Irvin Enters The Hall Of Fame

Yesterday was a huge day for the Dallas Cowboys, as another Cowboy was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This time it was Michael "Playmaker" Irvin, who along with Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith helped Dallas to win three Super Bowls in four years in the decade of the 90's. The three of them will always be known to Cowboy fans as "the Triplets".

But Saturday was Irvin's day to be honored, and he richly deserved it. I have always been a Michael Irvin fan. No one practiced or played harder than Irvin did. No one played with more passion and love for the Cowboys than Irvin did. I have no doubt that if cut, he would bleed Cowboy blue.

Maybe Jerry Jones put it best when he said, "I have such respect for what Michael is, what he has been, what he's meant to his teammates and what he's meant to his friends. A championship team can have a catalyst. It can have a spark, someone who can light a fire in another person's heart...the heartbeat, the heart and soul of those championship teams was Michael Irvin."

While Irvin always gave his best to the Cowboys on the field, he did have some ups and downs in his personal life. I have even heard some say that he was not a good role model for young people. I would have to disagree with that, especially after hearing his emotional acceptance speech yesterday.

No man has lived a perfect and blameless life. But many of our so-called "role models" have been successful at hiding their more shameful moments. Michael Irvin wasn't like that. He lived an open life and allowed us to see both the good and the bad. However, I believe he was a good person. When he stumbled, he always picked himself up and tried to do better.

It can be intimidating trying to model our lives after someone seen as without flaws. We will see ourselves as failures when we fall short. But modeling after someone as open and honest as Irvin can be inspiring, because he shows us we can pick ourselves up and do better. As he said last night, "Lift your head up, get up and never give up!" These are the words and actions of a true role model.

Thank you Michael Irvin. Thank you for the hard work and passion. Thank you for the example of redemption. And thank you for the many wonderful memories you gave Cowboy fans. You truly deserved the honor you received yesterday.