unitas hung in there for 17 years. In the end he practically had to use a walker to drop back in the pocket. It was sad and not the way the (arguably) best quarterback to ever play the game should have gone out. Not in relative obscurity with the perennial bottom feeder San Diego. Is Brett afraid his place in the Hall of Fame might be in jeopardy? If so that is a even bigger mistake than playing this year. Favre is an almost guaranteed shoo in come his first year of eligibility. But the more he runs around like a buffoon the further back that will be pushed. It certainly doesn’t have anything to do with money. That notion is in fact so ludicrous that I won’t even waste time on it. Brett continues in the pursuit of one last championship; or so he says. Hmm…how’s that working out for him so far? If you examine that close enough the real motivation will come to the surface. Favre has just one ring. Even though he is one of the best to ever take the field, if thrown in with a crowd including the likes of Bradshaw, Aikman, Montana or Marino, sooner or later one of them will hold up a ring laden hand (most likely Bradshaw,) and Brett will have no other choice but to shut up and drink his Gatorade. Yeah, Brett can talk all the talk he wants, and use every excuse in the book. But when push comes to shove it comes down to ego, pure and simple. Even Bart Starr has more rings. Favre is now between a rock and a hard place. He should have retired with dignity, but didn’t. No one would have faulted him, and he would have gone out a hero, slightly tarnished, but a hero nonetheless. But no, he had to play on. Now he finds himself in the middle of a nightmare come to life. Now he almost has to finish the season, or be labeled a quitter. Ironically enough, the best thing to happen to one of the most durable players in the history of the game might be a season ending injury. That of course, would do nothing to lift the image of this year for Brett. It could well further dull an otherwise stellar career. Nobody likes to see a guy get hurt and then quit. Will he have sense enough to retire this year? Maybe. To be honest it would not surprise me in the least if he kept on until he winds up 3rd string with the Saints. Some people seem to have a hard time dealing with mortality. ------------ About the author Keith Ian Middleton: was born in Portland OR., at age 6 his parents moved back to Upstate NY. where they had grown up. He spent most of his childhood on a farm and started working in sawmills upon graduation from high school. His natural design and engineering talents served him well and he made the rounds through several moves as a troubleshooter and hired gun with a number of lumber manufactures. Keith now resides and writes from Kentucky where he met and married his second wife. Email: kmiddle1957@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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