So Many Class Acts » Brats & Beer

March 9, 2008
posted under: Blogs, Brett Favre, retirement

The shock of last week is slowly wearing off and the wake for Brett Favre’s career is almost over. The tributes have been handed out and now it’s time for the Packers and us fans to roll up our sleeves and get to the work at hand. But not before addressing a couple lingering issues.

Favre haters around this great nation have been waiting a lifetime for the day he’d retire, but I really though maybe they’d hold off with their snide remarks at least until a few days had passed. I guess I gave them too much credit for having class.

From the “tribute” videos to the nasty and mean-spirited digs at the man and his legions of fans, you all managed to outdo yourselves, so please take a bow. Sal Paolantonio of ESPN gets a special mention for doing a hatchet job on Favre’s career not two days afterward. And a big congratulations to Laura Ingraham for calling into question Favre’s manhood because he showed some emotion at his retirement press conference. Way to show the world how classy the political right can be.

Was there this kind of black-hearted bile spilled when Steve Young, John Elway, or Jim Kelly retired? I suppose not, because they had the good fortune to leave the game when the world was a little less cynical, when there wasn’t an online forum for trolls to play one-upmanship in tearing people down.

I’m not suggesting that Brett Favre is beyond reproach or that people can’t say anything critical about him, but when a man of his accomplishments and stature leaves a sport he so dearly loved and gave so many years to, you could at least have the respect to hold your tongue for a while until he’s had a chance to leave the building.