Brett Favre: The Last Great White Quarterback

TAN (The Assimilated Negro) makes jokes and broad generalizations in his exploration of race and sports.

With all the hullabaloo (there's a word I used growing up in the Bronx all the time) over Brett Favre retiring and the end of an era in Green Bay -- nay, the NFL! -- I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Mr. Wrangler deciding to hang up his jeans will signal the end of The Great White Quarterback Era as well.

Of course I don't mean to imply there won't be anymore white quarterbacks in the NFL, or even great white ones. I'm talking about the "Great White Quarterback" story as an iconic igniter for racial flamewars. Over the past 5 years or so when his play ranged from MVP-caliber to MVPiece-of-doo-doo caliber, Favre was the poster boy for anyone looking to point out unfair treatment of white QBs vs. Black QBs (or other athletes).

This wasn't a debate or conversation confined to NAACP meetings, or the homeys hanging out at the bar and bashing The Man. Everyone was in on it. When Donovan McNabb said black quarterbacks have "to do a little bit extra," CBS Sports's MIke Freeman defended McNabb by pointing at Favre. Blog posts inquiring about racism in the NFL were abundant, many using The Great Favre as their lead-blocker. Back in 2005, Slate explained why Brett Favre, Great White Quarterback, got media love even when his results don't support it.

But now with #4 coming off a final season where his play was much more in line with his reputation, it's difficult to imagine the debate continuing on in the same way. Similarly, a year or two ago you could take guys like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens and wonder if they were getting the short end of the stick, but coverage feels increasingly nuanced and even-handed now. The longer a guy's career runs, the more his narrative is told in shades of gray, rather than black and white. Aww.

Favre's exit shuts the door on his career as well on the era of Old White Men of Media controlling how we perceive the Grand QBs of yore. In postgame reports, NFL Old Testament institutions Unitas, Namath, Bradshaw, Montana, Marino, Aikman, Elway would not only drive for the winning touchdown but also raise your children and give the wife a little romp in the hay, all in the final two minutes.

Nowadays even guys who fit the model like Peyton Maning and Tom Brady receive much scrutiny for choking in the playoffs, or, um, having sex w/ Gisele before the big game. Players are revered, but the sense of mystique isn't the same. Brett was the last great QB to come up and have his persona defined only by elites in New York and Bristol.

The Racial Scoreboard

The Racial Scoreboard embraces racism-as-sport and awards (or takes away) "Culture Points" based on news that may or may not have anything to do with race. Afterwards we all shake hands and go out for drinks.

In Search of the Great Black Quarterback: I'm incredibly disappointed with Black quarterbacks right now. Is it me or did a whole generation of Melanin Mobiles, and Byron Leftwich, have their window of opportunity closed? Culpepper, Vick, McNair, McNabb, all that talent and all we got was jailtime, a couple close calls, and some dance you do with your wrists? You let Eli Manning, Trent Dilfer, and Brad Johnson beat you to getting a ring? Come on, this is inexcusable. Let's get it together Black quarterback, before someone catches Akili Smith staring out the window like Malcolm.

Team B: - 5 Bo Jackson Plowing Over Brian Bosworths