Tony Becca

Do you remember Michael Irvin?

For those who do not remember the man, or for those who do not even know of him, Irvin is one of the greatest players in the history of American football.

The brilliant Dallas Cowboys wide receiver for many years - 12 to be exact - a member of the team that won three out of four Super Bowls in the 1990s - in 1993, 1994 and 1996 to be precise; and now a proud member of the Hall of Fame, was a star among stars - probably the star among stars.

In those glorious years, the Cowboys, my NFL team from in the early 1960s until this day, paraded great players like quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, tight end Jay Novacek, guard Nate Newton, defensive end Charles Haley, wide receiver Alvin Harper, defensive tackle Leon Lett and corner back, the versatile Deion Saunders.

For many years, however, for those three years in the 1990s, Irvin was arguably the greatest of them all. He stole the show from the likes of Aikman and Smith on many occasions - just as he did on Saturday night at his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame in Fawcett Stadium, Canton, Ohio, when he left the likes of Charlie Sanders and Thurman Thomas in his shadow.

According to the Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, he does not know if he will see again a professional football player with a combination of Irvin's strength and skill as an athlete on the field and his unbelievable people skills.

Jones described Irvin as being smart, resourceful, charming, charismatic and able to win the respect of his team.

Plea for forgiveness

Jones also said, however, that Irvin had his faults. Everyone who followed the Cowboys in those days knew of Irvin's faults and, his admission of them and a plea for forgiveness, was the reason why he stole the show on Saturday night.

The great player, who was involved in drugs and womanising during his days in Dallas, bared his soul to the audience and when he was over, not only were tears running down his cheeks, but, according to the report, big men and women, including Jones himself and Irvin's mother, were seen wiping their eyes, others with tears running down their cheeks.

In an emotional speech, the man who wasone of 17 children who grew up in poverty, talked about his fame and fortune. In talking about drugs and women, about his approach to life in those days, he confessed all his sins, he regretted his approach to family life and he begged forgiveness from those for whose lives, as a role model, he had messed up.

Messed-up lives

Michael Irvin stands with his bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday night in Canton, Ohio. - AP Photo/Phil Long

"I just felt I needed to share with all that had messed up their lives because of what I had done. It haunts me. People think I got away with something now I'm up here."

According to Irvin, he was "trying the best he could to make something good out of some things bad".

Irvin said that he was not proud of that part of his life, that it haunts him up to this day to know that his two sons, age 10 and eight, can go to the Internet and read all those things about him, about that other Michael; that he wants them to grow up properly, and that he prays to God to give him the strength to do his part.

Irvin ended by asking God to help him raise his sons.

"Please help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I," said Irvin between tears. "Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I."

Looking at his sons, he also said: "I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad."

As one in sport, as one who has seen the attitude of so many sportsmen who have become rich and famous, when I read Irvin's speech on Saturday night I was so moved, I almost cried.

Thank you, Michael. By using yourself as an example of the prima donnas in sport, by doing what you did in your moment of glory, by saying what you said on Saturday night, by telling your mother, your wife and your sons, your former boss, your former colleagues and the world that you realise that you, a role model, were wrong and that you want them and the world to know that, you have done a wonderful thing for sport.

Coming on the night of the day when Alex Rodriquez of the New York Yankees had become the youngest player in the history of baseball to reach 500 home runs; coming on the night before Tom Glavine of the New York Mets had become only the 23rd man in the history of baseball to reach 300 victories as a pitcher; coming on the night when Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants had equalled Hank Aarons record of 755 home runs in a career, and coming at a time when Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, had been indicted by the Federal Government in connection with dog fighting and other abuses involving the treatment of dogs, Irvin's speech was well-timed.