Friday, March 7, 2008

BRETT FAR-VE Retires at age 38

When I first met Brett Favre in the Green Bay conference room, some
15 years ago on a Saturday before a home game on Sunday, I used an old announcers rule, "There are no dumb questions on Saturday before a Sunday game." The opposite: "The only dumb questions are the ones you fail to ask on Saturday."
So I said, "Why is your name pronounced, "F,A,R,V,E," when you spell it F,A,V,R,E?"
Answer,"That's the way my daddy pronounces it."
I've always remembered his answer, and on all the Green Bay spotting boards since then, I've spelled it FAR-VE. I know Brett would understand and he would want me to have the correct pronunciation
His dad's name was Irvin and that Saturday night back at the hotel, I called his dad, back home in Mississippi. Irvin had to shout into the phone since the party was already underway. To tell you the truth I don't much remember the conversation, but I do remember his dad's voice. It rang "full of pride " all the way to Wisconsin.
On December 22, 2003, on a Monday night game, the day after his father died, Brett threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Packers to a 41 - 7 victory over the Raiders.
You just knew he would, after all, football was a family affair to the
FAVRES.