Brett Favre—riding off into the sunset

I just finished watching Brett Favre's Retirement Press Conference at Packers.com. Before watching it I was quite depressed and hadn't made peace with the fact that Brett announced his retirement, but after watching I was able to find some level of closure.

Brett mentioned a few times how he doesn't like speaking in front of people and isn't a very vocal person. In spite of this, he was very well-spoken and has the rare ability to combine eloquence with his casual and down-to-earth attitude. There are so many things he said in the press conference that I'd love to quote, so many stories about the tragedies Brett's faced and the strength he's shown in persevering despite them I'd love to share. But I will share just one thing I respect so much about him and that's his character. I am in complete admiration of his honesty, humility and ability to accept and handle the circumstances of life. In so many ways and to so many people, he has been a real life hero—someone who's made the world around him a better place. So while I'm sad that I'll never have the chance to watch him play live, won't be able to have him on my Madden '09 team, and that he won't be leading the Packers to a Superbowl win next year, he seems to have thought this through more thoroughly than any of us possibly could. And he's decided that this is the right path for him—so how can anyone argue?

The video is long (66:46), but for a Packers fan, every moment was golden. And as the video drew to a close I found myself feeling the same feelings of sadness, and for the same reason. Knowing that the opportunity to watch the energy and genuineness of Brett Favre was coming to an end.