Author: David Shama

R-e-g-r-e-t-s.  Jenn Sterger’s last name spelled backward comes out like that.

Brett Favre’s name doesn’t spell hero as easily these days.  We’ve known for awhile there were a couple of heroes in the Favre household, but as of late Deanna Favre has been deserving of more applause than her famous husband.

Sterger’s allegations that Favre sent her inappropriate messages and photos when both were employed by the New York Jets has triggered coverage on gossip and sports pages this month.   Favre has admitted to the messages but not the photos, according to Fox Sports.

The situation has put a focus not only on the Vikings quarterback but his household this football season.  Wife Deanna has been mostly silent but said on national TV she’s relying on her faith during the latest ordeal with her husband.

She is a devout Christian and relies on prayer and friends when problems arise.  “When I need prayer, I’ve got a team of prayer warriors,” she writes in her 2007 book Don’t Bet Against Me.

Through the years Deanna’s faith has been tested not only by her husband, but by breast cancer.  In the book she recounted Favre’s partying, struggles with alcohol and the pain killer Vicodin.

Deanna wrote in her autobiography: “One night I walked into a room and heard Brett talking on the phone to a woman I had discovered he’d been calling.  ‘That’s it,’ I told him.  ‘I don’t deserve to be treated like this.’ ”

That was back in Green Bay during the mid-1990’s when Favre and Deanna were in a long term relationship but not married.  It was also a time when Favre was struggling with Vicodin and also drinking too much.  “The Brett I knew was quiet, this Brett was a party boy who stayed out all night with his friends,” Deanna wrote in the book.

In 2004 Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She is not only a breast cancer survivor but a dedicated spokesperson about the disease.  She is the founder of the Deanna Favre HOPE Foundation.  As one of the nation’s leading activists in speaking about the disease, she appeared recently on Good Morning America as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Deanna has faced down adversity not only with cancer and in her marriage but also with family deaths.  Her brother Casey was killed in an accident on almost the same date she was diagnosed with cancer.  A year before she helped Brett manage the death of his father.

The Sterger episode is the latest chapter in adversity.  No matter how the Favres resolve it, don’t bet against Deanna emerging as a hero.

After six games last season the Vikings were 6-0 but on Sunday they play at New England with a 2-4 record.  Last year was Favre’s first with the Vikings and he had one of his best seasons ever, 33 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.  After six games this season he has thrown 10 interceptions and seven touchdown passes.

In Sunday’s 28-24 loss at Green Bay, Favre threw three interceptions including one returned from a touchdown.  After the game coach Brad Childress was asked on KFAN Radio by Greg Coleman if the 41-year-old Favre “still has what it takes” to play in the NFL.

“He has what it takes,” Childress said.  “He needs to play within our system. That’s the biggest thing.”

The Vikings have an emerging superstar in second-year kickoff returner and wide receiver Percy Harvin.  After being chosen NFC Player of the Week a week ago he followed up with another high impact game against Green Bay.  He is averaging 27.1 yards on kickoff returns and leads the team’s receivers in receptions (25), yardage (289) and touchdowns (three).

The Patriots have an undersized third-year running back named Danny Woodhead who was undrafted coming out of Chadron State in Nebraska.  He’s reportedly shorter than 5-9 but has 165 yards rushing on 30 attempts so far in his busiest NFL season yet.

New England is 5-1 and the franchise has won three Super Bowls since 2000.  Vikings veteran placekicker Ryan Longwell was asked if there’s extra excitement about going to play against the Patriots.

“Yeah, they’re probably the model for what every franchise wants to be for winning Super Bowls, and winning multiple Super Bowls in a short period of time,” he said.  “Any time you go play teams like that, coaches like that, or places like that, it’s certainly a challenge but it’s certainly more rewarding if you can pull off a victory.”

Longwell talking about whether winning or losing the week before impacts the next game for the Vikings: “I don’ think we put much stock into wins and losses going into the next game because each game is a clean slate.  You can’t let it affect you whether you won or lost the week before.  …”

New Mexico State’s football team, which comes to Minneapolis to play the Gophers in a nonconference game next year, generated national publicity earlier this month when the Aggies defeated New Mexico.  Not only was it the Aggies’ first win of the season, but the victory came after flyers were distributed on campus “urging female students to refrain from having sex with members of the football team” until the team won a game, according to the October 18 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Look for the Twins to make a decision on free agent Jim Thome soon.  Despite being 40 years old, the power hitting designated hitter will have other bidders after hitting 25 home runs in 276 at bats last season.  It’s likely better than 50-50 Thome and the Twins will work out a deal.

Minor league center fielder Ben Revere probably won’t challenge Denard Span for his job next year, but he might in future years.  Conversation about Span sometimes questions his ability to effectively go backward on deep balls to the outfield fence.

The Timberwolves open their season tonight against Sacramento, a team that drafted Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins right after Minnesota chose swingman Wesley Johnson in last June’s NBA draft.  The pick was second-guessed but Cousins has to prove his work ethic can approach his considerable ability.  Cousins averaged 14.3 points and eight rebounds during pre-season.  Johnson, who averaged 7.9 points and 2.4 rebounds, is athletic and appears willing to learn.

The Wolves and Kings are predicted to be two of the worst teams in the league again this year.  They figure to be competing for lottery picks in 2011, despite 6-2 and 3-4    pre-season records.  NBA exhibition records are usually inaccurate predictors of what’s to come in the regular season.

A side story for local NBA fans will be the performance of former Wolves’ star Al Jefferson, now in Utah.  He will play defense and execute the famous Jazz pick and roll for taskmaster coach Jerry Sloan or he will see the bench more often than he wants.

The Minnesota State High School League has a new offering called Student Sports Information Directors.  The program provides opportunities to learn about journalism and publicize school activities.  Student-produced stories will appear on the MSHSL website.  See Student SID at www.mshsl.org.

Winona State is the NSIC men’s basketball preseason favorite, according to a vote by league coaches.  The Warriors, last year’s NSIC Tournament champions and NCAA national semifinalists, have been the preseason choice four of the last six years.  They return four starters and 12 letter winners from last season’s team.  The top five conference favorites are Winona State, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Augustana and University of Mary,

St. Cloud State senior guard Taylor Witt is the Preseason Player of the Year.  He averaged 16.7 points per game last season and scored a career high 43 points in an NCAA tournament game.