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Last of the Duke Street Kings
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A Pro Football Hall of Famer eating ketchup sandwiches?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
LINK
These days, Michael Irvin appreciates a gourmet meal as much as the next millionaire athlete. But a steak dinner is a long way from the Fort Lauderdale home in which Irvin grew up.
Back when Irvin was a kid, there were times he went hungry. Real hungry.
And there were times when he looked for something that wouldn’t necessarily stick to his ribs as much as coat his belly.
So the Pro Football Hall of Famer ate ketchup sandwiches. That’s if he could find bread, which wasn’t always available in a house with 17 kids. And Irvin would eat mayonnaise sandwiches if ketchup wasn’t in the fridge.
On the rare occasion — when there was a box of cereal still full — Irvin would sneak into the kitchen after everyone else went to sleep.
Before he was a Hall of Famer and before he grew into one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Irvin ate cereal that was usually softened with tap water.
Big family
In a home of 17 kids, how often was there a gallon of milk?
Walter and Pearl Irvin each brought children from previous marriages. Walter had two and Pearl brought six. After they married, they had nine kids to bring to 17 the number of mouths to feed.
Irvin grew up in a home where his father was a roofer, often working 12-hour days in the hot Florida sun. His mother stayed at home to help raise the large family.
fight for fans
The Irvins had an air conditioner, but it wasn’t plugged in. The electricity it cost to cool the house was not a luxury afforded in a home with one fan.
“It wasn’t good then, but it’s funny when I think about it,” Irvin said in a Sporting News story.
“We couldn’t afford two fans. How much do fans cost? I always would have to be the one to go steal the fan from the girls’ room. You had to ‘call’ the fan after 6 in the morning, like, ‘We get the fan tonight.’
“My sisters always seemed to be able to call the fan, and I always would go steal it. Now we’re OK, and we sleep. Of course, my sisters start to get hot, and they’d come in and steal it right back.”
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com
Thursday, July 26, 2007
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
LINK
These days, Michael Irvin appreciates a gourmet meal as much as the next millionaire athlete. But a steak dinner is a long way from the Fort Lauderdale home in which Irvin grew up.
Back when Irvin was a kid, there were times he went hungry. Real hungry.
And there were times when he looked for something that wouldn’t necessarily stick to his ribs as much as coat his belly.
So the Pro Football Hall of Famer ate ketchup sandwiches. That’s if he could find bread, which wasn’t always available in a house with 17 kids. And Irvin would eat mayonnaise sandwiches if ketchup wasn’t in the fridge.
On the rare occasion — when there was a box of cereal still full — Irvin would sneak into the kitchen after everyone else went to sleep.
Before he was a Hall of Famer and before he grew into one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Irvin ate cereal that was usually softened with tap water.
Big family
In a home of 17 kids, how often was there a gallon of milk?
Walter and Pearl Irvin each brought children from previous marriages. Walter had two and Pearl brought six. After they married, they had nine kids to bring to 17 the number of mouths to feed.
Irvin grew up in a home where his father was a roofer, often working 12-hour days in the hot Florida sun. His mother stayed at home to help raise the large family.
fight for fans
The Irvins had an air conditioner, but it wasn’t plugged in. The electricity it cost to cool the house was not a luxury afforded in a home with one fan.
“It wasn’t good then, but it’s funny when I think about it,” Irvin said in a Sporting News story.
“We couldn’t afford two fans. How much do fans cost? I always would have to be the one to go steal the fan from the girls’ room. You had to ‘call’ the fan after 6 in the morning, like, ‘We get the fan tonight.’
“My sisters always seemed to be able to call the fan, and I always would go steal it. Now we’re OK, and we sleep. Of course, my sisters start to get hot, and they’d come in and steal it right back.”
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com
