The NBA’s Brett Favre won’t get the “Favre Treatment”
The King of PhillyWho is the NBA equivalent to Brett Favre? I’m gonna go with Allen Iverson. Consider…
A.I. and Favre have the eternal respect of anyone who’s ever played with them, played against them, covered them closely in the media, or simply watched them on TV more than once.
Favre and A.I. are warriors who play with their emotions on their sleeve and have battled through injuries countless times, still performing at an all-world level.
A.I. and Favre have come to define tradition-rich franchises in sports-crazy cities, enduring the worst and enjoying the best of times with those teams.
Favre and A.I. are, as good as they are, probably given more credit than they deserve as winners. (That’s not a knock at all, but think of how highly people speak of A.I. and Favre’s competitiveness, then count how many championships they have.)
A.I. and Favre are considered among the greatest of all-time at their respective positions in their respective sports, yet neither of them makes a great case for being called THE best of all-time.
Favre and A.I. never seem to age.
A.I. and Favre are undeniably human, which is part of their appeal to some of their most loyal fans. Each man has his flaws, and their troubles have been broadcast to the public, and each man has overcome them to succeed.
Now given all of that, if Allen Iverson had announced his retirement this summer, then changed his mind and set off a messy situation where the Nuggets — actually, let’s make it the Sixers — didn’t really want him back but couldn’t stand the bad PR of just saying they didn’t want him back, would it be getting half as much coverage as the Favre story? A third of the coverage? A fifth?
Would we be subject to hours of airtime devoted to A.I. every day, even on days when nothing substantial happens? Would we get field reporters breathlessly spitting “breaking news” that A.I. may or may not have sent someone a text message? Would we have a constant “A.I. Watch” that starts to resemble the coverage of a high-speed chase? Would we see every ex-NBA player who’s ever thought of working as a TV analyst brought out to opine on the A.I. story? And for those few weeks in between the time A.I. announced his retirement and when he changed his mind, would we get tons of hopeful “He’s not REALLY retired” rhetoric?
Of course not. So the question is: Why? What’s so different between Brett Favre and Allen Iverson that would create such a contrast in the way the media covers them?
July 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am
doc says:
Dumb Question.Yall just want a debate.I understand, its a slow day.But AI aint Farve because AI dont got 1 ring.At least Farve got 1.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Jim says:
I’ll take the bait, AB, though I agree with Doc. Yes, Favre gets his attention in part because he’s white. But also because it’s the NFL, it’s the Packers, and he’s a QB. He also has the most MVPs and a ring. Each one of those things makes him get more attention. Unfortunately he combines everything the media loves so we get it constantly.
He’s the most popular player of his era…I would say it’s much more like Kobe doing it, and that would get a hell of a lot of attention. Jut not white/NFL levels of having 5 reporters covering it for FOX’s local.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am
DaPro says:
I feel what you’re trying to say Austin but Favre is a media darling and AI is a hood icon.
I love how both men play through whatever for the sake of winning
Both men have been critized for their style of play-when their game is on it’s a thing of beauty but when their game is off they get called selfish but that’s where the comparisons stop
Like Jim said Kobe would be a better comparison
July 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am
LakeShow84 says:
Thanks Doc.. Even though AI is an iron man can we really call him a grade A winner?? i consider Brett a winner because he won the big game (at least once) and has helped hold his team in contention throughout his career.. AI ehhh not so much beyond the first round exits..
And the difference?? AI is a brotha from Philly side and Favre is a Caucasian from Wisconsin.. Do the math..
July 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Jonny Drama says:
Jim covered the big point; Favre is a leader (QB) in football, and football has a huge fanbase compared to basketball. Favre is also seen as one of the best ever in football, though I don’t agree that he really is one of the best QBs of all time, he has been playing for so long that he has basically all of the passing records.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Big Freeze says:
The NBA equivalent to Brett Favre would have to be an elite superstar player who has spent almost their entire career with one team to the point where they have become synonymous with the city they play in. I have to go with Kobe Bryant as the NBA version of Brett Favre. They both have played their entire careers with one team after being traded early in their career. They both have won at least one championship. They both have had their share of off-field/off-court drama. They both were the best in the league in their prime. They both are loved by their respective cities. I hate them both, however.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Justice says:
im tired of this favre shytt, and yeah if it was kobe i could see it being this crazy
July 28th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Justice says:
the bball version might actually be lebron if he had some more years under his belt, but it’s the same story line as favre almost
July 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Big Freeze says:
If Kobe Bryant pulled the same shit that Brett is doing right now, it would garner just as much media coverage. A similar thing happened last year when Kobe demanded a trade. The shit was a media frenzy just like Brett Favre is today. That’s why Kobe is the equivalent to Brett Favre. Case closed.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Data says:
I’d like to comment but Big Freeze just closed the case… so next article Dime so i can chime in.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Ross says:
Did Favre ever miss a practice?
July 28th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Big Freeze says:
lol at Data post 10. My bad bro, the case has just been reopened for comments and opinions.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Celts Fan says:
The difference is pretty clear, as much as we all love ball, it doesn’t touch football nationally as our favorite sport in this country. Then, factor in a guy that’s been incredibly human (AI’s had his problems, but we’ve seen Brett go through his pain killer addiction, his father’s death, his wife’s cancer, etc. - all things that anyone can relate to) at THE PREMIER POSITION IN ALL OF SPORTS, and that he’s never seemed to lose his love of the game. To quote the ESPY’s, “He plays like we all would if we were lucky enough to get to.” The same could definitely be said for AI too, but Favre did it under the biggest spotlight in all of sports (a starting QB.)
Also, while it’s a losing case IMO (I’d put him behind Montana, Elway, and Brady,) Favre DOES have a claim as the greatest ever. 3 MVPs, every worthwhile passing record, 1 ring, 2 SuperBowl appearances are enough to at least get you in the discussion (remember, unlike in basketball, 1 guy CAN’T do it all in football. You can miss the Playoffs w/ the GOAT in football, doing so in basketball proves you’re not the GOAT.)
having said all of that, I’m sick of this damn story. Wake me up in a month and tell me where/if he’s playing.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:55 am
YOUNGFED says:
I’d say Kobe is the Farve of the NBA.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Celts Fan says:
*Let’s also not forget that the Pack was 1 quarter away from the SuperBowl last year, so he’s coming off a pretty successful season.
AI wouldn’t get this, but if Kobe, Shaq (if he’d had a good season,) or Duncan (if the public found him at all interesting) or any other LEGENDS (AI’s a HOF’er, those 3 are in the top 15 - Shaq and Timmy top 10 - of all time) did, it’d get the same coverage, especially if it was during this DEAD time of the summer when there’s nothing but baseball (ugh)
July 28th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Big Freeze says:
Nothing is more annoying than the media constantly suckin Brett Farve’s dick. He is one of the best QB’s ever, ok, we get that. But the media treats him like the second coming of Christ every year. Seriously, how many years in a row is this guy gonna flip-flop on his retirement? No wonder the Packers got sick and tired of this old bastard’s bullshit and told him to stay home. What is so great about Favre anyways? Oh wow, he has is own farm and he drives a tractor. Fuck that. He is a selfish player who craves media attention. He is a tough old son of a bitch, but he’s also addicted to pain medicine. What a great role model. “Hey kids, wanna be like Brett Farve? All you have to do is chug 20 Vicodins and play on a broken knee!”
I wish Brett Favre would just quit already so Sportscenter can find another useless story to report on. He can go join AARP or play bingo or something, but just the fuck off my TV!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:07 am
DaPro says:
@ Big Freeze
Damn family I damn near fell out the chair reading your post
LMAO
July 28th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Kobeef says:
Got to agree - Farvre = Kobe in the NBA and yeah - last summer Kobe was in the news every day.
The only difference here is that Favre is washed up so to be honest I couldn’t care less what he does. To me this is the Kurt Warner fiasco all over again.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:19 am
doc says:
I wouldnt say Brett washed up,they did go 13-3 last year.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:52 am
dukesman2000 says:
A.I wouldn’t get the same treatment. As a matter of fact, no black athlete would get the same treatment Bret has gotten from the media, pundits, Uncle Tom Negroes or the Packers Organization. When you hear of players like a Chad Johnson sitting out for new contracts or requesting trades, they are deemed as “trouble makers” or “distractions.” But Bret does it and everybody acts like he has a right to. Oh yes he does, if you’re white you’re right. Bottom line.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
karizmatic says:
Kobe is a better comparison.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
J-Dot says:
I don’t think the NBA can have a Brett Favre because there aren’t a plethora of dominant white American players in the NBA. Brett Favre is especially appreciated because he plays well among other white players that also play well (Brady, Manning, Grossman go Bears wooooo!). Typically, black athletes’ sports accomplishments are downplayed because of the perception that physical gifts contribute heavily to their success. White players get more credit for their sports accomplishments because it is believed they have to be smarter, tougher, grittier, more competitive, etc in order to get achieve greatness, not just more athletic. One would be hard-pressed to find an equivalent player in the sport that is in 3rd place behind football and baseball. Not to mention a sport that is dominated by black players…
July 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
L3gend says:
Anyone who’s ever been pulled over for being in a “certain type” of neighborhood at any time knows why Favre’s retirement is getting more coverage than AI’s would ever get…
July 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Celts Fan says:
To be fair, the reason this gets so much coverage is that he’s having a harder time making up his mind than a chick looking for a prom dress. If he’d just retired, filed the paperwork, and gone away, we’d've had to deal w/ it for a week (the same treatment most legends get when they call it a career) then never hear about it. It’s not about race, it’s about an attention whore that can’t figure out what he wants to do.
and J-Dot, got 2 words for you that make this look like a small story. Michael Jordan. When he retired (2nd time w/ the Bulls) we had crap shoved down our throats all off-season. The difference was, that time it was for months leading up to it and then it finally happened and we still had to deal w/ it. With Brett, he unexpectedly retired then flip-flopped so much it made W. proud and we’re still stuck dealing w/ it.)
btw, Doc can attest to this too, TO got this much coverage too back when he was doing his primadonna driveway pushups.
It’s not a race thing, it’s not even a football thing, it’s a Slow Sports Time + Famous Person + On-going “controversy” thing. It happens all the time, but when the person involved is a legend, we have to deal w/ this crap, and when it happens when there’s literally NOTHING but baseball going on in sports, they shove it down our throats to fill air time.
But hey, this still beats the hell out of “Who’s Now”
July 28th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Austin Burton says:
I don’t think Kobe would be the NBA’s Favre because Kobe is seen as aloof and distant. Favre is seen as the everyman; you saw the Wrangler Jeans commercial where we’re supposed to be believe he just goes out and plays pickup football with his boys from the van down by the river. If you tried to make it look like Kobe just goes and plays ball with “regular” cats, NOBODY would buy it. But it wouldn’t be so crazy that A.I. could be found ballin’ at some random court in the offseason.
Here’s another question: When Emmitt Smith retired, why was there no “SportsCenter Special” dedicated to the event? Emmitt has as much claim to “best-ever” at his position as Favre (NFL rushing record) and he has more Super Bowl rings and some MVP’s of his own.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Celts Fan says:
*and to those of you claiming a race thing, remember the big deal that went up when Barry Sanders retired? There was all the speculation about Detroit doesn’t want him, etc. just like there was w/ Brett when it first happened. The difference was that Barry really wanted to retire, so he walked away and that was the end of it. Had he come out and said, “I want to play,” it’d be the same thing we see here…
July 28th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Celts Fan says:
@AB, Emmitt didn’t get crap because he was a chump that lucked into a great situation. He couldn’t touch Barry Sanders so he tried to make a legacy prancing around in green tights like the b*tch he always was. Switch those 2 and Barry may’ve rushed for 2500 yards in a season behind that line and w/ those weapons around him. Also, when talking RBs, there’s no claim at best. There’s a top 2 (Jim Brown and Sweetness) then there’s everyone else (with Barry Sanders heading up the rest IMO.)
Also, when Emmitt left, he left with his tank on E. Brett made the pro bowl last year and was close to the SuperBowl. Barry Sanders is the right comparison, and like I said above, had he been so indecisive and annoying as Favre, he’d've gotten that same coverage.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Celts Fan says:
*Tiki Barber did get this type of coverage throughout all of last season too, and anyone that thinks he’ll even sniff the Hall, much less the level that Brett (and Barry) sit all time needs to put down the J
July 28th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Austin Burton says:
No way the Tiki or Barry coverage was as thorough as Favre. Not an episode of Sportscenter goes by without a “Favre update.” The Tiki/Barry retirements only were covered when something happened, and by “something” I don’t mean, “Barry Sanders woke up this morning and was seen cracking his knuckles. Does this mean he’s got the itch to play again?” Barry Sanders became a story every year around football season, but after training camp got going and he wasn’t there, it died. Every day after Favre retired, you had somebody going on TV talking about “I don’t think he’s really retired.” They’d work it into hockey highlights somehow.
What I will say is a difference is that the sports media landscape has changed. You have so many 24-hour networks that you need to fill more airtime, and you have to create debate.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
@Austin
Emmett Smith is a piece of shit bum who ran behind the best line in NFL history. He’s also a sorry sack of shit as a person. Barry Sanders was 5 times the running back Emmett was.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Post 30, couldn’t agree more, though you forgot the obligatory shot for dancing around in tights on national TV like Kristi Yamaguchi.
@AB, you’re right. Half the media has a man-crush on Favre. All I can say is that MJ woulda got the same love had he pulled the same thing (only he had the class to be decisive like most pros do.) BUT, in thinking bout this, one name popped into my mind that didn’t get the grand send-off I always expected. A guy who’s a legend and INDISPUTABLY better than Favre and a guy you got to see putter to the end of the line on your team: Jerry Rice. The man may be the GOAT (to me, he is, but if not, he’s top 3 AT WORST w/ Jim Brown and Montana) and hardly received the tribute he deserved. Sure, he sulked into retirement after being half begged by Mike Shanahan to hang ‘em up and not make him be the guy that made Jerry Rice inactive for half the season - not quite the “Legend who’s (mostly) still got it still trying to hang on” like Favre is, so that part’s different, but he got a quick mention on SC, a highlight package and it seemed like that was it. Even if Favre hangs ‘em up after throwing 38 picks w/ the Houston Texans, they’ll still give him more than that. I think this story is more than just race (slow news cycle, no other sports, he’s getting jerked around, etc,) there is an aspect of it that shows through when I think more about it.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
!?!?!?!?!??!?!! says:
Go away Brett Favre! Annoying and selfish player.
How can you go to another team after being only on 1 team your whole career?
Lame!
AI would not pull a selfish, media grabbing stunt like this.
Brett just go away already!!!! No one cares about you anymore. Last year was annoying. I think retirement papers should be final for all sports. You sign it YOU ARE DONE! Never has it been good and all it does is tarnish a legacy.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
!?!?!?!?!??!?!! says:
Hey LakeShow84:
AI was in NBA finals vs. the Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With a bum team around him too. Not his fault that Philly and now Denver can’t get a decent team put together around him. Hope he opts out and picks a team that WANTS TO WIN!
July 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
tealish says:
Y’all had to throw Kobe into the discussion, didn’t you? It’s different. Although AI is still tearing it up, he’s past his prime. As is Favre. Kobe is not.
And while we’re here, let’s not overrate the whole rings discussion when we define a winner. Rings have as much to do with circumstance as it does with the winning-quality of a great player. How many rings does Kobe wear if he was drafted by Philly or Toronto? How many does Shaq get to boast about if he never played alongside a dominant 2-guard? This argument has been made countless times, but few give it any credence.
Rings do mean something. They don’t, however, necessarily distinguish a *winner*.
AI and Favre - great comparison. Both were at the top for so long, with limited team success mostly due to limited supporting players. Both will retire as all-time greats.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
C Burner says:
It’ll be a shame if AI goes down as one of the great players to never get a ring..Stockton & Malone, Barkley, Reggie, Dominique and the like..Allen Iverson is someone you can honestly say changed the game, but if he gets a ring I see him doin’ it like Gary Payton or Michael Finley did, and the end of the line.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Dennis Castro says:
Good to see AI back in the jersey he belongs in.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Celts Fan — The most memorable part of Jerry Rice’s Seahawks run was when he had the gall to ask Steve Largent to wear #80. That was bullshit, and while I love Rice as a player and think he’s a decent guy, I’ll never forget that crap he pulled. And of course Largent had to say yes. He’s a congressman and a famously nice guy; he can’t risk looking like a petty, selfish athlete by telling Rice to go f*** himself (like Cornbread Maxwell did when asked if Sebastian Telfair could wear his #31). So Rice got to wear Largent’s #80 and didn’t even do that much with it.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Celts Fan says:
@AB, exactly my point, Emmitt was much closer to that (remember the last year in Arizona? neither do most Cardinals fans… if there are any.) when he retired, but they both deserved more than they got when they did, Rice especially (btw, you know you’re over the hill when your cornrows start further back than most guys’ bald spots.) I guess I’m agreeing w/ you in the most confusing way possible…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Junior says:
this is not that complicated and everyone knows it.
Ones white ones black. If TO or Mcnabb did the same thing FAvre did they would be made out to be the bad guy
July 28th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
daQueSt?oN says:
first of all like doc said favre has won a ring and AI hasnt, and to me he is the best all time. Consider this: if AI was 6′6 he would be killing everyone. and no AI wouldnt get this much coverage as brett favre, although i would not mind AI getting this much coverage. there are 2 reasons why, first AI is black with corn rows and tattoos, represents hip hop. Brett is white, clean cut no tattoos represents country. The other reason is the sport, football is bigger than basketball
July 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Desrat says:
Favre is white with no tats. My father-in-law likes Farve. Other than that, not much.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Jay26th says:
Who says Favre is past his prime? Last season was one of his best statistical careers… Look it up
Also, it is hard to say Kobe and AI are good comparisons. The both of them got and still receive negative media for some of their past actions. Brett’s image is generally viewed as cleaner. That being said, I am sure the lakers would give Kobe the opportunity to lace em back up and play ball a 2nd time. They already did it for Magic…
I can’t see the Packer’s GM staying around long after this. He is in a lose-lose situation and things look worse to the public with every day that passes.
And somebody needs to give Aaron Rodgers a hug. Poor bastard…
July 28th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Jay26th says:
Oh and another thing. People are acting as if Favre retired 1 or 2 seasons ago. If he steps on the field today he will still be great. He was literally 1 bad play away from the Superbowl last season…
Packer’s management shouldn’t have rushed him to an answer at the end of the season… They shot themselves in the foot by rushing him and don’t want to look bad by backing out on their commitment to Rodgers.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
What is this!? says:
I speak for a lot of people when say to some of you…GET OFF OF KOBES NUTS! Kobe is a great basketball player, the best player in the league right now, but quit acting as if that dude is the only great player in the league please..and quit bringing that dude up in every story. I agree with Austin that Kobe wouldn’t be no better of a comparison then Iverson. So give it a rest already..if Kobe was to retire and try to come back (which something tells me he probably would pull something like that towards the end of his career just for attention) some people would be glad to see the n*gga leave, the same way some would be glad to see Iverson leave. Both players have a love/hate relationship with the public. But it is no secret that Iversons image is that of a true warrior (even more so then Kobe) that gives his all no matter what…I don’t care about who has more rings then who because the fact of the matter is players get placed in positions on teams that they can’t help. It is what it is. If a dude like Iverson had one ring, then people would be questioning him why doesn’t he two or more. SMH.
When Iverson was getting traded from the 76ers it was on Sportscenter and every news outlet everyday, almost to the point where I was sick of seeing it. So I can’t really speak on the coverage of players, the news goes with whats hot at the moment. I honastly don’t think ANY NBA player would get the amount of coverage Farve has gotten when they retire. But they will get a decent amount of coverage.
@ C Burner
I doubt Iverson will go the route of Payton or Karl Malone..I think he would rather retire without a ring rather then chase one.