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Wednesday, June 4, 1997

A Open Plea to Michael Irvin

By GARY MORRIS / Guest Columnist

Michael:

Today's news conference will no doubt be held for the purpose of adding your name to the lawsuit against those you feel are responsible for "smearing" your name in public with the hope of getting "made whole", (in legalese), or in other words, get some money for your pain and suffering that the media put you through.

Well, let's look at your chances and the motivation behind the suit: 1. Lawyers earn more money when they are "championing" a cause, so it is in "THEIR" best interest to entice you to join in the suit. 2. Slander an Liable cases are only won when "lies" are spread. Did the reports from the TV and newspapers report "lies" or did they report that you were "allegedly" involved. This "weasel word" will probably keep them from harm.

What you should be doing instead of looking for a new source for cash flow, (an out of court settlement), is to start "getting out of the limelight" by being the last person to want his name mentioned in the press.

If you want some of the press, private investigators, and other smut peddlers to quit "hounding" you, then move to PLANO or one of the other SMALL towns in the METRO area, just far enough to make it inconvenient for them to "hound" you.

If necessary, move to AUSTIN. Moving far enough away to mask the scent for the hounds would be better than a trade, because you would still be around the people who really care about you...Emmitt, Troy and others. Those groupies that you "hang" with wouldn't give you the time of day if you were broke. Your real friends are those that don't need your money to be your friend.

Are your lawyers your friends or do they fall into the same "group" as anyone else that wants your money more than your friendship and the real companionship that comes from teammates?

Please announce today that you are going to be in training camp and that the real reason you are skipping the mini camp is to try to reach the number of hours served by a certain time that qualifies you to have the remainder of your hours dropped. I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can get this "bonus" if you are diligent enough.

If you must join Erik Williams in this suit, then please say that it is not the most important thing you will do this year, and that you are only doing it so others won't be so eager to report until they have more facts and that the most important thing you will do this year is to help your teammates win another SUPER BOWL!

COMMENTS:

garywm@jps.net