That’s R Before V, Except After A

Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre has no idea how his name came to be pronounced F-A-R-V-E.

“I asked my dad. He has no idea,” Favre said. “I asked my grandfather, a full-blooded Choctaw Indian, a long time ago, and he said as far as he can remember, it was that way.

“Where I grew up [Mississippi], there weren’t a whole lot of Favres, but there were some. Some spelled it Favre and others Farve. I don’t know. Somewhere along the line someone probably was on a little moonshine and wrote it down wrong.”

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Trivia time: Which three Pacific 10 schools have losing bowl records?

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Waste of talent: Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times, commenting on enigmatic Minnesota Viking wide receiver Randy Moss: “He is the weapon who can complain, taunt, pout, loaf and break open games like no one else in the league.

“He vanishes for long stretches of time then reappears to remind folks that a great basketball shooting guard also can dominate a game played on the gridiron. He flat-out admitted this week he doesn’t march to anybody’s drumbeat but his own, even when that personal drummer is snoring away.”

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Woe is Washington: Blaine Newnham of the Seattle Times, commenting on Washington’s 65-7 blowout loss to Miami on Saturday: “The Huskies weren’t hurt as much as they were numbed, out of the fight quicker than Poland was in World War II, embarrassed in their rematch with the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes.

“The Huskies said they had nothing to lose in making the trip to Miami. Well, whatever they had, they lost; the rematch, their self-esteem, the point spread (as high as 26) and any sense of momentum or joy about going to the Holiday Bowl.”

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A cheater prospers: Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic, when asked by Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald to identify an NBA player who cheats: “Steve Smith of the San Antonio Spurs. His team is on a fast break, and you are in front of him, he’s going to pull you back by the jersey to get ahead of you.

“Off screens, he’s grabbing your arm and holding you back and throwing you into the screen. He uses that all the time.

“He doesn’t get caught. That’s why he’s a great cheater.”

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Decline of Dallas: Jim Armstrong in the Denver Post: “I don’t want to say these aren’t your father’s Cowboys, but it’s late November and a linebacker, Dexter Coakley, is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with two.”

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Looking back: On this date in 1977, the L.A. Rams shut out the Browns, 9-0, at Cleveland. The Rams finished with a 10-4 record, winning their fifth consecutive division title before losing a playoff game to Minnesota, 14-7.

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Trivia answer: Arizona, California and Oregon.

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And finally: Syndicated columnist Norman Chad, on rumors that Raider Coach Jon Gruden might leave for Notre Dame: “I don’t think so. Why would Gruden want to coach in college? You have to deal with administrators, boosters and alumni. You have to recruit. And, on occasion, you have to make sure the people who are taking exams for your players get to class on time.”