http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/16087712.htm Posted on Fri, Nov. 24, 2006 Michael Irvin's comments don't figure into Romo's success By David Whitley The Orlando Sentinel (MCT) IRVING, Texas - Don't tell Bill Parcells, but Tony Romo is currently the NFL's best quarterback. Don't tell Michael Irvin, but it's not because Romo has black ancestors. And whatever you do, don't tell ESPN that Irvin has no business pretending to be Charles Darwin. If you're a little confused, bear with me. We came to Dallas to cover a Tampa Bay game. We got one of the biggest stories of the NFL season, along with one of the most under-reported. The biggest continues to be Romo. The Bucs made him look like Roger Staubach. Or he made the Bucs look like Chernobyl High. Either way, five touchdown passes added up to a Thanksgiving Day Massacre. "He made us look really bad," Ronde Barber said. Four games ago, Romo was a nondescript backup who'd never started a game. Now fans are hanging his name in the Cowboys Ring of Honor next to deities such as Dorsett, Hayes and the aforementioned Dr. Irvin. How did a fourth-year nobody from Eastern Illinois become a pro sensation? "I just try to execute," he said. That's the kind of nice, modest explanation you've heard countless times. Then there is Irvin's explanation, which you probably haven't heard once. "Somewhere there are some brothers. . . . (Maybe) his great, great, great, great Grandma ran over in the hood or something went down." That's what Irvin said Monday on the Dan Patrick radio show. The host then asked Irvin if having black ancestry was the only way to be a great athlete. "No, that's not the only way, but it's certainly one way. Great, great, great, great Grandma pulled one of them studs up outta the barn." It should be noted that Irvin was cackling throughout. It should also be noted that doesn't matter. Some things you just can't joke about in this day and age. At least you can't if you're, let's be honest here, the color of Romo's great, great, great, great Grandma. Jimmy the Greek, Al Campanis, you know what happened to them when they offered their views on genealogy. Michael Richards went Klansman at a comedy club last week and his diatribe was a YouTube sensation almost before he got offstage. Irvin's comedy routine wasn't nearly as incendiary, but didn't it warrant some attention? Other than minor Internet mention, it's gotten almost zero run, even though he did it on a national radio show. Maybe it's just coincidence that show is part of the ESPN Empire, and that Irvin is one of the networks more recognizable characters. That's not necessarily a good thing, since a lot of viewers would rather watch a Bucs scrimmage than endure one of Irvin's 120-decibel commentaries. Whatever the reason, there's been no comment from ESPN, much less an apology/explanation from Michael the Greek. There's no need to comment, of course, since the incident hasn't made ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN.com, ESPN Texas Hold `Em or any of the other tentacles. It shows you the danger of media conglomeration. These days if it's not on the Worldwide Leader, it never happened. One thing you'll know happened Thursday was Romo killed the Bucs. Everybody in Dallas seems mesmerized except for Parcells, who is going out of his way to downplay Romo Fever. Not even Staubach ever threw five touchdowns in a game. "I could have thrown two of them," Parcells said. If he had, Irvin might have wondered whether Granny Parcells pulled a stud outta a barn 100 years ago. And we'd apparently have to wait at least that long for ESPN to do anything about it.
How does this guy still have a job as a commentator? First of all he doesn't even do his job well, his presentation is awful. Then you factor in his "ethical indiscretions" and you have to wonder who this guy is blowing to keep his job?? And how come nobody is talking about these obviously racist comments... Steve Lyons lost his job for less then this... why does Irvin get away with it? And why doesn't Romo call him out for his stupidity?
and if a white guy made a racial "joke" he'd be fired before the sentence was even finished. irvin is a scumbag and should absolutely be fired.
What a terrible article. And the writer is called "Whitey", hmm. Whatever Irvin should be fired for, it isn't that comment.
seems like as good a time as any to post one of the best youtube clips ever http://youtube.com/watch?search=&mode=related&v=pCpFOdVA3Wo
LOL! Never saw that one before!!! This quote by Irvin is just another example of the double standards in our society, specifically sports broadcasting. The fact that you will only find a hand full of people covering it just illustrates the point even more.
if a white guy says something like "some where down the line, donovan mcnabb must have some white in him"....refering to his QB smarts. wouldnt this be big time news?
Irvin should still be in jail and could you imagine if mike ditka made those same comments???? Amazing how the news will create a firestorm if some comments are made and completely ignore others I hate Sharpe though -- sounds like he talks with a mouth full of marbles -- no ides what he says and why does he randomly laugh at nothing??
I couldn't agree more, let's forget about his troubled past and silly comments the fact is he brings NOTHING to a broadcast. These networks feel they have to have ex-players, there are a million ex-players who can handle the job and Irvin isn't one of them. He is a buffoon and if he was white he would have ben fired- heck he never would have been hired.
Because the interpretation of Irvin's comment is "black people are naturally athletic", whilst the interpretation of that comment is "black people are naturally stupid".
No, the interpretation of Irvin's comment is that black people are more athletic then white people. Just like the interpretation of the hypothetical comment about Mcnabb would be that white people are more intelligent then black people.
Ever watch Irvin on Sunday NFL Countdown he's always touching people around him lol Just watch and you will see what I mean.
