Michael Irvin among those selected to join local Hall of Fame

Jack McKeon, Michael Irvin, Jennifer Rodriguez and Juan Pablo Montoya each made their marks on the South Florida sports community.
On Wednesday morning, they were honored for their efforts.

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Sports Hall of Champions on Wednesday afternoon with its annual awards banquet at American Airlines Arena.

Montoya, McKeon, Irvin and Rodriguez joined a pantheon of athletes and coaches with ties to Miami that have been honored over the past two decades. The list includes Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, Dan Marino, Don Shula and Arthur Ashe.

Longtime Miami Heat announcers Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino were also recognized with the Lifetime Contribution to Sports Awards for their contributions to the franchise and the community.

rvin, the former UM and Dallas Cowboys standout, wrapped up the luncheon with a powerful speech about making a difference in people’s lives.

The Hall of Fame receiver spoke about being a mentor to Cowboys receiver Jesse Holley, who earned an invitation to the team’s training camp after winning Irvin’s reality show 4th and Long in 2009. Holley is playing this season for Dallas.

“We want to be a light for others and most importantly, you want to shine a light on the people that helped you get here,” Irvin said. “An award like this really comes down to the journey.”

Click here to order Michael Irvin’s proCane Rookie Card.


(miamiherald.com)