It's easy to forget that even NFL superstars have mothers. And nobody knows what makes a star tick quite like the woman who raised him.

In Brett Favre's case, that mother is Bonita Favre. Through the untimely deaths of Brett's father Irvin and his brother-in-law Casey, and the recent breast cancer diagnosis of his wife Deanna, Packers fans know nearly as much about Brett's real family as they do his one in Green Bay. Brett and Bonita talk about both those families in a new autobiography entitled "Favre," published by Rugged Land last month.

In the book, Brett and his closest family members (including Irv, Bonita and Deanna) talk about his career, his famous toughness, his charitable work and the incredible Monday night game in Oakland last December. A great coffee-table gift for any Packers fan, "Favre" comes with a 45-minute NFL Films DVD that tracks Brett's life and career. The book also features contributions from Terry Bradshaw, Mark Bowden and Peter King.

We talked with Mrs. Favre by phone from Mississippi earlier this month. She will be promoting the book in the Milwaukee area Nov. 15, 16 and 17; see the end of the interview for details.

OMC: Tell us what it's like to be the mother of an NFL superstar like Brett Favre.

BF: To watch him play is exciting, even as a mother. But it's also scary because you're afraid of him getting hurt. But he's so unpredictable, and he's just a pleasure to watch. I sit and watch the DVD from the book over and over. It's about 45 minutes, and it starts with Brett as a youngster, and then through high school, college and the pros. (It has) a lot of his funny antics that he carries on. It's very enjoyable and, just like the book, it's something good for the young and the old. It's entertaining for all. My 3-year-old grandson watches the DVD over and over. He's a big Uncle Brett fan.

OMC: What are some of your favorite memories of Brett's playing career?

BF: In high school, probably the Long Beach game where he won it in the last two seconds, which he's become known to do. In college, it was probably the Louisville game, where he threw a Hail Mary pass and it got tipped and tipped and tipped and fell to one of our receivers and we won (the play appears on the DVD). The whole place just went crazy. Of course in the pros, I'd have to go with the Raiders game, considering the circumstances. I felt he would either play good or bad, I didn't think he'd play down the middle. But I did not expect what happened. The family laughed a while and we cried a while.

OMC: I think all football fans were amazed by that game.

BF: Even the Raiders (fans) were such great fans. They have such a reputation, but not that night. They were just great. ... It was just an awesome game all the way around.

OMC: How has Brett evolved since he was taken by Atlanta in the 1991 NFL Draft?

BF: Brett is fortunate enough to have always been in the right place at the right time. Of course he's always been prepared, too. And I think that getting traded to Green Bay was the best thing that could have happened to him, and I'm sure he'll tell you that, too. Atlanta wasn't big enough for him and Jerry (Glanville, coach of the Falcons at that time) both.

Brett is a country boy. He would not have fit well in the big city. When he was in New York with Deanna last week, he called and said "I hate this traffic." So I just could not even picture him in the big city. It was the greatest thing for Green Bay and Brett. It's just like a glove that fits perfectly.

OMC: In the book you mention that you get a lot of Green Bay and Wisconsin visitors to your restaurant (in Kiln, Miss., Brett's hometown). Have you had an opportunity to get to know some Packers fans?

BF: Oh, yeah. They're great, unbelievable. We had four in there Sunday watching the game (against Washington), and they said they just drove to come to the restaurant. And we had a group of young men that are training at Camp Shelby -- from Wisconsin and waiting to be deployed -- we had six this week and last week there were five. And there were several more people from Wisconsin. In fact, there were more Wisconsin people in the restaurant than Mississippians.

OMC: So people are actually making the trip down there?

BF: That's what this group of four told us. They came just to go to "Favre's on the Bayou." The first page of the book (a guest book page filled with names and addresses from Wisconsin) is from our restaurant.

I think the Packers fans are the most remarkable fans around. I've been to a lot of stadiums and seen a lot of fans, but these people are just awesome. They love their Packers. I compare Green Bay to Hattiesburg, where Brett went to college. Hattiesburg without Southern Miss would be like Green Bay without the Packers. The people up there are just like us down here, just down-home friendly.

OMC: Do you have the Packers on every Sunday at the restaurant?

BF: Yes. Of course, we have the Saints on too. What makes everyone mad here is the Saints are on at the same time as the Packers, and the Packers aren't on regular TV. We have DirecTV at the restaurant, so we get them. But my mother doesn't like to go there because it's too noisy and she can't hear. She gets mad at the Saints.

OMC: The book has essays by your husband (Irv), you and Deanna (Brett's wife). It's obvious that family is very important to Brett and to the whole clan.

BF: Yes, it is important to all of us, because it takes all of us to help each other out. We stick close together. It's like with Deanna's situation (Brett's wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer)... it's going to be a long road and we're all going to have to pitch in. When she starts treatments, she's going to be sick, and the other children are going to need to be taken care of. So we know that we all have to do what we have to do. It's like my husband said, when you lost a game, that game was over. Forget it and move on to the next one. And life is like that. You can't just give up. We have been through so much, and this year has been really hard. But you can't just fold in. You have to have a lot of faith in God, and strength, and continue on.