"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
So speaks Gotham's Attorney General Harvey Dent on Batman and the nature of Heroism. It is similar with Sports Stars. They either step down at a moment of glory and success and the height of their career, or force the fan to watch a former great wallow in mediocrity. John Elway walked away from the game of Football a champion (though he broke my heart in stopping the Packers march to a Super Bowl Repeat). Michael Jordan forced us to endure the Washington Wizards (though, his greatness has transcended even that). But there are others who are just painful to watch. Those players who did not know when it was time to hang up the cleats or gloves (Think George Foreman).
Brett Favre has now joined the pantheon of athletes who have allowed petty self-interest and grudges to mar an otherwise splendid career. Brett Favre has a grudge against the Green Bay Packers and has sought revenge. Last season it appeared he was the Favre of old, until he proved himself to be merely Old. Now Favre is un-retired again and a Minnesota Viking. It's all about his petty immature attitude. He's forever marred his image and has shown himself to be yet another selfish prima donna. Maybe he always was, but his image was something else. He no longer has that.
"You either retire a Superstar or live long enough to see your glory fade."
2 comments:
to quote micheal hunt: the ego has landed....
The biggest problem with Brett seems to be that he is incapable of considering his life without being the starting quarterback on the weekend. Really, it's quite sad. He had a great rep, seems to have a great family, plenty of money, security and opportunity, and really could have done something with his "retirement" years, as great as he did while playing. But it appears he will not transition to "what's next." In the grand scheme of things, he is a metaphor for a lot of folks who cling to "what I have always done" and the "way I have always done it" and cannot move on, with changes in the economy, in industry, or in life in general.
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