For as much as I hate thFor as much as I hate the New York Yankees, I'm sad that we will soon bid farewell to Yankee Stadium.

I love sports history, and Yankee Stadium - which will be demolished after the end of the baseball season - is hallowed ground in Major League Baseball. Heck, it's probably the most hallowed ground in all of sports. Even if you're a Yankee hater like me, Yankee Stadium is one of those places you as a sports fan want to see. There is so much history there, so much character. Think about it - Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Whitey Ford are just a few of the Yankee greats who graced The House that Ruth Built. So did scores of non-Yankees who are now in the Hall of Fame.

Twenty-six World Series championship teams played their home games there. Thirty-seven World Series and countless American League playoffs games have been played there. It was the site of the only perfect game pitched in World Series and postseason history - a gem thrown by the Yankees' Don Larsen against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 Fall Classic.

It was the site of four baseball all-star games, the last of which was a dandy - a 15-inning affair won by the American League 4-3 last Tuesday.

And it wasn't just a baseball park. It was the longtime home of the NFL's New York Giants. Hall-of-Famers Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Y.A. Tittle and Frank Gifford called it home. Enshrinees Johnny Unitas, Norm Van Brocklin, Bart Starr, Jim Brown and Deacon Jones paid memorable visits there.

It was the site of the "Greatest Game Ever Played" - the 1958 NFL championship game between the Giants and the Baltimore Colts.

It hosted epic prize fights, including the second Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling bout in 1938, won by Louis.

It was where legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne gave his "Win one for the Gipper" speech in 1928.

It's a place that ought to be preserved - like the Alamo and Graceland. But the 85-year-old sports cathedral is deteriorating and will soon be reduced to rubble, just like Ebbets Field and Boston Garden. What a shame. I was thinking the powers that be should at least keep the front of Yankee Stadium intact, to serve as an entrance for a sports museum, hall of fame, or something. But it isn't up to me.

A new, larger and more diverse Yankee Stadium is being built nearby. In many ways it looks like the present structure, but it won't be the same. The history and the character can't be built into it.

Unless some good-hearted soul flies me to The Bronx before November, I won't see Yankee Stadium before its date with the wrecking ball. It makes me think about paying visits to places like Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago's Wrigley Field, and Notre Dame Stadium (even though I dislike the Fighting Irish) before they meet the same fate.

ON FAVRE: I've heard way too many people totally bash Brett Favre the last couple of the weeks.

Well, I'm one who happens to support Favre in his desire to come out of a short retirement and play with the Green Bay Packers - the team he quarterbacked for 16 seasons - or some other NFL outfit.

So what if he wants to change his mind about retiring? He isn't the first sports icon to do so, and he won't be the last. It's his life. If he winds up falling on his face, let him deal with the "I told you so's." If he winds up having a stellar season with the Packers or some other team, let all of the naysayers deal with the "I told you so's." But just let the guy come back and play if he wants to.

He's still capable. Yes, he's 38 years old and yes, he's prone to mistakes with that gunslinger mentality of his, but he can still bring it. He loves the game, and he loves to compete. He's a leader, and even at his age, he'd still be better and more reliable than most of the NFL starters who are much younger. Maybe he wouldn't be outstanding, but I doubt if he'd totally embarrass himself like many believe could happen.

Green Bay is fighting Favre, and I can understand its side. Favre's return to Green Bay would throw a monkey wrench into the plans the Packers set into motion months ago. After Favre retired, they began preparing backup Aaron Rodgers for the 2008 season. If Favre returns, they're faced with the prospect of asking Rogers to hold a clipboard for yet another season. They do that and Rodgers might respond with a "Get me outta here." On the other hand, asking Favre to hold a clipboard would open up a new can of worms.

Rodgers has the ability to be an effective starter. He was impressive in a relief role against Dallas last season. He's waited patiently for a chance, and the Packers want to give it to him. They want to begin a new era. Which is why they should just send Favre on his way. It's going to cause an uproar among the Packer faithful, but oh well. Life goes on. They'll get over it, eventually.

The Packers say they want to protect Favre's legacy, but only Favre should be concerned about that.

I know it would be difficult to see Favre on a team other than the Packers. Imagine Bart Starr as a Colt, Ray Nitschke as a Viking, Paul Hornung as a Giant, or Forrest Gregg as a Bear. Unthinkable. But then, could you have imagined Joe Montana as a Chief? Emmitt Smith a Cardinal? Jerry Rice a Raider? How about Hank Aaron as a Brewer? Harmon Killebrew a Royal? Michael Jordan a Wizard? It happens. Sports purists don't like it, but it happens.

I sense that we will see Favre on the field again this season. Will it be as a Packer, or heaven forbid, a Viking, a Bear, a Lion, or a Buc? Who knows? But Favre will be back.

Brace yourselves for the "I told you so's."

(Michael Weber is a Tribune sportswriter.)