Favre following in the footsteps of Jordan?

Every summer, sports fans are inevitably faced with two things: the boredom that comes with the dog days of baseball and the alarmingly constant updates on whether Brett Favre isreturning to the NFL. Drama has seemingly followed the future Hall of Famer each summer since he “retired” from the Green Bay Packers and the overwhelming feeling among fans is why? Why would a player with a legacy such as Favre’s risk the ire of loyal fans and risk his reputation by wanting to play another season? The reason is simple yet unclear to many casual sports fans who have never been in the same position as a professional athlete.

Professional athletes are simply wired in a different way than average people and when they no longer have the stress and pressure of performing, they need an outlet to release their energy. For many athletes such as Michael Jordan and Floyd Mayweather, that outlet is only found by returning to their sport. After devoting most of their lives to overcoming the fear and pressure of being a professional athlete, it is often difficult to adapt to their new lifestyle outside the lines.

In order to deal with the constant pressure of performing, athletes must learn to thrive under constant scrutiny from fans, media and the owners who are willing to give them millions of dollars. Working professionals may feel pressure but underperforming on one pitch in the workplace doesn’t often come with the threat of losing one’s job. No matter how much pressure people face from their bosses and their families, it pales in comparison to having to perform under pressure in order to survive in their profession, as athletes constantly have to do.

Athletes who remain retired have often found a way to channel their energy in order to fulfill the missing element of their lives that was filled by competition. Many athletes often go into broadcasting or become entrepreneurs to feel the pressure of performing under the gun, albeit at a much smaller level. Magic Johnson has used his post-athletic career to become an extremely successful businessman, broadcaster and executive, handling his responsibilities like he handled the showtime Lakers.

As the NFL season begins anew with Brett Favre taking the field wearing purple and gold, it is important to understand that while it may be annoying to fans, some athletes find it extremely difficult to cope with the transition out of competition. For Brett Favre, he can’t seem to turn the switch off quite yet. As for his legacy, it remains to be seen how these years are viewed by future generations. Does anyone remember that Michael Jordan was a Wizard?