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Brett Favre can now enjoy the retired life
© by Mike Keenan 
Brett Favre, finally ready to end his career after 20 NFL seasons, has retired at age 41. Not bad, considering OPP officers need 30 years, placing them near 51 at career end . In Favre's case, it's not a moment too soon for this free spirit to indulge in non-combative weekends, no longer fighting off defensive ends intent on crushing him under their considerable weight. Would you believe +300 pounds for a lineman is common in the NFL! Pity the poor soul who has to wait for his wide receiver to go deep as the protective pocket disintegrates, thanks to blitzing linebackers, corner backers and even uppity safeties who used to be considered sissies, perched twenty yards behind the line of scrimmage where massive hulks lurk and play.
It's a shame not to retire in the same uniform (Green Bay) worn when you started and where you enjoyed your best years. Today, athletes of all persuasions gravitate to the highest bidder. It's a business, not a sport, and if you think fan loyalty is hard to maintain in this avaricious environment, you are correct. Because athletes enjoy relatively short careers due to the pounding, it's fair that they should acquire as much as they can. They are entertainers, much like the gladiators that kept folks mollified through the visual and emotional process of catharsis. And because body size, strength and speed continue to increase, it's no surprise that prone bodies are routinely carted off the field to the delight of those who bring you mind-numbing commercials, over and over again - in the safety of your home, where the worst you might do is choke on pretzels. I deliberately tape each game, wait one or two hours, and then fast forward through commercials. I watch some in silence, volume muted - the CBS games covered by commentator and ex-quarterback Phil Simms, who cannot keep his mouth shut and blathers on about the dumbest things imaginable. Please Brett, take Simms with you. Favre said he was done in 2007 with the Packers and in 2008 with the Jets, only to join the Vikings and play two more years. After decent stats last season, he slumped badly in 2010 and suffered injuries, ending his record streak at 297 straight regular-season games. Ancient George Blanda hung around seemingly forever with the Raiders, but he was smart enough to stick to field goals, a safer chore. Two quarterbacks who exited with class at the top of their respective games were Johnny Unitas of the Colts and John Elway of the Broncos. Who am I cheering for in the Super Bowl? Easy - Green Bay Packers. Imagine a team that inspires its fans to sit in the freezing cold wearing large cheese hats! That really says something, but I'm not sure what. My favourite all time teams are the Packers and the Eagles. As a kid, I admired Chuck Bednarik for the Eagles. A devastating tackler and the last two-way player in the NFL, he is remembered for a tackle on New York Giant, Frank Gifford, that knocked Gifford out of professional football for a year and a half, and shortened his playing career. I also enjoyed watching Gerry Kramer, Green Bay's terrific right guard block for the Packers, particularly on their famous sweep play. They were my role models, hard acts to follow. Sadly, the toughest two-way player in the history of the game recently passed away. I once paid a mere $5 to sit in the end zone and watch Cookie Gilchrist play fullback and linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger Cats against the Argos. He was devastating. He ran the ball powerfully like Cleveland's dominant Jim Brown and he tackled as hard as Bednarik. He also managed to kick field goals. And because he would not buckle under to the status quo, (racial integration was taking its sweet time) he played for several teams including the Buffalo Bills. Which, of course, brings us back to retirement! |
