Narcissism Incarnate

Tonight, the man, the myth, the legend, Brett Favre is playing against his old team, the Green Bay Packers.

Now I'm going to just assume that you all know the story of Mr. Favre -- at least the most recent story of him, anyway -- so I won't get into all that. I just wanted to talk, for a moment, about what it is that makes a man do what Favre did to three professional football teams for three consecutive summers. I'd like, for a bit, to talk about what it is inside of a very select few people who are so wrapped up in themselves that they don't appear to consider how it affects those around them.

It is the case of the supreme narcissist.

It is the case of a man, who has enjoyed immense success in his younger days and therefore believes in his mind that he can do anything, no matter how old.

It's the case that allows Brett Favre to waffle back and forth during the past three summers while the teams for which he's played are forced to sit back and wait for his decision. First, it happened with the Packers...and they decided it was time for him to go because he'd waffled a little the two previous years and they were sick of it.

So, instead of retiring with dignity as a Packers legend, he was traded to the New York Jets, where he splashed onto the scene with plenty of big wins. Eventually, though, his age caught up with him and he tore his bicep. He tried to play through it and ruined the Jets' playoff chances, as they lost the final four games of the season.

This year, he decided to play for the Vikings...after deciding he would stay retired...after deciding he might want to keep playing...after deciding he would stay retired. I have no problem with him wanting to play or thinking he's still got it. My problem with the absolute arrogance of a man who thinks he can dangle multi-million dollar companies based upon his whims. No player is bigger than the sport, but time and time (and time) again, Favre has proven that he'll be damned if he isn't going to try.

People lost their jobs because of him and his waffling ways. He remains indifferent. Earlier this year in an interview for one of the Sunday pre-game shows, he said, "Well, it's my life, so I don't really care what people's opinion is of it."

Well, Brett, when someone gets cut because you decided at the last possible moment that you wanted to play this season despite the fact that you didn't train at all during the offseason, then maybe you should care.

Because, whether he likes it or not, his actions affect others and until realizes that, he'll continue to be categorized as narcissism incarnate.