Q&A with Michael Irvin

Hall-of -Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin will be in the Rio Grande Valley this Friday night for an event at Shotz Bar & Grill in Mission. Irvin, who was inducted into the Hall last summer, is making his first visit to the Valley since coming in the early 1990s.

One of 20 tables for six at the event cost $4,000, while there will be two tables for $10,000. Those tables will include Irvin sitting at the table for one hour.

Last week, The Monitor caught up with Irvin to discuss his radio show, the Cowboys and what he would tell troubled New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

Q: How's the radio show?
A: I love it. I love the radio show. It gives me a great opportunity, and I've always felt a great connection with the fans, it gives me an opportunity to speak with the fans. When I was doing TV, I certainly enjoyed doing it, but I would only speak to the fans. Radio gives me the opportunity to speak with the fans, and that's what's great about it.

Q: What have you learned about the fans?
A: I consider my show to be my ministry, I really do. But I've learned so much about the whole thought-process of a fan. It helped me understand why they have the passion they do for the game. When I was playing, they would do some things that I thought, ‘why would they have these thoughts?' It certainly helps me to learn the psyche of the fans from that perspective. I've gotten an understanding of things I never had an understanding of when I was playing.

Q: What have you been telling people about the 2008 Cowboys?
A: Dallas can be, and do, what they want to do. It's a matter of being self-motivated because I don't know, well I do know, that Wade is a serious motivator. They have to be self-motivated to get some things done. That's the bottom line. They are as good as anybody, anybody in this league. But can you continue to push yourself to get done what you need to get done, how you need to get it done? I'm talking about paying attention to details, that's what matters. You have to pay attention to the details. If they can do that, then they can make things happen, because the talent is incredible.

Q: Is this team going to be able to fulfill the preseason expectations?
A: From this point on it's going to be a tough go. And they placed themselves on this tough road. Certainly still, they can get it done.

Q: Could going through what they did without Tony Romo be a good thing in the long run?
A: I think they all realized they need their starting quarterback. I think what was good out of it is they realized they need a back-up quarterback. Let's just call a spade a spade. That's the conclusion they came to. ‘We got starter, but we need a back-up. What are we going to do about that?'

Q: What does Pacman's return change for this team?
A: This is a tough situation. Most NFL players, and other people and the media, wonder ‘How will they handle it, bringing Pacman back?' Most guys understand this that have been in the business longest, and they see right there, we can't decide who's here, but what we can do is determine if we can get our job done. Let's go get our job done. Adam's part of the team, he's worked hard. Like Romo's said, he's worked hard and does what he's supposed to do on the field. We can't ask for more than that.

Q: If you were in that locker room, would you trust him?
A: You throw the word ‘trust' out there and I don't know if it's really applicable. Would I trust him to play hard? Yes. Yes I can. Can I depend on him to be there every week and not get suspended? You have to think from a coach's perspective, I'm going to play you if you can play and help us win. But, I also have to have my contingency plans in place.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Plaxico Burress situation?
A: I feel sorry for him, I really do. But I'm blown away with it.

Q: How so?
A: Let's think first. We can talk about how many players have been involved here lately. How do you take a gun? Why are you taking a gun to a night club? You know, you're with Antonio Pierce and other guys, why are you taking a gun to the night club? And second, what are you doing by having no safety? And how in the hell can you shoot yourself? You are in the NFL, and I don't mean to make light of it, you are a professional athlete. How can a professional athlete be that clumsy with a gun?

Q: If Burress were to call you, what would you say to him?
A: I'd tell him that I don't care what anybody says, hold a press conference. The biggest mistake we make as athletes is that we take advice from counsel is that when something goes down, everybody shuts up. Doesn't say a word and be quiet. And while you are quiet, everybody else is talking, so that is swaying the public's opinion at that time. I would tell him hold a press conference and let people know you're not the raving maniac that they're making you out to be. And maybe Mayor Bloomberg and all of them will scooter back off to what they're doing. They're not seeing a guy that made an honest mistake. What they're seeing is a guy who didn't show up for meetings, didn't call, a guy that's trying to do whatever he wants to do and now make sure he gets this message.

(themonitor.com)