C.J.: Ask Pat: Vikings' Williams has advice for love-addled teamies

Viking Pat Williams has a formula for making a marriage last.

"It's all 50-50," Williams said.

The defensive lineman is cultivating a reputation for being something of marriage counselor to his teammates, as a result of the success of his union to Valarie, with whom he has three children.

Oh, how the time flies when you're having marital fun, considering Williams' answer to the question: How long have you been married?

"Fifteen going on 17" years, Williams replied. And the secret to that kind of success as a pro athlete is: "Just keep everything fun," he added. "Stuff is all 50-50. Ain't no 60-40, no 70-30 like some guys [want it to be]. It's all 50-50."

Williams says he's counseled nearly a dozen teammates. They ask him, "How do I do this? How do I make this work out?" I didn't ask which teammates, because even informal counseling deserves privacy.

Sometimes it appears that pro athletes are more inclined to cheat on their wives than ordinary guys. Cynical sportswriters say these women know the infidelity they've signed on for by deciding to marry pro athletes. (My interview with Williams took place before a story that's all over the Web alleging an unseemly aspect to the personal life of new dad Kevin Garnett; I asked his agent for a comment Friday.)

"Naw, they don't want to see the girls on the side. They want to make it work," Williams said. "These days, if you don't make it work, they can get half your money."

There's video of Williams espousing his marital philosophy after taping an NFL Network "Total Access" piece with teammate Darren Sharper. Williams owns a detailing and tricking out shop, Automotive Concepts, where Sharper doesn't get the deep discounts extended to Adrian Peterson.

Local girl makes bad "Hey, Mom," U.S. News & World Report's Liz Halloran said, "appreciate the voice mail this morning about C.J.'s column, but you can call me when I do something good, too, you know."

I didn't know Halloran was from Jackson, Minn., when I included her among the national media big dogs getting it wrong about the site of the Republican National Convention, which is St. Paul -- NOT Minneapolis.

The item got Halloran a call from her mom, Betty Sue Wolf, who gets the Strib in River Falls, Wis. "That's what killed me. My mom called me," said Halloran, who then impersonated her mom's voice to say, There's a very interesting item in C.J.'s column.

Halloran offers St. Paul a "My bad!" plus "a sincere mea culpa. Most of the people I love most live in the Twin Cities. I was there in April when my beloved grandma Elizabeth Sheehan, who lived in St. Paul, died at 105. And I recently called my brother, Joe, a St. Paul lawyer, to provide a list of restaurants for our magazine honchos to consider for convention-week newsmaker events."

Halloran's favorite part of my playful attack item was the stature accorded her. "'Big Dog' -- I like that. Lunch is on me convention week."

No, THEY didn't! Still awaiting an acknowledgement of the slights on St. Paul from NYT's Frank Rich, NBC's Meredith Vieira and now Matt Lauer.

The day after the item reminding media that there is a difference between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Lauer said: "Barack Obama took to the stage in Minneapolis last night and this was his moment. ..."

I also fired off an e-mail to CNN's Heidi Collins, who has misspoken on this subject even though she has said on air that her mom lives here.

Scott Koehler e-mailed about seeing Line at the Eden Prairie burger joint when he was there with his wife, Sara.

"My wife joked, 'As skinny as she is, I bet she'll only order a bun and lettuce,'" wrote Koehler. "... Anyway, much to our surprise, she actually ordered a burger and fries. Where does she put it? Maybe that's all she'll eat this week."

A Lions Tap manager said Line and family are regulars.

Line's assistant Wendy reported that Lorie eschewed the bun, but did have the burger and fries when she was there with her husband, Tim Line, and his parents, Janet and Mark Line.

"She wanted me to mention to you though, on Monday she was at Seven with her band and you walked by her," Wendy said. "She wanted to say hi to you."