Spinoffs

Another reason to despise the Dallas Cowboys

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michael-irvin-d.jpgBy MARK FRANKLIN

Hey, it’s Super Bowl Sunday. You just knew there would have to be an Idol blog with a football slant.

So now there’s another reason to despise the Dallas Cowboys.

I mean, I’ve never been a fan. Somehow I grew up rooting for Roman Gabriel and the Los Angeles Rams in the late 1960s and early ’70s. And I’d feel like sticking my foot into the TV and kicking Roger Staubach in the shin every time he slithered out of the grasp of Deacon Jones or Merlin Olsen.

But at least you had to respect the Cowboy teams of that era, and the Troy Aiken-Emmitt Smith led squads that followed.

What do we have today? An egomaniac for an owner. The poster child for me-first, team-last football players in Terrell Owens. A quarterback as famous for who he dates as what he does on the football field. A boatload of stars, a couple dubious characters and an All-Pro mess.

Boy it was fun watching the Cowboys implode this year.

And, now, just to make sure the team’s focus is where is should be heading into the 2009 season, the Cowboys will be the focus of a new reality show. Courtesy of star from years gone by — Michael Irvin (above).

His inspiration: American Idol. At least that’s what he told the Associated Press recently.

Here’s how the show will work. Producers are going to round up 12 guys who had to give up their NFL dream for some reason. They’re going to pit them in some sort of competition where they’ll be eliminated, one by one. The winner gets a spot on the Cowboys training camp roster.

Hmm. Does that format sound familiar?

“I don’t know if you can walk upon any group of guys that wouldn’t say they dreamed of playing in the NFL when they were playing in their front yard,” Irvin told AP. “So we’re going to take a group of guys … dwindle them down to one and give that guy the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Now, about this opportunity of a lifetime bit …

The winner of American Idol really gets that. Heck, I bet as many folks recognize the names?Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and?David Cook these days as recognize the name Michael Irvin.

As for the winner of Michael’s little competition … He’ll get to try to tackle Marion Barber. He’ll likely get planted in the turf by DeMarcus Ware. He’ll get to spend as much time in the hot tub and icing sore body parts as he will on the football field.

And he’ll get … oh, about 15 seconds of fame.

Football stardom? Doubtful.

Must watch TV? Somehow I doubt that, too.

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