At 60 years old, one of the greatest wide receivers in Cowboys history is branching out. Into baseball. Kind of.
Michael Irvin will be a featured part of the coverage of this year’s Home Run Derby, the Pro Football Hall of Famer said this week, speaking with On3. The former ESPN analyst- thanks to his podcast The White House- has become a fixture on Netflix, the streaming service that will carry the popular event for the first time on July 13 as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week festivities.
The Cowboys as a whole have been staples of Netflix’s programming of late, between Irvin’s show, last summer’s America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys docuseries focusing on Jerry Jones, the team’s appearance versus Washington in a Christmas Day game this past December, and the America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders series, now in its third successful season.
Alongside Irvin in the platform’s coverage of this year’s Home Run Derby will be MLB greats Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, CC Sabathia, Hunter Pence, and Anthony Rizzo handling the baseball side of things. Veteran broadcasters Elle Duncan, Matt Vasgergian, and Lauren Shehadi will anchor the event.
This year’s Derby will be staged at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the city where Irvin’s 12-year NFL career came to an abrupt end with a terrifying spinal injury suffered during a game against the rival Eagles in 1999.
Irvin, who was as brash and antagonistic as they come during his playing days, still remembers the raucous cheers of Eagles fans as he lay motionless on the Veterans Stadium turf that October day. While he has maintained a love-hate relationship with the city for the last quarter-century, the three-time Super Bowl champ says he’s eager to return in a different capacity.
“I’m so looking forward to going out and being around and showcasing the Home Run Derby for Netflix and interviewing guys to bring them on my White House show and everything,” Irvin said.
“I know it’s in Philadelphia, so I’ve got to walk amongst them, but I’m willing. I’m willing. Let them know, I come in peace. I come in peace. I know the season is right around the corner. I’ve always had an interesting relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles, with the fans in Philadelphia. I’ve always had fun with them, so I’m looking forward to having fun with them in this situation.”
That likely means the five-time Pro Bowler and Cowboys Ring of Honor member will spend a good deal of time riling up the Philly crowd in between dingers from the best hitters in baseball, all of which should make for an enjoyable watch for Cowboys fans.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys great Michael Irvin getting All-Star treatment in Philly of all places
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
