Open-Mic: Time To Hang It Up

I grew up a Midwestern kid with a love for sports. In fact, I was obsessed with sports. It may have even been an unhealthy obsession.

My childhood heroes included Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers, John Elway of the Denver Broncos and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs. I knew everything about them, at least as much as a young kid could know, and hung on their every fluid motion, as if they were gods. They were magic to me.

And so, you can imagine that when Elway retired in 1999 and Miller in 2005, I was heart broken. I really was. I cried over it and I wasn't ashamed to admit it. After Elway retired, I stopped following the Broncos and returned to my Colts obsession. Elway was the only reason I had to follow Denver. And though I still identify myself as a Pacer fan, Conseco Fieldhouse just hasn't been the same since he left. I haven't been to a game since #31 played for Indiana. 

By now, you might think that I am in favor of the Packers bringing back Favre, but before you jump to conclusions, let me remind you of Sosa.

Slammin' Sammy, currently not playing for a Major League team but also not retired, helped Mark McGwire do something that I truly believe saved baseball in the 1998 home run race. He was traded by the Cubs in early 2005 after underachieving. He did nothing in Baltimore and even though he did hit his 600th last season with Texas, a bit of Sammy's magic was lost after he left the Cubs.

And who could forget Michael Jordan? As a Pacer fan, he was a pain in my side during his Chicago years, but no one can argue that he is the best basketball has ever seen. Did he really need the stint at Washington? Was it a good decision for him?

Now think of Favre. Think of where he has brought the Packers. Think of all the people who look up to him and love him. What does he have to gain from coming back? What are the possible pitfalls of his return?

He could lead the Packers to a Super Bowl. They could win it and he could retire a true immortal. It's possible with an NFC that is always wide open.

But he could also lead the Packers to a few more bad seasons, and then he wouldn't look as good as he did had he stayed retired after leading the Packers to an AFC Championship.

Or what if Brett Favre heads to Chicago and the Bears get the eternal one up on the Packers. Favre's legacy in Green Bay would be gone. He would probably be viewed as the biggest of traitors and if he doesn't put up good numbers in Chicago, he'll be idolized by no one.

Think about it, #4. Think about how I have nothing but fond memories of Reggie Miller nailing three after three before he hit his down slope and how Elway gave me a couple of Super Bowls to remember forever. Now think about Slammin' Sammy and how even though I loved him growing up, he meant so much less to me as an Oriole and a Ranger.

Consider the consequences.