Not So Different

It's no stretch to say that parallels could be drawn between Favre and Jeter

For those of you who don't know, former Packers and Jets quarterback Brett Favre has recently expressed his interest in joining the Minnesota Vikings.

If you didn't know.

Of course, it would pretty hard for you not to know, given the way that the media (particularly ESPN) has built up every recent comment by Vikings coach Brad Childress. It looks like we might be in for another crazy summer, folks. Ever since Brett Favre first announced his retirement, it's been chaotic. Recently, while brainstorming on the matter, I ended up asking myself, Is this what it'll be like when Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter "retires"?

I know that may sound a bit random, but given Jeter's track record, I wouldn't be surprised. Many people may not know this, but Brett Favre and Derek Jeter are two very similar athlete. To start, both are very good, wholesome characters both on and off the field. Favre is a great guy who has always been loved for his good character and sportsmanship. So is Jeter. Even in a juiced-up era for baseball, most fans highly doubt that Jeter was guilty of performance-enhancing drugs.

But there are two other similarities between these two that likely will have a larger impact. The first is their constant love of the games that they play. It doesn't take a sports expert to tell you that Brett Favre and Derek Jeter both have a lot of fun. Just look at Sunday night, when Angels' pitcher Francisco Rodriguez walked Mariano Rivera with the bases loaded, resulting in an ear-to-ear grin from the Yankees' shortstop, who cracked a similar smile during the previous at-bat, when he was intentionally walked. And if you think that Brett Favre doesn't have a lot of fun, tell that to the guy who made the Wrangler commercial.

The other similarity is one that neither Jeter nor Favre can do anything to change, and that is that both are loved and overhyped by the media. If you disagree, look me in the eye and tell me that devoting more than half of SportsCenter to Brett Favre's reinstatement isn't overhype. As for Jeter, the media seems to spend more time covering him than any other player in baseball, not counting steroid coverage.

Do not mistake me. I am not picking on Jeter or Favre. If Favre wants to play another year, and the Vikings want him, then let him play. Same goes for Jeter, should he go down the same road.

Still the question remains, will Jeter do the same as Favre? It's hard to tell, but judging from what we know, it shouldn't come as a total surprise if he does.

But enough about this, I sound worse than the media for overhype.