Forget what you think of Michael Irvin's off the field misunderstandings and misconceptions.
One thing that has never been disputed is the man's work ethic. The man's dedication. The man's desire to excel at whatever he does. On and off the field.
Well, as his induction ceremony approaches, The Playmaker is practicing just as hard and with as much fervor as he did during his playing days.
Look at him here. See for yourself how hard he's still trying: notebook open, pen in hand, phone to the ear for an hour now with his speech coach — or "voice-awareness teacher" — as Irvin calls him. Today's session involves some detail work on his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech, to be delivered Saturday in Canton, Ohio.
Once again, Irvin proves his commitment to excellence. His desire to present the best image possible to football fans is inextinguishable.
"Per-i-pher-al," Irvin, 41, says over the phone to the man in Los Angeles. "Is that better?" He listens. "And how was I saying it?" He frowns. "OK, per-i-pher-al. Pher. I've got to put that on my word list." Irvin flips the notebook to a section full of words or phrases — "depth," "my sons and me" — that constitutes his playbook now.
We commend Michael for his efforts to please those that will listen to his speech.
But we are saddened at the same time.
A man that left his heart on the field. A man that gave all he had to give to football, his team mates and his fans, is now a man that feels so much pressure from the mainstream media that he is forced to change the way he speaks.
This is just another example of the Negro athlete never being "good enough". The man has been selected for enshrinement in the football hall of fame as a testament to his ability, heart and desire. As a testament to his honesty. As a testament to the reality of who Michael Irvin is.
Unfortunately, the reality of who Michael Irvin is must be tempered with the reality of what the mainstream media expects the Negro Athlete to be.
But you don't hear a word of complaint from Michael.
He's too busy working hard on his annunciation.
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22 comments:
I don't think there's anything wrong with a man trying to improve his delivery for such an accolade.
1. White folks helped vote him in.
2. If you made a grammatical error on this blog, I wouldn't say "Coons done turned NOIS all kinda' sideways."
3. Lest we forget, cocaine is a powerful drug.
I love your praise of Michael Irvin, he was a great player and I enjoy his commentary and analysis.
But don't almost all TV analysts have speech coaches or at least public speaking training of some kind?
I'm sorry, but I don't really see how this is an issue of race.
"I'm sorry, but I don't really see how this is an issue of race."
Sir, clearly...they got to you.
Mr. Irvin is most likely seeking his next broadcasting job, and sees the HOF as a high profile chance to show some improvement as an orator...
Plus, if Irvin mispronounces "peripheral" (for example) on stage, he's going to sound really bad. The things they mentioned him studying aren't to make him sound white, but rather to make him sound more natural. Would you prefer he sounds semi-literate on the greatest stage of his career?
"Would you prefer he sounds semi-literate on the greatest stage of his career? "
Sir, we want the Playmaker.
His annunciation and proper grammar aren't what got him on the stage.
And they aren't what got him his previous gig with ESPN.
Are they?
"Sir, we want the Playmaker.
His annunciation and proper grammar aren't what got him on the stage."
You're right. Instead of giving a speech, he would be much better off going on stage and then running an out route, catching a pass from Aikman, and then proceed to dive off the stage into a pretend endzone.
That'll show those conformity-insistent racists.
"And they aren't what got him his previous gig with ESPN."
No, but his lack of enunciation and polished grammar probably helped get him dismissed!
That and the crack pipes and erratic behavior
Sirs, witness as so many line up and take such delight in Irvin's insecurities as a public speaker. It is yet another shameful display of racism and unprovoked hostility that Brother Michael will most likely have to deal with his entire life.
Let us pray that he finds inner peace before such corrosive outside influences push him past mere personal improvement and toward paranoia and mental instability.
When will the attacks stop? What will finally and permanently satiate the blind assailants?
"When will the attacks stop? What will finally and permanently satiate the blind assailants? "
Sir, the attacks will stop when Mr. Irvin answers his phone and his race is indistinguishable.
However, at that point, the attacks may shift to his gait.
And he will have to take lessons on how to walk without rhythm. How to walk without a pimp stride.
It's only a matter of time.
"How to walk without a pimp stride."
LOL. You kill me bruh, that was great.
"Sirs, witness as so many line up and take such delight in Irvin's insecurities as a public speaker."
You based your entire attacking post on the fact that we found delight in his insecurities, yet no where was there any hint of that.
You lie and claim things about people with no just cause, only because you have no other counter-argument.
Nois: I'm glad you actually try to refute counter-arguments instead of just repeating your initial point.... oh wait.
"Nois: I'm glad you actually try to refute counter-arguments instead of just repeating your initial point.... oh wait. "
Sir, looked again.
Can't find the counter argument.
We had no choice.
I was worried your small intellect would prevent you from picking up the obvious points made against your arguments, but I'll try and dummy it down a bit for you.
First question: If most TV analysts have speech coaches or public speaking training, and Michael Irvin is/was a TV analyst and has a speech coach, then how is that evidence of racism?
Second question: You say you want the playmaker on stage, and not someone who has refined his annunciation and grammar. Does that mean you'd rather him to go on stage and score a touchdown when he is supposed to be giving a speech? Or would you rather him fumble through his speech and make George Bush look like Daniel Webster?
You know what I think? I think that you would like Michael Irvin to give a horribly unintelligible speech. I think you would like him to mumble, misspeak, and embarrass his way through his induction.
Shame on you for wishing such things on a man who is trying so hard to perform well.
This site is a satire,right?Like Jesus General?
The clarity of NOIS' arguments is similar to AG Gonzalez' when he testilies to congress.
"but I'll try and dummy it down a bit for you."
Sir, ;)
"Shame on you for wishing such things on a man who is trying so hard to perform well. "
Sir, shame on YOU for supposing that your limited scope of understanding could for a moment pretend to capture our thoughts.
Nice Rebuttal, sir.
You convincingly refuted my counter-arguments with great eloquence.
No no, wait, instead you just winked at me and told me that I couldn't read your mind.
coward.
"coward. "
Sir, you've made no "counter arguments".
A counter argument would have refute what we said with some sort of cohesive and noticeable rebuttal.
All you did was give your opinion that:
i. almost ALL tv commentators take speech lessons (which, and since you made the contention the burden of proof is on YOU, we believe is not true.....case in point: IRVIN himself, he didn't take lessons WHILE he was employed)
ii. WE want to see Irvin look stupid. (which, again, isn't a counter argument...it is imposing your desire to argue with us on us...by formulating our side of the debate with YOUR opinion of what you think we want...which makes no sense)
So, if you would like to actually debate. You need to provide an actual rebuttal to our initial post.
Asking us baseless, rhetorical sounding question based a generalization YOU made and based on YOUR pretending to estimate OUR thoughts is no rebuttal.
Your debate team coach would be so disappointed with you.
I hope as he takes the stage he slaps one of the uniformed officers working the event. That would say more to me than any speech, sir.
Or they could have Stuart Scott work with him on his speech.
I believe we're all missing the point. If Irvin had not been forced to fulfill the white man's image of what a University of Miami "Playmaker" should be, he would not have suffered so many concussions. How many times have we seen a linebacker savagely crush the brainshell of a Ricky Proehl or Wes Welker? The league is so conscious of protecting Tim Dwight that he is not allowed to touch the ball any more.
We've never heard the way Michael Irvin was raised to speak. We only know Playmaker's cocaine-, U of Miami-, and concussion-addled vernacular.
Love the "Pimp walk" reference. Have to appreciate a hate-group, I mean religion who promotes the objectification of women.
Anyways, I have a ton of respect for Michael Irvin's attempt to improve his vernacular. Any role model who takes steps to further their education, no matter what part of education that is, stands the change to change the view of just one child on the importance of education. I applaud Michael Irvin.
"Love the "Pimp walk" reference. Have to appreciate a hate-group, I mean religion who promotes the objectification of women. "
Sir, 'pimpin' is a vernacular term.
You can take your PC cop attitude and stuff it up your rear entrance.
If it isn't already stuffed.
We refuse to allow you to define our language. We refuse to allow you to invoke intent in words that is not present.
You are the one that objectifies women every time you touch your boy-like man parts while slobbering through a skin magazine.
Pervert.
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