by A. Best

Created on: July 25, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

On September 8th, Brett Favre's number is set to be retired at Lambeau field during half time of the Packers' regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. It was expected to be a wonderful momentous and emotional occasion. The organizers probably have a video ready with triumphant music to complement scenes of touch down passes flung to receivers in driving snow. There would probably be some mention that the former number four is the only three-time AP MVP in NFL history, along with a list of other NFL records: 442 TD passes, 61,655 passing yards, and 253 consecutive starts as a quarterback.

Favre was expected to stand there in compliance. But the circumstances might be different now that Brett has begun talking about reinstatement and has expressed interest in possibly being traded to a team like Minnesota. Imagine Mr. Favre, not sitting tearfully in the stands, but on the field wearing a purple uniform and plotting to deliver Green Bay a merciless spanking. Picture the Packers down by four touchdowns at half time; that might put a damper on the jersey retirement ceremony. It's funny unless you're a Green Bay fan.

This situation reminds me of a man named Earl Cheney, he's no celebrity QB, just a blue collar every day guy. Earl worked for the maintenance dept. of a school district and had been there 30 years. As a veteran of the Second World War, Mr. Cheney had once jumped onto a burning tank in North Africa - or something like that - yeah, you know the story. Anyways, the man commanded respect from everyone he encountered and that wasn't a problem because everyone liked him. The custodians never complained when Earl made a mess, because "at least he fixed the blasted thing."

When Earl retired, his co-workers threw a party with balloons, a cake, and gifts. His wife was there, kids, grandkids too. Two weeks later, Earl was back working part-time. A month after the party, Mr. Cheney was reinstated as a full time employee. No one would admit it, but a lot of people were a little ticked off, maybe because of the party and the gifts.

The point I'm getting at is that Earl, much like Brett Favre, was drowning in the ennui of retirement. The easy chair wasn't so easy anymore and those lazy summer afternoons had become some bizarre, unlikely brand of torture. Is it really over? Now what? Fishing? Golf? The former grunge outfit, Nirvana, has a track called "All Apologies," this song takes off with the line: "What else should I be." The lyrics, "married, buried"

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