Would-Be Robbers Recognize Michael Irvin, Let Him Go

Former Cowboys star lucky drive-by robbers also football fans

By EAMONN BRENNAN

Updated 3:19 PM PST, Wed, Jan 14, 2009

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This isn't how the story's supposed to go. Usually, athletes are targeted because they're athletes. They're rich. They're famous. They're probably driving a nice car, and have lots money in their wallets, and lots of expensive jewelry on their wrists. You get the idea. It's why NFL players carry guns -- they don't feel safe.

Only Michael Irvin could flip the script quite like this: When Irvin stopped at a red light in Far North Dallas on Monday night, he pulled alongside a car that slowly opened its window and pointed a semiautomatic gun at him. And then this happened:

“The passenger pulled out a semiautomatic and I knew what time it was,” Irvin said. “But he said ‘Oh, that’s Michael Irvin, with the Dallas Cowboys.’” Despite being scared, Irvin said he tried to keep the conversation going. “So we started talking about the Cowboys and everything,” he said. “Then they got back on the highway.”

See? Things aren't supposed to work that way. Usually, the recognition that a famous, wealthy athlete just happened to be the target would make a robber's heart skip a beat. But his fandom took over, and he drove off. In Dallas, some things are just more sacred. Dynasty-era Cowboys are certainly no exception.