Who Wants to Be a Football Star? Here's Your Chance!

Who Wants to Be a Football Star?  Here’s Your Chance!

By Joe Martinez

            On Thanksgiving Day every year, morning tradition mandates that hundreds of thousands of men gather for their annual “Turkey Bowl.”  This collection usually consists of mediocre athletes now managing a Pep Boys who have trouble letting the game go, even after ten years.  Nearly all mention that they “never got the chance to make it in the NFL” filling the cold air with excuses about politics and coaches who did not like them.

            Well, now it is time to put up, or shut up.

            Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin is putting together a reality television show searching for the next undiscovered talent.  In American Idol fashion, the show is searching for six defensive backs and six wide receivers to compete with the Dallas Cowboys in training camp this year.  The show will air on the Spike network.  The Dallas Cowboys have confirmed they will leave one spot on their 80 man roster for the show’s winner.

            This new show, which has yet to be given a title, will undoubtedly draw criticism from some fans and most players.  The sounds of the locker room will be filled with guys saying this show will allow people to take “the shorter route” to the pros.  Fans will say that it will “ruin the spirit of the game.”

            I, for one, think neither.

            Any person who wins this show will be a long shot to even make the practice squad, let alone the 53 man roster.  Coaches have put in thousands of hours of scouting and film study and invest a lot of guaranteed money to the players they draft.  The person who wins this will likely be given the NFL rookie minimum wage, which equates to about a thousand dollars a week during training camp.  Last year Dallas first round pick defensive back Mike Jenkins received $9.725 million with $3.1 million guaranteed.

            The upcoming show also should not ruin anything about the NFL.  American Idol has not ruined the music industry, so why would this ruin football?

            As it is, few people remember Kelly Clarkson as the first winner of AI.  People know her for “Since U Been Gone,” “Because of You,” and “Breakaway.”  The same would likely hold true for this show’s winner.  No one thinks of Jeff Garcia as the former CFL player.  Or Mike Furrey as the former Arena star.  Or even Kelly Herndon of XFL fame.  They know Garcia as the quarterback of the Buccaneers who years ago clashed with Terrell Owens during both of their stints with the 49ers.  People remember Furrey for leading the NFC in receptions in 2006.  People remember Kelly Herndon for having the 76-yard NFL record interception return in Super Bowl XL.

            For this show to stay on the air, whoever wins needs to do a great job.  African American athletes would have started off to a slower start had Jackie Robinson or Jim Brown been sub-par players.  American Idol’s existence depended winner Clarkson to make a name for herself.  Michael Irvin’s chosen performer will need to battle their way into making America want to keep the program running.

            So, good luck to those who tryout.  I need to go pack for Dallas now.