As I sit here watching a news story on television about the Brett Favre/Green Bay Packers saga, I am beginning to realize that it’s a strong possibility that Favre just may not retire a Packer. After thinking about this probable conclusion for a while I begin to ponder the future and what his decision to un-retire will mean to his legacy, the Packers, and the NFL as a whole next year. I’m sure after everything has played itself out I will start the “what if” questions in my head. Questions like:

“What if Favre hadn’t even declared he was retired after the 2007-08 season?”

“What if he’d actually stayed retired?”

So then I began to think of other memorable times in sports when a simple changed decision/event could have altered the outcome and history itself. So here are four “what if’s” in sports that popped into my mind and what I think the eventual outcome would have been.

Question #1: What if Cus D'Amato had lived at least another 10 years and continued to mentor and train Mike Tyson during that time?

My Answer: For those of you who don’t know, Cus D’Amato was a legendary boxing trainer who trained some of the greatest boxers of all time. His last fighter, before he died at the age of 77, was Iron Mike Tyson. About 6 years after his death is when Tyson began his descend into the tattooed, felon we know today. D’Amato was Tyson’s foundation and once he died so went his support. Mike Tyson was taken off the streets and adopted by D’Amato. He was the one man able to guide Iron Mike in the right direction. Tyson will be remembered as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. If D’Amato lived another 10 years, Mike would have stayed on track and beat Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Buster Douglas (definitely), and any other great heavyweights in that era. He’d go from being one of the greatest to arguably THE GREATEST OF ALLTIME. Cus would have passed in 1995 and his descend would not have began until 2001 and he’d still be a factor in boxing. Then many Tysonites, like myself, would still have something to talk about. Heck, I know there are many of us out there who think he could still be the heavyweight champion of the world. You can do it Mike!! Just stay out of the strip clubs and leave the drugs alone.

Question #2: What if the Portland Trailblazers selected Michael Jordan instead of Sam Bowie?

My Answer: The ripple effects from this “what if” are too tremendous to even begin to start on. The Trailblazers then win six championships and the Chicago Bulls do not. The roles change and the Bulls would have become a consistent contender in the early 2000’s, but never get the job done while the Trailblazers are the epitome of a winner. Clyde Drexler goes elsewhere to play out most of his Hall of Fame career and the Western Conference landscape changes dramatically. One thing about it is the red and black colors are the same and Mike makes them one of thee all time best franchises in the NBA and they make millions in merchandising, television, and everything else that comes with having the greatest player of all time on your team. I bet they still wake up with nightmares about that selection. I actually think I saw Sam Bowie working the concession stand at a Harkins Theatre last week.

Question #3: What if the Chargers ended up with Michael Vick and the Falcons with LaDainian Tomlinson?

My Answer: To be completely honest I think it’s almost a wash. Both teams are consistent playoff contenders but always end up being a game away from the Super Bowl. The Chargers make a little more money from their merchandising of Mr. Vick but then they also end up with late night dog fighting on remote parts of the beach. Why do you risk over $100 million dollars on a dog fighting operation that may bring you a few hundred thousand annually? Advantage here to the Falcons in this scenario, as the Chargers would then end up with the super athletic dummy.

Question #4: What if Mario Chalmers misses the 3 point shot that sent the 2008 NCAA National Championship game into overtime?

My Answer: Being that I am from Kansas and am a huge Jayhawk fan, this section would be written by someone else. If Chalmers missed that shot I would probably be in rehab right now. Due to the pure misery I’d have experienced from Kansas again making it to the National Championship game and not winning, I’d have drunk myself into a coma. After coming out of the coma I’d probably have begun drinking again till Jack Daniel’s circulated through my blood and someone could become intoxicated by simply licking my arm. I guess it’s a good thing for me that they won. Also for Bill Self too, because he just may have been on my Soprano styled “Hit List”.