Ten Days (or So) Until Irvin!

Much of the response to Michael Irvin's Hall of Fame speech has been positive. Some people think it's revived his professional broadcasting prospects. But that thought is ridiculous. Most are just excited to speculate about his prospects. (Content Factory with Dan Patrick?) Michael Irvin has always had a fan base as a television personality. Some TO fans, some Cowboys fans, some who just don't mind a little fun on Sunday morning. The Playmaker that spewed tear snot over the weekend is the same 'ol Playmaker.

Mike surfaced on Dan LeBatard's radio show Monday and Tuesday and promised (PROMISED!) that he would make a decision about his situation in 10 days or so. Since he's left ESPN, Irvin has been very cautious to speak well of the Leader, but also complained that they restricted his schedule and speech too much for his tastes. Irvin has indicated in multiple interviews over the past few months that he wants to participate in a "man talk" format, not just football format. After his speech, it's clear he has motivational/spiritual leanings.

Irvin said when talking with LeBatard that he would make a decision about what he was going to do very soon and that he would definitely be around this season. Good news. Get your popcorn/tissues ready.

Dan Denies It All

Last week or so, I posted about Dan LeBatard saying, "ESPN is full of sexual harassment," and making some disparaging comments about Harold Reynolds. Because the post was picked up on Deadspin, Dan addressed the situation on his radio show. There was really nothing to say. The audio was posted. His words spoke for himself. Yet, Dan claimed he was quoted out of context and that the blogs insinuated that he found sexual harassment funny. Nobody said that. I did suggest that he was a hypocrite for airing out Harold Reynolds and the Deadspinners mostly mocked him for having ever had a girlfriend. Nobody found Dan's claim of having two girlfriends, much less two girlfriends that were "creeped out" by Reynolds, to be the least bit believable. But there was no indication that anybody assumed Dan to be generally amused by sexual harassment. Nice try though, Dan. The Worldwide Leader appreciates it.

Here's the audio, which also includes the original comment (or here).

On the same show, Dan spent more than 1 segment discussing how tall and fit and non bloaty and non sweaty he is in real life. Nobody believes that either. Again, nice try, Dan. I prefer to keep my fantasy intact.

Although we "aren't held to the same standards of journalistic integrity," Dan still loves the blogs and I still love Dan too.

"ESPN Is Filled With Sexual Harrassment"

I guess Dan LeBatard will be testifying for the defense if Harold Reynold's suit against ESPN goes to trial. He has no sympathy for Harold Reynolds and his allegations of wrongful firing from ESPN.

On Dan's radio show in Miami on Friday, LeBatard gave a little speech about Harold and what he thinks of the allegations. Dan said:

"ESPN is filled with sexual harassment. It's actually funny."

"For Harold to be claiming that he was wrongfully fired.. I don't know how he says that with a straight face."

Dan goes on to say that Harold hit on and "creeped out" not one, but two, of Dan's girlfriends. Consequently, Dan is doubtful that Harold is not a sexual harasser. You can listen to the minute long audio here (or here).




For the record, hitting on people and/or creeping them out is not necessarily the equivalent of sexual harassment from a legal perspective.

Dan felt smug enough to criticize Harold right in the middle of a game he was playing with the callers - "Given the accusations of sexual harassment against Woody Paige and Jay Crawford, First Take should've been called _________." And when Dan picks up women at work, they're "girlfriends." That designation presumably expempts LeBatard from being an ordinary sexual harasser, as impressive as it may be that Dan is able to score multiple girlfriends from the same pool of women as Harold when Dan is only in Bristol part time. Not to mention that Dan aired out a married man on the radio. The same Dan that cried that journalistic integrity had died the day pictures of Alex Rodriguez cavorting with a stripper were printed on the cover of the New York Post.

I have to wonder, given that ESPN has invested so much time and money in joint ventures like ESPN the Phone, why the worldwide leader hasn't paired up with a dating service. At this point, it's looking like a natural fit. ESPN and Eharmony.com could do something...Oh, wait...ESPN may not be Eharmony material. They're selective. Maybe Craigslist?

"He Can't Hold My Jock..."

Those are the exact words of Terrell Owens made in response to the New York Giants player, Plaxico Burress', comments that Owens was a coward for avoiding a tackle during the Cowboys/Giants game on this past Monday. The comment was made this past Friday during Owens' weekly interview on the Dan LeBatard show on 790 the Ticket. Other highlights of the interview included Owens praising the ability of Carolina Panthers receiver, Steve Smith, but with respect to their receiver Keyshawn Johnson, "that's another story." Also, T.O. confirmed that he was handsome. T.O. is hilarious. I love him. To date, 790 the Ticket has not posted the audio of the interview.