McMahon Goes From Wise Guy to Wise Man

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ role model for Super Bowl XXXI will be Jim McMahon.

Women and children, obviously, should stay indoors, and the media should gear up for special sections on the benefits of acupuncture. Helicopters overhead are warned not to look at your favorite Packer if you shame easily.

Jim McMahon? Why don’t they just rent Steve Martin’s movie, “The Jerk,” and play it on the plane to New Orleans.

No, no, no, said the Packers, this isn’t about personal behavior, this is about winning a Super Bowl, and Coach Mike Holmgren said he will have McMahon talk to his team because he’s the only player on its roster to have won a Super Bowl. McMahon’s Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots, Green Bay’s foe, in the Superdome in New Orleans 11 years to the day of this year’s Super Bowl.

Favre, who grew up within a 50-minute drive of the Superdome, said he was a sophomore at Hancock North Central High in Kiln, Miss., when McMahon and the Bears defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XX, 46-10.

“McMahon was doing the Super Bowl shuffle and all that stuff, and I know it was making him a lot of money,” Favre said. “He was in movies, writing books and in commercials, and while I thought he was kind of crazy, he was productive. He won, and that was his way of expressing himself.”

If all goes well for the Packers, McMahon will not step on the field, and Favre, who was traded by Atlanta to Green Bay in 1992, will lead his team to its third Super Bowl title.

“I remember I was eating crawfish and drinking a cold beer when I got the call I was traded to Green Bay; God, the good old days,” said Favre, who has been tested regularly this season by the NFL for alcohol use. “I didn’t know exactly where Green Bay was. I couldn’t pinpoint Wisconsin on the map.

“But here we are, going to the Super Bowl and it’s the greatest thing in the world. I mean I played in the Weedeater Independence Bowl when I was in college, no one cared and I couldn’t give the tickets away.”

Now Favre has friends he doesn’t remember meeting him and calling him for tickets.

“I’ve never lost a game I’ve played in the Superdome,” Favre said, while looking for wood to rap his knuckles on. “I believe I’m 7-0 against Tulane and the Saints.”

Favre will be matched against New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and Favre was reminded by someone that a few years ago he had some critical words for Bledsoe because the youngster was making more money.

“I’m still playing for less money than he’s playing for, and it’s not fair,” said Favre in jest. “I think Drew’s well deserving of his contract, he’s gotten his team to the Super Bowl and I believe I will have my new deal in place before the Super Bowl. If not, so what? I won’t be going to Bourbon Street at 4 a.m. crying about it.”

The Packers will conduct business as usual as if they were playing a game Sunday, and will depart Sunday for New Orleans.

“Listen, we’re going to have some fun,” Favre said. “While there’s going to be a lot going on, it beats the alternative. Last year at this time I was playing golf and wishing I was here.”