Irvin Is Seeking Refuge in a Fox Hole

On July 11, Michael Irvin, 34, announced his retirement from football and was hired as a studio commentator by Fox Sports Net.

On Tuesday, Kevin Johnson, 34, announced his retirement from basketball and was hired as a studio commentator by NBC.

On Wednesday, Johnson, an advocate of bipartisan politics, had a one-on-one meeting with President Clinton at the White House.

Also on Wednesday, Irvin was found by drug agents in a north Dallas apartment with a 21-year-old woman, Nelly Adham. The agents, there to serve a warrant to another woman, found two ounces of marijuana. Irvin, who five weeks ago completed his probation on a 1996 felony drug charge, was arrested again.

Do you see a contrast here? Do you think NBC made a slightly better hire than Fox?

You have to wonder what the Fox cable people were thinking. Was their only concern Irvin’s marquee value and that he had caught 750 passes for the Dallas Cowboys? Didn’t his rap sheet count for something?

Most employers would shy away from someone who was busted in a motel room with two prostitutes and cocaine, as was the case with Irvin in 1996.

On the police custody report after his arrest this week, Irvin listed his occupation as “broadcaster” and his employer as “Fox.” Fox isn’t commenting on Irvin’s job status, but you can bet that the Fox PR machine is trying to figure out how to get out of this mess gracefully.

Fox finds itself in a real hole. It seems all Fox can do is say that, after careful consideration, it has decided Irvin was not the ideal person for the job.

KJ AND THE PRESIDENT

After NBC announced it had hired Johnson as Isiah Thomas’ replacement for “NBA Showtime,” a publicist offered a one-on-one interview. The next day, Johnson called three times before a connection was made. Most former professional athletes would call once, figuring they had done their job.

Johnson talked about how NBC had done a feature on him during the Phoenix Suns’ playoff series with the Lakers and then, after the Suns were eliminated, asked him to work in-studio as a guest analyst for a couple of games. That led to his getting the full-time job.

Toward the end of the interview, Johnson, who was in Washington, mentioned he had an important meeting in two hours. It was a one-on-one with the President.

“We met at a Democratic fund-raiser in Phoenix on June 22,” Johnson explained.

At the fund-raiser, put on by Sun owner Jerry Colangelo, Clinton invited Johnson to the White House.

“Since I never played on an NBA championship team, this is my first invitation to the White House.”

Johnson called again Thursday. He was back home in Phoenix but still sky high over his experiences in Washington the day before.

“What was neat was when the security people asked if I was there for a tour or something like that, I could say, ‘I have an appointment with the President.’

“We met in the Oval Office. It was unbelievable. I don’t want to say for how long because that would ruin the story, but afterward he invited me to walk with him through the Rose Garden to the East Wing and attend the Medals of Freedom presentation.”

“Too bad I don’t have a class to go to for a show-and-tell,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he attended the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and will be in Los Angeles for the Democratic National Convention next week.

Johnson said he has no plans to enter the political arena, but that could change. He has been honored for his work with underprivileged children and his citizenship in general. The only blemish on his record is a 1995 accusation of sexual misconduct by a teenage girl with a history of mental problems. No charges were filed.

As for Irvin’s most recent blemish, Johnson, always the diplomat, said, “You just hope it’s a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and give him the benefit of doubt.”

SHORT WAVES

Orel Hershiser will work with Brent Musburger on selected Little League World Series telecasts beginning next week on ESPN and ESPN2, and they’ll be joined by Harold Reynolds for the championship game Aug. 26 on ABC. . . . Sunday is the fifth anniversary of Mickey Mantle’s death, and ESPN Classic is paying tribute with a “SportsCentury” profile today at 5 p.m. and a seven-hour tribute Sunday, beginning at 6 a.m. . . . When Fox televises the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field Aug. 26, it will turn back the clock to commemorate the first baseball telecast on Aug. 26, 1939. Fox will show how baseball telecasts have evolved over the years.

Saturday’s Evander Holyfield-John Ruiz fight from Paris Las Vegas, to be shown delayed at 10 p.m., is Showtime’s 300th fight telecast. Showtime also has a fight tonight at 11:30, delayed, from the Paris. . . . Dennis Miller’s second dress rehearsal is coming Monday at 4 p.m. when ABC televises an exhibition game between St. Louis and Tennessee. . . . Earl Woods, Tiger’s father, will be featured on Fox Sports Net’s “Regional Report” Wednesday night. . . . Fox Sports Net has partnered with Broadband Sports to create a weekly documentary series, “Beyond the Game,” scheduled to begin Nov. 26. Director Ron Shelton will serve as executive consultant.

Hiring department: Fox has hired Darrell Waltrip and crew chief Larry McReynolds as commentators for its NASCAR coverage, which begins next year. . . . Retired NFL linebacker Kevin Greene has been hired as a rotating commentator on ESPN2’s “NFL 2Night.” On the college football front, look for Fox Sports Net to name Mike Sherrard or former Chicago Bear safety and current Arizona State announcer Doug Plank as David Norrie’s replacement. Norrie has gone to ABC, where he’ll work six regular-season regional telecasts, beginning Sept. 9, and two bowl games.

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What Los Angeles Is Watching

A sampling of L.A. Nielsen ratings for Aug. 5-6.

SATURDAY

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Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Pro football: NFL exhibition, Oakland at St. Louis 2 3.4 8 Gymnastics: U.S. Championships (highlights) 4 2.9 8 Baseball: Angels at Cleveland 11 2.7 7 Pro basketball: WNBA, Sparks at Phoenix 4 2.2 6 Golf: PGA International 2 2.1 5 Auto racing: NASCAR Brickyard 400 7 2.0 6 Pro football: NFL exhibition, Oakland at St. Louis 13 1.9 4 Soccer: MLS, Galaxy at Kansas City 52 1.2 3 Harness racing: the Hambletonian 2 0.9 3 Pro football: NFL exhibition, Chicago at N.Y. Giants 13 0.8 2

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Cable Network Rating Share Pro football: NFL exhibition, Atlanta vs. Dallas ESPN 2.1 4 Baseball: Milwaukee at Dodgers FSN2 1.9 4 Horse racing: Jim Dandy Stakes ESPN 0.9 2 Pro football: NFL exhibition, San Diego-San Francisco FSN 0.9 2 Drag racing: NHRA Fram-Autolite qualifying ESPN2 0.8 2 Olympic trials: Volleyball, weightlifting PAX 0.8 2 Tennis: Acura Classic at La Costa FSN 0.7 2 Tennis: Masters Series at Toronto ESPN 0.7 2 Golf: Senior Burnet Classic ESPN 0.5 1 Boxing: Zab Judah vs. Terronn Millett SHO 0.4 1 Soccer: MLS, Columbus at New England ESPN2 0.4 1

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SUNDAY

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Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Golf: PGA International 2 2.7 7 Tennis: Acura Classic at La Costa 11 2.5 6 Baseball: Angels at Cleveland 9 1.9 5 Horse racing: Whitney Handicap 11 1.9 5 Tennis: Masters Series at Toronto 2 1.3 4 Soccer: MLS, New York/New Jersey at Chicago 7 1.2 3 Pro basketball: WNBA, Houston at Sacramento 4 1.0 2

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Cable Network Rating Share Baseball: Atlanta at St. Louis ESPN 1.9 4 Golf: Senior Burnet Classic ESPN 1.1 3 Arena football: Playoffs, Arizona at Albany ESPN 0.9 3 Drag racing: NHRA Fram-Autolite finals ESPN2 0.8 1 Horse racing: Haskell Invitational Handicap ESPN2 0.4 1 Golf: LPGA Michelob Light Classic ESPN2 0.3 1

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WEEKDAY RATINGS: MONDAY: Chicago Cubs at Dodgers, Ch. 5, 2.8/4.

Note: Each rating point represents 51,350 L.A. households. Cable ratings reflect the entire market, even though cable is in only 63% of L.A. households.