Last Thursday I was given a very special opportunity to rub elbows with some big names, watch the premier of Michael Irvins reality show 4th and Long and be able to see people come together for a great cause....
Over the last few months I have made a connect with one of Michael Irvins very close friends, who knows its my goal to one day be a sports reporter and this man must have some type of faith in me because he is giving me and inviting me to many opportunities to meet and mingle with some big names in the industry... Well last Thursday Michael Irvin had the launch party for his new reality show 4th and Long at Club Sting in Addison and I was invited to it. It was meant to only be the launch of the show but after the tragic paralization of Dallas Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm, it became a fundraising event more than anything.
A couple of weeks ago Dallas was hit with some insane storms and two weeks ago this past Saturday, the Cowboy's Rookies were showing off what they had when all of a sudden the winds and rain became so violent that it turned the Dallas Cowboys practice facility at valley ranch (which is a tent like structure) in to a pile of plastic and metal framing. I was at work that Saturday around 5pm that day and on all our TVs were breaking news of the collapse. You could see these young rookies holding on to support beams as tight as they could, with their helmets still securely fastened and you could tell they were scared as the tent material that the facility was made of rumbled back and forth. After the storm passed, all that was left was nothing but the field. It was the talk around the restaurant. But on my drive to school on Monday morning I heard on ESPN radio about the Rich Behm ,33 who was paralyzed from the waist down. Behm has two young sons and a baby girl. And from the kindness of his heart Michael Irvin turned the launch, which could have been all about him into a fund raiser for the young man's family. As you entered the the club that was lined with Bentley after Bentley after Bentley and Rolls Royce's you were met with a donation jar... I dropped my sad $20 bill into the sea of 100s. But I felt good I gave what I could. After the showing of the new show, is when the rallying for donations for Behm began... Mike started off in a preacher like tone asking for people to give! Asking for 5,000 straight up and just like me throwing $5 in the the offering plate at church these giving people began to give and give. Cowboys superstars like Jason Whitten and De Marcus Ware and former Cowboy great Greg Ellis...to owner Jerry Jones, head coach Wade Phillips, Jason Garret and other coaches were in attendance and gave and gave BIG!!! This was a true rally for this man! And Jerry said what ever was raised that night, the cowboys would match it dollar for dollar! This just proved that beyond what these men do on the field they have BIG hearts and really care about their team family and you could hear it in the speeches they gave. This was truly an eye opening and moving experience for me.
But through all of the giving there was the premier in store. I sat in the big screening room and watched anxiously... It starts off introducing the contestants 6 wide receivers and 6 defensive ends and introducing them to Mike and the two coaches Joe Avezzano (WRs coach) and Bill Bates (DBs coach) these three men will determine who goes home every week and who will get the opportunity to attend Dallas Cowboys training camp and the chance to play for America's team. The contestants for the most part are all former college players who had chances to play in the NFL but due to things such as injury, schisty agents, and bad tryouts at the combine these players didnt make it to the pros. The schools this men went range from division I like Texas and OU to division II universities like Tennessee State. Some have even made big names for themselves in the arena football league. As they stand on the field of the Cotton Bowl they findout they will be living in the locker rooms at the stadium that have been spruced up into fancy dorms. The next day training begins and its intense lots of running and sweating and blowing chunks!!!! I wont tell anymore you needa check it out for yourself but weekly Ill give you my take on the show! So far its great and it really show you that Mike means business! As it the shows tag line says "It takes a Legend to Find a Star" and he wont take anything less.
As I was at the premier, I was able to meet Kevin Kiley, Mike's co-host on ESPN radio and had a nice long conversation with him. I told him what I wanted to do, he gave me some pointers and I gave him my contact card. I like him so much better in person, on the radio he seems like such a douche but I realized he's just doing his job and creating the vibe their radio show has, and it spot on! He was so down to earth and just made me want to keep going and going to reach my goal. I was also able to meet some sports journalists from around Dallas and made some good connects and gave away a few contact cards. I also was able to meet Big from the MTV hit show Rob and Big. The big guy Nate Newton and many others. Mike even posed for the camera with me and signed a big poster for his show that I took off the wall.
It was an amazing night... and I want to thank my good friend Jemaine giving me the chance to be apart of this charitable, memorable night!
Remember to K.I.S.S.- Keep It Simple Sportfan!!!
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