Aikman on KTCK: Michael and the HOF
Recap by TrickBlue from a sports forum:
You were in Mike’s position a year ago, what is he going through preparing for the induction weekend?
Some people are different. I started working on my speech right after the Superbowl when I found I was going in. I spent 5 months working on it and editing it to making sure sure all the people I wanted mentioned were in there. Its funny how you get four drafts in, and you still remember someone that you forgot. Bill walsh said that he forgot to mention his sister and it didn’t dawn on him until right after he left the podium, and it ruined his entire weekend. Reggie White’s wife said she didn’t prepare anything, and she was going to just go with whatever she thought of when she got on stage. I don’t know where Michael stands, probably somewhere in the middle.
I don’t think Michael has time to mention all of his brothers and sisters.
Was there ever a time on those 90 teams when you thought Michael’s off the field things would keep him off the HOF?
I didn’t even think of the Hall of Fame in those days. I was just hoping I could suit up the next week and play. His problems are well chronicled, but I always believed he was going to get in. Even in the last couple of years where he was eligible but didn’t get the votes, I knew it was just a matter of time. It was special for him to get to the announcement at the Superbowl in Miami in his backyard with his family and mom there. Some guys say they don’t really care one way or the other about getting into the HOF, but Mike has made no bones about it that it would mean the world to him.
Why was he so special as a player?
People have a hard time understanding that Michael was the most unselfish superstar that I’ve ever been around. People saw his charisma and flamboyant nature on the field, and they thought he was selfish. As a teammate, we were able to get such great work in because he practiced so hard. He transcended religion or race, things that can divide a lockerroom. Kevin Gogan and Charles Haley were like that too. Everyone respected them, no matter what their background. Michael was one of 18 kids, his dad was a roofer and he saw how hard he worked. That motivated him, and he wouldn’t be denied. If we were going through a lull in training camp, he willed everyone to compete. There weren’t many wasted days when you were around Michael.
My most memorable game when I think of the two of you is not your Superbowls, but the NFC Championship when you lost to the Niners. What is the most memorable game for you?
That game is very special to me for a lot of reasons. The picture I used last year as an invitation for my HOF ceremony to my guests was a picture of that game. A lot of people thought it was strange that I would use a game in which we lost, but it was the game I was most proud of. Down 21-0 and fought back. The way Michael continued to compete exemplified what our team was about. Larry Allen was a rookie playing on a bad leg and wasn’t doing well, but he just kept on battling. I always tell everyone … yes, we were talented and we had good players, but it was the character we had on those teams and the way we competed that made us winners. There have been lots of talented teams that haven’t done anything. This current Cowboys team has a lot of talent. History is littered with teams that had a lot of talent that didn’t do anything.
What’s your first assignment for Fox?
Here in Dallas for the Indy preseason game. Joe and I kind of like the preseason games, because we’re not restricted to talking about what’s going on the field. We can talk about different issues around the league. I can’t believe is already been 6 months.
You appeared at Mike’s trial and supported him. He said he told you not to do it, because it would destroy your reputation. Did you struggle with it or was it a no brainer?
It was somewhere in between. I saw an article in the newspaper that said none of his teammates had showed up to court to support him, and that really bothered me. I don’t condone why he was on trial, but I wanted to give him some emotional support. I knew people would criticize me, and misconstrue it as saying that I thought Michael Irvin should get off or that it wasn’t a big deal. But I knew that I would do it if it was a family member, and Mike was like a family member to me. I didn’t do it because it would mean a lot to Michael, I did it because it was the right thing to do. I only found out a few years ago when Michael kind of opened up about how much it meant to him. People criticized me for it, and that’s fine. My relationship with Michael is very unique. It goes all the way back to when I was a rookie and hadn’t proved anything, and he’s been one of my most loyal friends in my life.
So the ceremony will be like a mini reunion?
It will be. Im leaving tomorrow, and Daryl Johnston is going with me. I know there will be several former teammates there. I kind of wish that Michael and I would have gone in together, but having already gone in I get to see all this first hand in person. I get to go to the inductee lunch where nobody is allowed in but the inductees. I’m excited that I get to share this with him.
You were in Mike’s position a year ago, what is he going through preparing for the induction weekend?
Some people are different. I started working on my speech right after the Superbowl when I found I was going in. I spent 5 months working on it and editing it to making sure sure all the people I wanted mentioned were in there. Its funny how you get four drafts in, and you still remember someone that you forgot. Bill walsh said that he forgot to mention his sister and it didn’t dawn on him until right after he left the podium, and it ruined his entire weekend. Reggie White’s wife said she didn’t prepare anything, and she was going to just go with whatever she thought of when she got on stage. I don’t know where Michael stands, probably somewhere in the middle.
I don’t think Michael has time to mention all of his brothers and sisters.
Was there ever a time on those 90 teams when you thought Michael’s off the field things would keep him off the HOF?
I didn’t even think of the Hall of Fame in those days. I was just hoping I could suit up the next week and play. His problems are well chronicled, but I always believed he was going to get in. Even in the last couple of years where he was eligible but didn’t get the votes, I knew it was just a matter of time. It was special for him to get to the announcement at the Superbowl in Miami in his backyard with his family and mom there. Some guys say they don’t really care one way or the other about getting into the HOF, but Mike has made no bones about it that it would mean the world to him.
Why was he so special as a player?
People have a hard time understanding that Michael was the most unselfish superstar that I’ve ever been around. People saw his charisma and flamboyant nature on the field, and they thought he was selfish. As a teammate, we were able to get such great work in because he practiced so hard. He transcended religion or race, things that can divide a lockerroom. Kevin Gogan and Charles Haley were like that too. Everyone respected them, no matter what their background. Michael was one of 18 kids, his dad was a roofer and he saw how hard he worked. That motivated him, and he wouldn’t be denied. If we were going through a lull in training camp, he willed everyone to compete. There weren’t many wasted days when you were around Michael.
My most memorable game when I think of the two of you is not your Superbowls, but the NFC Championship when you lost to the Niners. What is the most memorable game for you?
That game is very special to me for a lot of reasons. The picture I used last year as an invitation for my HOF ceremony to my guests was a picture of that game. A lot of people thought it was strange that I would use a game in which we lost, but it was the game I was most proud of. Down 21-0 and fought back. The way Michael continued to compete exemplified what our team was about. Larry Allen was a rookie playing on a bad leg and wasn’t doing well, but he just kept on battling. I always tell everyone … yes, we were talented and we had good players, but it was the character we had on those teams and the way we competed that made us winners. There have been lots of talented teams that haven’t done anything. This current Cowboys team has a lot of talent. History is littered with teams that had a lot of talent that didn’t do anything.
What’s your first assignment for Fox?
Here in Dallas for the Indy preseason game. Joe and I kind of like the preseason games, because we’re not restricted to talking about what’s going on the field. We can talk about different issues around the league. I can’t believe is already been 6 months.
You appeared at Mike’s trial and supported him. He said he told you not to do it, because it would destroy your reputation. Did you struggle with it or was it a no brainer?
It was somewhere in between. I saw an article in the newspaper that said none of his teammates had showed up to court to support him, and that really bothered me. I don’t condone why he was on trial, but I wanted to give him some emotional support. I knew people would criticize me, and misconstrue it as saying that I thought Michael Irvin should get off or that it wasn’t a big deal. But I knew that I would do it if it was a family member, and Mike was like a family member to me. I didn’t do it because it would mean a lot to Michael, I did it because it was the right thing to do. I only found out a few years ago when Michael kind of opened up about how much it meant to him. People criticized me for it, and that’s fine. My relationship with Michael is very unique. It goes all the way back to when I was a rookie and hadn’t proved anything, and he’s been one of my most loyal friends in my life.
So the ceremony will be like a mini reunion?
It will be. Im leaving tomorrow, and Daryl Johnston is going with me. I know there will be several former teammates there. I kind of wish that Michael and I would have gone in together, but having already gone in I get to see all this first hand in person. I get to go to the inductee lunch where nobody is allowed in but the inductees. I’m excited that I get to share this with him.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:06 PM
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