Favre and Manny: Enough Already

Brett Favre and Manny Ramirez. Everyone has their opinions, but even this writer acknowledges that both are talented players in their respective sports who've been great for a long time and have championship rings on their fingers.

One thing that they both share is a self-centered mentality refusing to see that their personal desires and indecision  cause their teams major headaches.

Ego is a good thing when kept in check. The problem is both of these guys have too much. They seemingly put blinders on to the world when there's something they want for themselves. Occasionally they say something that makes sense, only to make more contradictions in the press later.

Page 2 had an interesting quiz comparing quotes made by these two athletes or other athletes when asked about Manny or Brett in a particular question. I've followed some of these melodramatic sagas when driving home or browsing the sports headlines. If you're a fan of melodrama, I suggest watching a re-run of an Aaron Spelling show like "90210" or "Melrose Place", not spending hours a day listening or watching speculation on two of the biggest whiners in sports today.

There's always been the "Manny Being Manny" sentiment, especially in Boston where he's been a major part of two World Series championship teams. However, I call it Manny Being Manic Depressive. One minute he's happy and high-fiving Boston fans midplay while turning a double play in left field. Two minutes later he's saying the Boston Red Sox don't deserve him.

Really? You've had your childish ego stroked since the moment you trotted around the bases at Yankee Stadium thinking you hit a homerun instead of a ground-rule double. You have a problem with anyone thinking or telling you that you're wrong. Teammates do admit you work hard at your craft which is fine. No one gets to put up the numbers like you have and NOT work hard. Natural ability can only get you so far (just ask your new teammate Andruw Jones) before you have to be really prepared and healthy and ready.

The Boston Red Sox don't deserve you. You're right they don't. They don't deserve the immature behavior of a left fielder who can't play defense and doesn't hustle and whines to everyone when something doesn't go his way when they're paying him $20 million a year to produce. Things aren't going to change in Los Angeles because Joe Torre's not going to be tough on him. It's pretty bad to have Sportscenter actually showing you running to first base on an infield hit because you've gained such a reputation for not doing it every time out of the batter's box.

The trade that went down late Thursday afternoon might've told the story. Manny, the Red Sox thought you were such a detriment to team chemistry they traded two prospects to the Pirates and paid the Dodgers to take you off their hands so they could get Jason Bay. This is the same Jason Bay whose offensive line this season looks almost the same as yours, plays better defense, is six years younger and costs $12.5 million less than you would next year had they picked up your option. Oh, and by the way, they gave him a standing ovation and promptly scored the winning run in extras in his first game, and hit a three-run homer in his second game to give them an early lead. They're already better without you. If you needed more closure, team veterans saying it would be best if you could be traded because they didn't feel you could be counted on should say it all.

Now we get to Prima Donna #1. Brett, the latest reports have you coming back (again) after Goodell reinstated you and the team President offered you a lifetime contract to work with the Packers, stay retired from playing football in the ballpark amount of $20 million. I guess that's the magic number these days, which happens to be more than 99% of the fans who have watched you play on TV or in person will ever make in their entire lives.

This saga seriously makes me sick. I watched the retirement press conference when you cried, and said you were tired and you weren't coming back. The Packers were going to retire Brett's number and he could ride off into the sunset on that jet plane that they chartered for him to fly up from Mississippi with all of his records and a future slot in the Hall of Fame.

Now he has doubts. Brett said himself Aaron Rodgers was ready to take over as the starting quarterback. The Packers drafted a highly regarded rookie QB in Brian Brohm who was the most pro-ready quarterback to come out of college even before he stepped onto the field his senior year at Louisville. Now Brett wants to come back, play maybe one more year.

The domino effect would be interesting. If I'm Aaron Rodgers, I'm thinking "Well, I guess I'm never going to be a starter here. Each of the last 4 years Brett's been leaving this team guessing into the off-season as to whether he's going to play or not. I think I'll call my agent and see if I can request a trade or else see what teams are interested in the offseason".

If Brett plays one more year and then does retire, and Rodgers leaves, then what? The Packers would have lost two starting quarterbacks in the same offseason and would only have a rookie as the only QB left on the roster.

For as many great moments Favre has had, he's had plenty of piles of coal. His last pass allowed the Giants to go to the Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl win, Favre was not by any means great. Desmond Howard was the MVP because he was the best player in that game, followed closely by Reggie White. He's not as dominant as he's been made out to be.

Talent-wise, Favre is still better than Aaron Rodgers. I won't argue that. But long-term Brett would be best off staying retired. He could've ended this before it even started. The Packers have tried to fulfill his trade request, but he's making it nearly impossible. They're absolutely right in saying that they don't want to trade him within the division, or release him and get nothing in return so he can play for the Vikings and potentially beat them twice this season.

What's the matter, Brett, the Bucs or the Jets aren't what you want? Aww too bad. Then stay retired and cry like the attention-wanting child you are. You're just as stubborn as one if you want to forgo $20 million for one year playing for likely another team, ruining your legacy and the goodwill amongst the thousands of fans who've cheered for you despite your many playoff failures in the last 11 seasons.

You've been booed in Minnesota before. What's to make them boo you again when you throw an interception that's picked off by Charles Woodson that costs your Vikings team the game in the Metrodome later this year. The Bears have an unproven ground game, a mediocre at best offensive line and no real receiving threats as well as an aging defense. Do you really think you're going to take that team to a Super Bowl? And if you don't, what's to stop blabbermouths like Jay Mariotti from crucifying you for having the Bears trade for you only to fail again?

Now as a military veteran, I'd really love to send these two wimps to a real war zone - or even boot camp. A drill sergeant's boot in their ass telling them "You're mama ain't here to help you" and "You're mine now. You're opinion for the next 2 months doesn't matter" would be a nice realization for these two prima donnas that they ought to just keep their mouths shut because they're just making enemies and causing problems for themselves and others by being completely self-centered, egotistical whiners.

Brett, Manny - do us all a favor and go home. Someone needs to tell you for once in your life that just because you want something, doesn't mean you're going to get it, or that you deserve it.