Michael Irvin has lost his ESPN gig, barely two weeks after being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Dallas Cowboys’ all-time leading receiver spent four years as an NFL studio analyst for the all-sports network.
ESPN decided Friday “as part of an annual evaluation” not to exercise an option in Irvin’s contract, it was confirmed Saturday.
“Michael Irvin will not be returning to ESPN,” network spokesman Bill Hofheimer said. “We thank him for his contributions and wish him well.”
“It’s fine,” Irvin said Saturday night. “These are exciting times for me and my family. There are a lot of opportunities to explore.”
While leaving ESPN is not his wish, Irvin will depart taking the high road.
“I truly appreciate what ESPN allowed me to do, but it was time to move on,” Irvin said. “I loved working with those guys.”
Controversy has surrounded Irvin twice in the past 15 months. During a November 2005 traffic stop in Plano, Texas, he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge when a routine search turned up a drug pipe inside his car. Irvin claimed the pipe belonged to a close friend whom he had been trying to help kick an addiction.
This past November, Irvin joked on the air that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s athletic ability must be the result of some African-American heritage.
TENNIS
Murray ousts Roddick in semifinals
Andy Murray pulled a repeat upset at the SAP Open in San Jose, Calif., beating top-seeded Andy Roddick 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 to advance to the final against Ivo Karlovic.
Murray, the defending champion, played tough defense from all corners of the court, consistently making Roddick hit a few extra shots when some points seemed to be in the American’s favor. Murray also showed his power game, mixing in 14 aces to Roddick’s nine.
The win pits Murray against Karlovic, who stormed past Germany’s Benjamin Becker 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, powered by 27 aces.
Amelie Mauresmo moved within one victory of winning a $1.3 million diamond-studded racket trophy, beating Anna Chakvetadze 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the final of the Diamond Games tournament in Antwerp, Belgium.
The top-seeded Mauresmo will face home favorite Kim Clijsters, who defeated Tatiana Golovin 6-4, 6-3.
FOOTNOTES
Roberts captures moguls event
American Nathan Roberts won the men’s freestyle World Cup moguls event in Inawashiro, Japan, and Canada’s Jennifer Heil topped the women’s event.
Nathan edged fellow American Jay Bowman-Kirigin to capture his second World Cup moguls title of the season. Japan’s Yugo Tsukita was third.
Heil widened her lead in the women’s standings with her third straight moguls win. Denver’s Michelle Roark finished second and was followed by Canada’s Stephanie St. Pierre.
Frank Broyles, 82, announced his retirement, employing his usual lively fashion to tell stories about his old football teams and speak with pride about the athletic department as he stepped toward marking the end of five decades with the Arkansas Razorbacks as a football coach and athletic director.
Michael Phelps broke his world record in the 200-meter butterfly, finishing in 1:53.71 in Columbia, Mo.
