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In Sports Commentary

By Dave Begel Special to OnMilwaukee.com E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Dave Begel

Published Aug. 25, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.

Tags: brett favre, vikings, packers, shakespeare, merchant of venice

Brett Favre is back and I have been both saddened and mystified by the avalanche of expert commentary about what a bad move this was for the Minnesota Vikings and their new quarterback.

The ridicule and hatred are astounding to me and the expert writers, radio hosts, television guys and callers to shows have spent countless hours talking about why Brett shouldn't have done this. About why he's a drama queen. They've talked about his alleged ego and his alleged desire to get out of training camps and his alleged need for special treatment.

This is my chance for what I hope will be the end of the "why would he do this?" stuff.

I heard former Packers safety Eugene Robinson on the radio last week. Robinson has always been an astute and articulate athlete who played his position with thought and passion. And what he said sparked a memory in me that may well be the truth as to why Favre wants to keep playing.

"Nobody can ever know what its like," Robinson said, "unless you've done it. There is nothing in the world like it. Nothing. And when it comes to an end, that's it. You will never feel those things again. I'm happy Brett can still do it. I wish I could. When it's gone, it's like a death in your family. Like a death."

I've thought a lot about what Robinson said, and in thinking about it, I find that I know exactly what he's talking about. And I want to share it.

I have acted in many plays in my life, both amateur and professional. And I often find myself thinking of one particular production. It was "The Merchant of Venice," staged by Milwaukee Shakespeare several years ago. It still ranks as one of the most spectacular productions ever seen in Milwaukee.

The production was directed by David Chambers, a big-time director of the Yale School of Drama.

Being in that play was a unique experience. The actors and designers and support staff all merged into one family. We spent hour upon hour just hanging out. Brett had his locker room, and our locker room was a room just off the rehearsal hall. We gossiped. We talked about our families. We were sympathetic to difficulties and we were full of joy for success. Nobody was jealous.

And it was intimate. It's hard to have pretense and phoniness when you are changing clothes while someone else is lounging on a tattered couch nearby. Brett is famous for being a practical joker. We had laughs, too, and some tears. I know things about some of those actors I don't even know about some family members.

Every night, we went home and there was nothing I wanted more than for tomorrow to come so I could be back in rehearsal, back in that room. There was such a common purpose. Every practice for Brett was pointed toward the game. We all were getting ready for opening night.

I love my wife and my family and some of my friends. But, I've never loved anyone the way I loved the people in that play. The process of getting to the performance was not an adrenaline rush. But, it was about the velocity of the blood. It roared with passion.

And then, it came to an end. We all knew when it was coming, but that didn't make the sadness any less sorrowful. Many of us gathered in a bar after the final performance and that gathering had all the elements of a great Irish wake. We told funny stories. We gently ribbed each other. We talked about our hopes for our future. But the body lay in the coffin.

To this day, I miss that time. I would give almost anything to capture that feeling again.

And, I'd bet my last dollar that's how Brett Favre feels and what keeps driving him. Just as I never expect anyone to understand everything about "The Merchant of Venice," I don't expect anyone to truly understand what drives Brett Favre.

I don't think I'm the only one who has ever gone through this. I hear people who play in bands say the same thing. And there's a saying in the Armed Forces: "If it weren't for women and children, men would never leave combat." It's that special feeling, unique and one that can't be replicated. Doing something because you love it. When you can't do it anymore, it is like a death.

Maybe this will help soften the criticism a little bit. After all, we don't have that many heroes anymore. Brett Favre is one and we should do all we can to keep him in that special place in our hearts that we reserve for heroes.

16 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by paysonj on Aug. 27, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (report)

I can understand how Favre can't let football go, I've seen guys go throught that. But he makes it look like he could care less who he plays with or for, which is different from the play analogy. This is why so many people are upset. The reason it looks that way though is due to the typical kneejerk reaction an adolescent, and some adults I know, make when their favorite thing is taken away or when they are told no. Which doesn't make Favre look like the brightest crayon in the box to be honest if his emotional status hasn't moved past puberty. I'm sure he would LOVE to still be playing for Green Bay, but since they don't want him he's proving he can go anywhere he wants (13 year old response) and it is shooting him in the foot as he isn't looking very good doing it.They don't really think about the consequences and I really don't think Brett can physically take this anymore without getting even more hurt. He made his bed, let him lie in it and we should focus on how far Rogers is going to take the Packers.

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Posted by HmongkeyHmongsta on Aug. 26, 2009 at 4:34 p.m. (report)

I'd rather be Michael Vicks dog than a Favre Fan, but either one you fight for will just abuse you neglect you and abandon you.

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Posted by Blaine on Aug. 26, 2009 at 10:10 a.m. (report)

Good point regarding the analogy. I realize he writes these articles and then steps back to watch the conflagration but Id like to insist Mr. Begel responsibly comment on how hed feel if the lead actor in one of his plays behaved the way Favre does. Would the cast and audiences morale be affected? And unlike the QB in question, didnt he mention all the actors shared the same dressing room?

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Posted by jhill0129 on Aug. 26, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (report)

People are overlooking the fact that Brett had this planned all along. Since he couldn't get a full release from the Packers, he goes to an AFC team for one season knowing full well that he will "retire" and then be released from the Jets. (He gets his head coach (Mangini) fired in the process, I might add). Now he is free as a bird to play the game that he loves so much. Does he go to, say, a west coast team or a team down south? No. He signs with the division rivals of the team he played 16 seasons for and bypasses any kind of hard work including training camp. And for what? The love of the game? No. To "get back" at a general manager who was sick of his shenanigans and who finally put a stop to him holding the team hostage. I'm glad Favre is back with the Viqueens so we can crush him twice this year and make him wish he stayed retired for the second time. And regarding the theme of Begel's article - I've been in plays, musicals and bands throughout my life. Yes, each play has a lead actor or a band has a frontman/woman. But, one person isn't more important than the ensemble, no matter how talented they are or were. Once you have someone displaying that they are more important than the group, that's when resentment and break-ups occur. Hey, I just thought of a great idea. Maybe Dave Begal can produce a Brett Favre one-man show?

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Posted by drichard on Aug. 26, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (report)

I don't think you understand public sentiment well at all. Very few people have a hard time understanding why BF would want to come back. That's not it. You've missed the whole point. The negative feelings from the fans are for other reasons. First of all, he's lied about the revenge factor - he's been talking to the Vikings since he announced his retirement the first time. Secondly, it's a division rival. Third, he's announced his retirement three times, than backed out of it. If someone wants to play, great! But he's lied and been disingenuous throughout the whole process of coming back again and again. As for former players - they recognize that BF stuck it up on the field at the end of last year. This year, he comes in having skipped offseason workouts, OTA's, and training camp. Most feel like he's got very little left. Maybe he'll play well, but the odds are against it, and former NFL players recognize that fact. To use your theatre analogy - think of a physically demanding play that you wonderfully for years. Then, you came the time when you were clearly not up to the role physically. You did well for a while, but eventually embarrassed yourself, dragging the whole play down with you. Then, the next year you want to perform again in a new version of the same play, but without rehearsing your lines or further preparing for the role, thinking you could just get on stage and perform well. In this situation, friends would recommend you do things differently, and fans would not be forgiving.

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