The Right Track

One of the notable bits of news out of Packer Nation this week was the revelation in Deanna Favre’s book Don’t Bet Against Me!, that she kicked BFF out of the house and nearly divorced him in 1999 because he was drinking too much. This surprised me, not because I thought Favre wasn’t capable of self-destructive behavior, but because I thought by ’99 Favre’s wild days were pretty much over. It’s been much-advertised that in college and his first few years in the NFL, Favre was known to routinely tie one on, miss team photos due to “oversleeping,” and to occasionally puke up the previous nights’ jello shots and jalapeno poppers on the sideline before a game...before going out and winning the game. But I’d always assumed that after kicking Vicodin, Favre had straightened himself out. This news makes you wonder how severe the drinking was, whether he was out with the guys or less festively at home drinking by himself, whether he was drinking during the season, and, if he was drinking during the season, to what extent the team and/or the media knew about it and kept quiet about it.

It should be noted that Favre encouraged his wife to write honestly about his problems in the book, and you have to respect him for that. You wonder if, Michael Jordan, while still the face of the NBA, would have been so forthcoming had he struggled with something like this. Thing about Favre is, he makes a little money on the side endorsing products you imagine he actually uses (Sensodyne, Bowflex, Wrangler jeans) but he’s never been so invested in his parallel life as a spokesperson that he’d be afraid to speak his mind and expose his flaws. Which, of course, is part of his real guy appeal. 

Interesting too that we’re reminded of Favre’s personal struggles with addiction on the week Koren Robinson returns from his alcohol-related suspension, hoping to make good on his second third fourth chance. Apparently, Favre has been instrumental in supporting Koren over the past year; as he’s waited to be reinstated, Robinson’s been working out with Favre’s personal trainer in Arizona. In an interview, Favre had this to say about KR:

 "Now, I'm a little bit biased obviously. But I think he's done everything he's been asked to do, and it's time to set a good example -- that you can resurrect not only your career, but your life. I mean, there's still a lot left for him to do on and off the field, but give the guy an opportunity."

We know even more clearly now just how many times Favre has f'ed up and found a way to make good on his chances at personal redemption. When asked to respond to Favre's record-setting 421th TD, it's telling that Holmgren said what is even more impressive is how he's become such a good husband and father.  I fully expect him to go out of his way to take Koren under his wing, remind him to take it one day at a time, and make him the kind of late-season X-factor Bad Moon Rison became back in the Year We Won It All.

On the other hand, this might happen.