Brett Favre. The Brett Favre has announced his retirement. One of the best to ever play the game has hung ‘em up. Said ‘so long’. Walked away before he limped away… at least for now.
Before I dwell into a Favre-tastic tribute and get all misty, let me share a fun fact about myself- I tend to watch a fair amount of television. Over the past year I’ve caught shows called Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, Bionic Woman… perennial classics from a bygone era thrust back into our lives. Why are these shows back? Can we just not let them go? Are the shows out there just not as good? I digress.
I see Brett Favre as of one of the last quarterback god’s to (allegedly) step away from the game. Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Troy Aikman, Steve Young were masterful in the NFL throughout for the last few decades. Favre was in their class. Peyton Manning might be on the tail end of that list, but I still feel he’s of the newer generation. The next batch of greats is a list we’re still waiting to fill out beside Brady and Big Ben.
As with our television habits, it’s tough for us to tear away from what’s familiar, from what was great. When we’re left with a crop of, with all due respect, the inferior, we long for what’s gone.
Society tends to have a short attention span these days. It bodes well for those of yesteryear, which is why I feel Brett Favre will be lured back to the field. He’s going to see the endless tributes on television and be inundated with interviews where the media kisses every part of his ass, and rightfully so.
With parity what it is in the league, ticket sales where they’re at and our fancy for the former so manic, Favre’s going to get courted like never before.
I hope he stays retired. I’ve had the pleasure to see so many of Favre’s games and watch in awe at his powerful performance week after week, season after season. The man made a helluva run last season and came so close to making it to the big show. He fell short. But you can’t keep trudging on hoping you go out in a blaze of glory, hoisting that Lombardi Trophy with teary eyes and the overwhelming sense of validation that eases the pain of leaving the thing you love the most. Elway was lucky. Marino wasn’t. Favre has a ring.
It boils down to what Kenny Rogers said which was proven to me after hundreds of nights at the blackjack table: you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away… and know when to just retire.