Monday, June 16, 1997

Does Michael Irvin really want to change?

By CANDY REAGAN / Abilene Reporter-News

Once again, training camp is but a few weeks away and Michael Irvin has bathed his team in controversy and uncertainty.

I'm not surprised.

That's Michael Irvin. That's his way. Unless he intends to change it, the Cowboys would be better off if he retired.

Irvin's troubles started 15 months ago when he was caught by police in a motel room with drugs and two topless dancers. Rather than admit guilt, he chose to stand trial. That trial, during the weeks before last year's training camp, proved better than any soap opera with sordid testimony about sex and drugs.

Finally, Irvin pleaded no contest. He served a five-game suspension, paid a fine and started his community service. And that was the end of that, right?

Wrong.

Since then Irvin has been falsely accused of assisting in a rape and now is being accused of assaulting some guy in a San Francisco night club.

And just recently Irvin held a press conference to say the scrutiny of Dallas fans is oppressive, and he's lost his spark for football. The team can't trade him because of the way his contract affects the salary cap. So he might retire.

My guess is, Irvin is finding it difficult to live his preferred lifestyle under the scrutiny of Dallas fans, his teammates and a Cowboys management that intends to keep closer control over players' private lives.

The bottom line is Irvin seems unwilling to give up his flashy, party lifestyle, even for the sake of what has been a great football career.

I doubt seriously that Irvin's night on the town 15 months ago with topless dancers and drugs was his first encounter of the sort. Trial testimony would indicate otherwise, and even former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson has said that he warned Irvin years ago that he was headed for trouble.

Nor does it appear to be the last of his bad associations.

Irvin's on probation, yet, what was his alibi for the false rape charges? In a bar somewhere. And even though these new charges will likely turn out false as well, witnesses have placed Irvin near a San Francisco night club when he should have been in Dallas readying himself for a mini camp that he eventually skipped.

I realize that nightclubs are not illegal or even necessarily bad. But how much better would it be for Irvin if his alibi were that he was home with his family or in a quality restaurant or preparing for a Cowboy mini camp.

Yet, so far Irvin refuses to take the blame for anything that's happened. From the beginning, he has exhibited little regret and no repentance. Until he quits whining about how everyone's out to get him and starts taking responsibility for his own actions, he will continue to ask for, and receive, trouble.

As long as some of his associates continue to be questionable, those questionable types will continue to look for opportunities to accuse him of anything and everything for their own fame and fortune. But Irvin doesn't see anything wrong with what he's doing. In his last press conference, he even went so far as to say, "It's not about me just being places. . . So let's not just say, 'Well, Michael, stay home and don't do anything.' "

Fans everywhere are rolling their eyes at Irvin because he refuses to avoid places where trouble lurks. Even his teammates are starting to get a little frustrated at his lack of accountability.

If he would step up and change his ways, his fans and teammates would be right there supporting him. But I don't expect him to do it.

I predict Irvin's on the way to ruining a great football career. I just hope he doesn't take the Dallas Cowboys down with him.

Candy Reagan, a local free-lance writer and avid sports fan, will write a weekly sports column commenting on sports happenings from a woman's perspective. You may contact her by e-mail at reagan@camalott.com.