The Show.

After being subjected to the obnoxiously over-hyped display of big-headedness known as, "The Decision," sports fans will soon be forced to saddle up once again and prepare for another inevitably agonizing and drawn-out decision, because it's almost football season, which can only mean one thing: Brett Favre's retirement decision.

Now, if this decision process goes the way I think it will, it'll be a bit like this: speculation will arise about Brett's plans for next year (thanks to the unnecessary interest ESPN continually seems to have) and attention will be turned to Brett. Brett will then assure everyone that he hasn't made up his mind yet. Training camp will come along and everyone will say, "Uh oh, Brett Favre isn't at training camp, does this mean he's not playing this year?" Then, with very convenient timing, Brett will decide that he wants to play football again, and despite missing training camp the Vikings will welcome him back with open arms.

Sound familiar?

Ever since he originally "retired," it has become a pattern every year for Favre to pull something like this, and in the process he has become one of the most disliked athletes in all of sports. There was once an integrity to retiring where an athlete decided that he could no longer play a game for one reason or another, but now we see it being used as a reason to miss training camp. What Favre is doing is smart for him: he holds out until he misses training camp, and when he wants to come back he makes a team feel really lucky to have him, but as a fan I think what he's doing is wrong for many reasons, and when the day comes that he actually does retire, fans will sigh with relief rather than gasp with disbelief.

What's really hard about this situation as a fan though is that there are now two Brett Favre's - a then Brett Favre, and a now Brett Favre.

The then Brett Favre was an American hero. He was hard working. He was a warrior, and he did his work with a smile on his face. He was a leader and he was the guy you wanted on your team. He was the epitome of what American sports enthusiasts valued. Now, this isn't to say that he isn't those things today, but the now Brett Favre is hardly likable. He seems selfish and it's hard to root for him. I'm sure there are many Favre fans out there still, but I think I speak for many when I say Brett Favre ruined Brett Favre for me.
The truth of the situation is that Brett has taken football and made it about Brett. Now, instead of hearing about what teams are doing heading into training camp, we're hearing about what Brett Favre is doing heading into training camp. Instead of hearing how teams plan to improve during training camp, we're hearing about whether Brett Favre's body can withstand another NFL season. This is the way it has been in recent years, and it seems to be headed in the same direction for the foreseeable future.

So to all the sports fans out there who wish to stay informed, use this post as a warning to run for cover from the downfall of information and speculation that will inevitably rain upon your television's and radio's as Brett Favre once again takes over pre-season discussions. We've seen this charade before and the ending has been the same. I'm not saying that the same thing is going to happen, but I'd say the chances are pretty high.