We had two surgeries the past month and as
we await my wife's surgery tomorrow, we
thought we might revisit our thoughts as a
former star Dallas Cowboy shared his "For
better -- For worse" thoughts on national
Television.
This man, now 41-years old, who had sixteen
brothers and sisters, and lost his father
when he was seventeen-years old, spoke from
his heart, used no notes or written
material, relived his peaks and valleys life
in 27-minutes of articulate delivery seldom
heard from athletes.
There were many Thank You's and several deep
personal apologies.
Michael Irvin's performance, following
Cowboy's Owner and General Manager Jerry
Jones' well-prepared and excellently
delivered introduction, Irvin opened with a
Prayer for Gene Hickerson, another Inductee,
who is suffering from Alzheimer's . Irvin's
father, who was a Minister, would have been
proud as would Bishop T.D. Jakes, whom Irvin
calls his Spiritual Leader of today Although
Irvin thanked everyone who had helped him
become a Hall of Fame performer, the
coaches, from high school in Fort Lauderdale
to all those at the University of Miami
through the Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson
years with the Cowboys. He thanked his
teammates, many of whom were there,
including Emmitt Smith, Daryl Johnston, Jay
Novacek, Russel Maryland, Darren Woodson,
Nate Newton, Erik Williams, Jim Jeffcoat,
Deion Sanders and others.
He told of his father asking him, in their
last conversation before his father died, to
take care of his mother. When Irvin signed
with the Cowboys, he bought his mother a new
home.
But it would be the heart-felt apologies
that Irvin delivered so indelibly that most
people will remember. His failures off the
field during that great decade of the 90's,
when he was also winning three Super Bowls
in four years. The parties, drug charges and
other things that led him to say of the "For
Better or Worse" portion of his marriage
vows.
Looking straight at his wife Sandi, seated
in the front row with their children,
Michael Irvin said: "It's easy to live with
the "For Better" but rarely can you find
someone who sticks around and endures the
"For Worse". He said: "Sandi, my wife, I
have worked tirelessly to give you the "for
better" but I also gave you the "for worse".
You didn't deserve that. You didn't deserve
that!"
A few moments later Michael Irvin had tears
running down his cheeks as he spoke about
his sons Michael and Elijah. He said : "
that's where my heart is. I say to God I
have had many struggles, and I made many bad
decisions, but whatever you do don't let me
mess this up. I say, please help me raise
them for some young lady so that they can be
a better husband than I."
Michael Irvin, while talking of the "for
worse" seemed close to tears while making
apologies to his wife Sandi. He said through
all of the "For Worse portion of his
marriage : "But through it all I experienced
the depth of your love, and I thank God for
it. " With eyes tearing up, he added: " I
love the mother you are.. I love the wife
that you are. I love the way you take care
of our family . I thank you for keeping our
family together."
It was a very special night in Canton, Ohio.
And for the second year in a row a former
Dallas Cowboy was the most eloquent speaker
on the program. Last year it was Rayfield
Wright. This year Michael Irvin was the
catalyst of the evening. Just as when, as
one of "the triplets" he made things happen.
Always working a bit harder than anyone
else. That did not escape his thoughts
Saturday night.
His closing words were, when you feel down
AND OUT, WORRYING ABOUT HOW YOUR LIFE IS
GOING When you think you have hit bottom,
Michael Irvin said: "Look up! Get up! and
don't ever Give Up!
Saturday night was not as much about
football as it was about greatness,
overcoming problems and giving thanks for a
family that stays together and Prays
together regardless of failures and
weaknesses .
Michael Irvin bared his soul and stepped out
of the Hall of Shame into the Hall of Fame.
The Playmaker scored another winner!
That's my time and I thank you for yours! |
