Favre saga has familiar, scary ring to it
The Brett Favre mess remains fluid.
You could read anything into Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy's news conference being canceled Monday night.
Favre might have been designated the Packers' starter this season or Aaron Rodgers' backup. He could have been traded or released. He could have been named John McCain's or Barack Obama's running mate.
But two words keep coming to mind and should frighten the Bears, the rest of the NFC North and the entire NFC.
The first is Kobe and the second is Bryant.
The spat between the Packers and Favre is similar to the spat Bryant had with the Lakers.
You do remember last NBA off-season, when it seemed impossible for Kobe to remain in Los Angeles. Well, it's remarkable how in sports the irreparable can be repaired and the uncomfortable can be comforted.
Bryant had it with the Lakers almost as much as Favre had it with the Packers.
No NBA team would be better without Bryant, but the feeling was he and the Lakers couldn't coexist.
You know, just as the Packers wouldn't be better without Favre, but the feeling was he and they couldn't coexist.
Things became so strained between Bryant and the Lakers that rumors spread he would be traded to the Bulls. They became so strained between Favre and the Packers that rumors spread he could be traded to the Bears.
But too many contractual and emotional complications made Bryant essentially untradable even if the Lakers were serious about dispatching him.
Favre still might be traded, perhaps to Minnesota, but teams are so set at quarterback at this point that it would be difficult to incorporate his unique style.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell officially reinstated Favre on Monday and Favre reported to Packers' training camp . . . just as Bryant reported to Lakers' training camp last year.
Well, we all know what happened in L.A.: The Bryant-Lakers mess was blessed by the basketball gods. He stayed, they became better than anyone could have imagined, and the West was won.
So here we are now in the NFL with Favre's abbreviated retirement over and the Packers saying he will compete for their starting quarterback job.
Doesn't that smack a little of Bill Gates having to interview for a job at Microsoft? Or Johnny Depp having to audition for the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie?
Anyway, Favre should win the quarterback job from Rodgers and the Packers should contend for a Super Bowl.
Nothing is a given, but most likely Favre will quarterback the Pack on opening night in Green Bay and the Packers will be the better for it, as the Lakers were with Kobe.
Last season Favre led the Packers to within a minute, a play, a victory of the Super Bowl before throwing an interception that ended their season.
Now, as frayed as the Favre-Packers relationship is, nothing says he and they can't be as united by next February as Bryant and the Lakers were by last June.
Stranger things have happened because athletes aren't like most people and sports aren't like most industries. Winning is their healing pill.
So just remember those two scary little words when assessing the current Packers-Favre mess.
Kobe and Bryant.
mimrem@dailyherald.com