More Time for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

When ESPN booted Sterling Sharpe from their Sunday NFL Countdown show, I was skeptical. When they inserted Michael Irvin in his place, I continued to be skeptical. Over the course of his first year, he gradually won me over as a likable goofball surrounded by stuffed shirts (NFL commentators, especially ex-players, take themselves far too seriously. Steve Young behaves like he's the head of a children's ICU or something). Michael Irvin never had much to say, and basically sat around and poked fun at everyone on the set.

Then, T.O. needed a friend in the media, and Michael Irvin became that friend. Ever since Terrell Owens started causing trouble in Eagles training camp last year, Michael Irvin has become a one-trick pony. Who's the best team in the NFL? The Cowboys. Why? Because T.O. is someday going to come out and be the great receiver he is, and lift the team to new heights. Never mind that Terry Glenn has been doing that for them already -- it has to be T.O. Also never mind that the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers all have a stronger claim on the title ( Note: The Author is strongly biased toward the Monsters of the Midway. It doesn't invalidate The Author's point (Note: I shall henceforth be known as The Author. Update your bookmarks accordingly)).

What do the Bears, Eagles, Patriots, Broncos and Chargers all have in common? None of them have a standout wide receiver. Somehow, Michael Irvin has it in his head that championship teams require superstar wide receivers. Well, duh. He was a wide receiver, and ever since someone came up with the catchy sobriquet of "The Triplets" to describe he, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin believes that any championship team requires a top quarterback, running back and wide receiver. That point could be made, I guess, but Michael Irvin is not the one to make it. Now that he actually believes in something, and tries to make points, he has become an embarrassment to ESPN. Imagine that--a company that employs Chris Berman and Stuart Scott managed to find someone even more annoying and incomprehensible to add into the mix. ESPN never had a great Sunday morning show, but it managed to get through the morning without the frat house idiocy of Fox's show, or the faux-gravitas of Boomer Esiason on CBS. Now, I suppose I'll have to abandon the shows entirely, because segments made up of Mike Ditka and Michael Irvin shouting over the top of each other do not make for good television.

Why hasn't the NFL Network launched a Sunday morning show? I have a feeling that Rich Eisen would do an outstanding job.