4B
Thursday, April 11, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Cowboy receiver faces drug indictment
Irvin's image is also questioned during this high-profile trial
The Associated Press
DALLAS—Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, who says he has no control of his image, claims that his character remains intact despite a brush with the law.
Speaking at length for the first time since being indicted on drug charges, Irvin told ESPN he regrets the negative attention his recent drug indictments have brought on himself and his family.
"Your image is what others make you out to be. My character is what I am. The people that love me and know me know my character. I apologize to them. That hurts. It hurts more than anything," he said.
Sources have said he could lose up to $1 million annually in fees and endorsements.
"I think suspension is for somebody with a substance abuse problem — and I don't have it. I definitely don't have it," Irvin said.
He also said he won't face an NFL drug suspension because he doesn't have a problem.
Irvin could not speak specifically about his case because of a gag order, but he did apologize for the March 4 incident in which police say he was in a hotel room with two topless dancers, cocaine and marijuana.
"I regret being in that room. I regret being in that situation," Irvin said. "I'm sorry to all the people that have backed me and love me, the people who know my character. I apologize to them wholeheartedly."
Angela Renee Beck was arrested immediately when she said the drugs were hers. After a grand jury investigation, Beck, Irvin and the other woman, Jasmine Nabwangu, were indicted April 1.
The 30-year-old All-Pro receiver is charged with felony possession of four or more grams of cocaine, which is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He also faces a misdemeanor marijuana count.
He's free on $5,500 bond. No trial date has been set.
Also on Tuesday, state District Judge Manny Alvarez reaffirmed the gag order set by another judge. He also banned all cameras and recording devices from the courtroom, allowing only one camera to shoot through a door window.
Michael Irvin
"I want to make sure both sides, the state and defense, are e treated the same as anyone else who comes before this court." Alvarez said.
The judge barred the seeking or signing of autographs in court. Also, Irvin must use public entrances and exits and won't be allowed to slip in and out of private entrances.
Irvin created a stir during the grand jury investigation on by sporting a fur coat and derby during his appearances. He also signed autographs at the court building, including some for security guards.
Many people considered his appearance and demeanor arrogant.
"I dress like that every day," Irvin said. "For me to say, OK, now I should go in here and dress like I'm not usually dressed would almost say I'm guilty when I'm saying I'm not. I got to be myself ...
"In this world, where we say you're innocent until proven guilty, my clothes make me guilty? My smile makes me guilty? Somebody asks me for an autograph and I sign it, that makes me guilty? I think it makes me a person ...
"I swear to you — and I don't know how bad this comes off, how bad this will sound — I'd rather be locked up as Michael Iran than free pretending to be somebody I'm not."
Despite his staircase denial of a drug problem, the NFL has told Irvin he must enroll in the first stage of the league's substance abuse program. If he doesn't, he could automatically be moved into stage two, which carries a mandatory four-game suspension.
By Scott Adams
"They said, 'We just wanted to talk to you, basically, about what's going on.' That's it," Irvin said.
Dilbert
Holmes rings bell on career in boxing
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, unable to get his dream bout with another former champ, George Foreman, will fight twice more and retire, he said yesterday.
The 46-year-old Holmes has a fight against Quin Navarre April 16 at Bay St. Louis, Miss., on the NA Network.
"I've been messing around while everybody gets my hopes up and then I get let down," Holmes said. "Everybody is saying, 'George will fight you,' and then it never happens."
"It would have been one historic fight, two guys of the ages, the geezers of Caesars or
whatever you want to call it," Holmes said on a conference call.
Since he can't get that fight, Holmes said, "I figure I'd do one more after this next one, get to an even 70 and call it quit. Unless this guy gets lucky, then it'll be 69 and quit."
Holmes' carer record is 63-5 with 41 knockouts. Na varre is 17-3-1 with 12 knockouts.
"I can't stay around," Holmes said. "I don't want to end up all beat-up and hurt and people blaming boxing for what happened to me. I don't want that. I don't want boxing called a brutal sport because I stuck around too long."
Lakers player fined record sum in NBA
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Nick Van Exel of the Los Angeles Lakers was suspended for seven games and fined an NBA-record $25,000 today for shoving a reefere during a game against the Denver Nuggets.
The league's action against Van Exel will cost the Lakers' guard about $187,000 and will keep him out of the lineup for the rest of the regular season.
The incident occurred with 3:23 left in the Lakers' 98-91 loss to Denver on Tuesday night. Van Exel was given a technical by referee Ron Garretson after the player questioned a call during a time-out.
In the course of a subsequent argument, Garrentson issued Van Exel a second technical — carrying an automatic ejection — and the point guard then shoved Garrentson onto the scorer's table with his forearm.
Van Exel, who makes $1.9 million this season, will lose about $161,000 in pay, plus the $25,000 fine and $1,000 for a game ejection.
Van Exel's suspension is the third longest in league history for an on-court incident. Kermit Washington was suspended for 26 games in 1977 for punching Rudy Tomjanovich, and Vernon Maxwell received a 10-game suspension last year for going into the stands and hitting a fan.
The incident comes less than a month after Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls was suspended for six games and fined $20,000.
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