Favre

Brett Favre, he's one of a kind. At the very least, you could say they don't make them like Favre anymore. This guy is a throwback. A tough, honest, aw-shucks-humble, determined, fighting, loyal, straight-shooting son-of-a-gun. He's Terry Bradshaw without all the ham. He's Snake Stabler, but a little more stable. He's Johnny Unitas, Bobby Layne, Slingin Sammy Baugh, Billy Kilmer, and, heck, Bronko Nagurski and Dick Butkus, too. Maybe he's got a touch of Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Jerry Clower, and Garrison Keillor in him, too, judging from the way he writes. This is a heckuva story. When you get through with this book, you'll wish you could have known Big Irv, Brett's Dad. There's a lot of guts and heart and blood and sweat and tears in this book, and some laughter, too. Most of all, this is just a dadgum great, genuine, real, heartfelt book. If you love football, get this book. If you love great stories, get this book. If you love your Daddy, get this book. I'm going to be giving a few of these away this year at Christmastime.

Brett Favre is more than just a stellar quarterback in the NFL. He is a genuine folk hero, who embodies the grit, tenacity, hard-won skill, and overwhelming success of the American dream. This entertaining and often poignant look at Favre's life provides insights into what makes this football all-star tick, on and off the field. It also provides some great life keys for success in any endeavor. Hope, hard work, good humor, determination, and resiliancy are great skills to cultivate, and Brett Favre is the embodiment of all of it. Favre is humble but confident, and that tone comes through in his down-to-earth and inspiring story. He's not too proud to reveal his weaknesses, challenges, and stumbles; these issues, rather than diminishing Brett Favre only enhance the sense of appreciation and respect for what he has overcome. If for no other reason, buy this book for Favre's stories about his Dad, which are loving, humorous, and ultimately quite moving.

What more can be written about Brett Favre at this stage in his career that hasn't been written about already? Well, how about reading and hearing about it in Brett's own words! The new book "FAVRE" is co-authored by Favre and his mother, Bonita, with Chris Havel (Green Bay sports editor). But the real heart of the book is pure Brett. He covers his illustrious career from playing peewee football in fifth grade through that incredible, emotional Monday night in Oakland last December where he played one of his best games ever just 24 hours upon hearing of the death of his beloved father/coach/mentor. Bonita shares wonderful anecdotes from Brett's childhood and stories of their close-knit family life. We learn that Brett's tough competitiveness was a trait inherited from his dad, Big Irv. We also see the prankster Brett was as a child continues on in the man today. Deanna, Brett's wife and high school sweetheart, shows the softer side of Brett through their Foundation for disabled and disadvantaged children. She divulges that if Brett were not an NFL quarterback, she's certain he would be a great special education teacher like his mom. Being from Green Bay and a lifelong Packer fan, I was most touched by Brett's love of his team, his loyalty to the Packer organization, and his deep fondness and respect for the city of Green Bay and its diehard fans. He upholds the honor, tradition, and great history of one of the greatest sports franchises, and continues to add to the lore and legend of what is Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. He appreciates what the Packers mean to us, just as we appreciate what he means to the team and to the sport of football. The book is filled with stunning full-color photographs that serve as a beautiful pictorial backdrop to the story. Most are the work of local photographer, Mark A. Wallenfang, who has been covering Brett and the Packers for the past eleven years. And if that isn't enough, accompanying the book is a 45-minute DVD of Brett "In his own words", that will make you laugh and cry. The complete package is a bargain at any price. This book is not only a must have for a Favre fan, but also for any football enthusiast with a true appreciation for the sport.

I've been a Packer fan for over 40 years and have purchased lots of Packer memorabilia over time, but this has to be about the best thing I ever bought, especially for the price! This is a wonderful book, written by Brett and his Mom, with Chris Havel (a sports writer in Green Bay) that deals with his humble beginnings, all the way up to that awesome Raiders game after his Dad died. From the forward by Terry Bradshaw, appropriately entitled "The Best", to the last chapter by Peter King from Sports Illustrated, entitled "Legend", it's a book that everyone from youngsters to old-timers will enjoy. I thought I'd seen just about all of Brett's pictures they'd ever printed, but this book has a ton of game and family photographs I'd never seen before...some are double-page photos, and the quality is excellent. The icing on the cake is the DVD that comes with the book: "In Their Own Words: Brett Favre" from NFL Films. It is really great...funny and inspiring...it makes you proud to have watched Brett from when he was the new kid on the team to, now, the seasoned veteran. If you love the Packers and Brett Favre, you HAVE to get this book...either for yourself or your favorite Packer fan for Christmas!