As epics go, it would be difficult to improve upon the Brett Favre docudrama, currently playing at a 24/7 news dispenser near you. It's the quarterback controversy of the century.

Of this century, anyway.

Those of us who experienced the run-up to the day the 49ers traded Joe Montana have a more global perspective. This Favre thing is an uninspired remake of a 15-year-old instant classic. Maybe you weren't here for the original. Or maybe its impact has been dulled by the ravages of time and bad football.

Maybe it's time we remember:

For starters, there's only one Favre. The 49ers' drama featured two future Hall of Famers, Montana and Steve Young.

Beyond that, this Favre vignette has evolved during the past few months. The Montana-Young stare-down was six years old when the 49ers finally felt compelled to choose between them.

It was like asking a child to choose between ice cream and more ice cream. Montana was a four-time Super Bowl winner coming off an elbow injury that cost him all of the 1991 season and most of '92. Young was an intriguing backup who blossomed into the NFL's MVP during Montana's absence.

San Francisco coach George Seifert kicked off the festivities by declaring Young would be the team's starter come training camp. "It seemed like a logical starting point," he'd say later.

Logical. Good one.

Montana wasn't inclined to report to camp under those circumstances, claiming it would be too chaotic.

"Joe says chaotic," Young said. "I say competitive."

National interest was intense. Locally, the debate went supernova. Everyone had an opinion. Given the credentials of the men involved, every opinion had merit.

You say the Packers filed tampering charges against Minnesota? In the spring of '93 the 49ers were linked to a half-dozen teams. The then-Phoenix Cardinals wanted Montana, but he didn't want them. Tampa Bay expressed interest. Montana wanted Kansas City, but the 49ers couldn't make a deal.

It was rumored Young would be dealt to Seattle or the New York Jets. From Stanford, where he was in his second tenure as head football coach, Bill Walsh suggested the 49ers trade Young, then draft Notre Dame's Rick Mirer to succeed Montana.

The team was in such a delicate position it sought counsel from its natural adversary. That's right: the media. On Thursday, April 15, Seifert and Carmen Policy engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with reporters. The discussion was so frank the 49ers' PR director served as a gate keeper.

"We're off the record now," he would say when the conversation strayed into matters of confidence. "OK," he'd say a few minutes later, "I think we're getting close to being back on the record."

The following Saturday, Montana flew to Youngstown, Ohio, by private jet to meet with team owner Eddie DeBartolo. On Sunday, Seifert suddenly pronounced Montana the team's "designated starter." It was a cool trick—you couldn't see DeBartolo's lips move or anything.

Two days later, the 49ers called a news conference. The eyes and ears of a breathless world descended upon the team's Santa Clara training facility. The event was delayed nearly two hours. Ultimately, Policy and Seifert met the press to declare there was nothing to announce.

Two days later, Montana was on his way to Kansas City. Bay Area papers reported the deal as they might a royal divorce. The San Francisco Examiner sought comment from Rev. Cecil Williams, Supervisor Angela Alioto, exotic dancer Carol Doda, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Giants first baseman Will Clark.

"Why are you asking me?" Clark said. "I'm a baseball player."

Said Walsh: "The dynamic of pro football can be cruel at times."

Tell it to Favre. He may trump the Packers. No way he ever tops Joe and Steve.