Fox Sports Net (FSN) announced Friday that after
several conversations with Michael Irvin, both parties
agreed it would be "imprudent" for Irvin to begin his career
as an analyst on "NFL This Morning" at this time (FSN). In
N.Y., Richard Sandomir reported that the decision was made a
week after Dallas, TX, police "chose not to charge Irvin
after he and a woman were arrested in an apartment where
authorities said they found marijuana, ecstasy pills and a
substance resembling cocaine" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/19). In
Orlando, Jerry Greene writes that he "loved" FSN's
announcement "about dumping" Irvin. Greene: "Picture Irvin
looking at all those network suits, and saying, 'Gentlemen,
I feel it would be imprudent ...'" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/21).
MATT'S MILLEN AROUND THE UMPS: In Boston, Frank
Dell'Apa writes that Fox NFL analyst Matt Millen "received a
strong endorsement after working as an umpire" during
yesterday's Bucs-Patriots preseason game on Fox. NFL Dir of
Officials Jerry Seeman told Millen: "Your reactions were
good. Anybody who watched the game wouldn't know you
weren't an NFL umpire" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/21). Millen said
after working the officiating job, he "might cut officials
more slack in the future -- or at least better understand
the nuances of their decisions." Millen: "I think it
cleared up a lot of things for me, just the way you call
certain plays, I better understand it" (L.A. TIMES, 8/21).
In Providence, Paul Kenyon wrote that Millen "spent two
months preparing for the assignment" and attended the NFL's
annual officials' clinic in Dallas (PROVIDENCE JRL, 8/20).
FSN RATING: In Dallas, Barry Horn wrote that FSN's new
"Regional Sports Report" "deserves better" than the 0.4
rating it is getting in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Horn:
"It's a tiny number, but not awful when measured against ...
ESPN's 'SportsCenter,' which clocks in at a 0.6 in the same
Dallas-Fort Worth time spot" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/19).
