THE SPORTS LISPERER #4

Not to give my age up too readily, I remember the retirements of Roger Staubach and Terry Bradshaw. Now I have very little memory of Roger playing but one of my first memories of the Super Bowl is Terry Bradshaw’s long TD strike to John Stallworth for the touchdown that broke the Los Angeles Rams’ back. I barely remember the hurrahs and huzzahs for their retirements, but I remember the hole their departure left behind. People barely remember Danny White and Cliff Stoudt.

Shortly thereafter, it was all about Montana and Elway and Marino and the mark they left on an evolving game. It’s fun to see players come into the league at roughly the same time and pass through their careers as antagonists and rivals. It’s beguiling to watch the successes and disappointments as they strive to outdo one another. And when they retire, they’re always compared to each other. Marino will always have the stain of never achieving what Montana constantly achieved and what Elway eventually did. Even so, Marino, like Montana and Elway, is etched in football’s lore.

I think we all thought Tom Brady and Peyton Manning would live parallel careers. Not in Super Bowl wins, of course, but in succession of retirement. How many times did we see Brady and Manning compete head-to-head and how many times did those games set the standard for a season. Alas, Peyton retired earlier than Tom, so now we get to watch Tom retire alongside Aaron Rodgers.

True, both great quarterbacks but… Tom is the GOAT. I was lucky enough to see Tom, live, at perhaps his greatest achievement. I witnessed Tom and the Patriots come back and shock the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. What a game and what an accomplishment. Of course, he’s won two more since; the Tampa one still feels weird (he’s been there 3 years, wow) but Tommy… I think it‘s time to step aside.

Yes, I am a Cowboys fan, and no one needs to tell me that it’s highly probable Tom and the Bucs will defeat the Cowboys next Monday night. After all, he’s never lost to Dallas. But I’d like to see him leave with all the dignity and grace he’s shown and displayed (throwing IPads and leaving pregnant actresses aside). I’m grateful to have seen the greatness of Brady, just as I am having seen Michael, Gretzky, Tiger and all of the other iconic athletes. I am in awe that in an era where Manning and Drew Brees were so amazing, Tommy out shined them both. Please, don’t go to the Raiders and do that to your legacy.

And, of course, there’s Aaron. For more than half a decade, I could absolutely say he was my favorite non-Cowboy player. He was great. Smooth, agile and just… well, he was cool. Until he wasn’t. I know it’s poor form to hold much in terms of a player’s stature and I’ve never looked up to players as role models or idols (maybe Troy Aikman. I know we’d be best friends), but rarely have I been more disappointed in a player I admired than I have been with Rodgers. Listen, I know people have their own ideas about COVID and vaccines (and this isn’t the platform for that discussion), that’s their opinion. I have many close friends who disagree with me on both issues. However, we don’t lie to each about it; we state our thoughts and move forward. Rodgers’ disingenuousness was poor form and from that moment on, he ceased to be cool and with every one of his dumb comments in everything from media to politics to being a mentor to his young teammates to him wanting to be a better ‘lover’ after taking Ayahuasca (just say you wanted to do drugs, man, it’s cool) he’s just seemed like a selfish jackass. It saddens me. I am grateful I won’t have to see him beat the Cowboys in the playoffs, Tom has that covered.

So, I tip my cap to two first ballot Hall of Famers. Tom for who he has been and remained and to Aaron for who he was. But maybe they won’t retire this year. Perhaps we will see the Niners play Tennessee next year in the Super Bowl and root these men on one more time. I’m still thinking it’ll be Mahomes or Burrow versus Hurts or Dak. Alright, not Dak.