DALLAS (AP) — Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin was named the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Darryl Strawberry “Pookie” Award for Crackhead Achievement. The annoncement was made after Irvin was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Plano police officers searched his vehicle during a traffic stop and found a crack pipe.

Irvin, an ESPN analyst and semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, told The Associated Press late Sunday that the pipe found in his car belonged to a friend of 17 years who borrowed his car to hang out with Bobby Brown for the night. Irvin refused to name his friend because he “Ain’t no damn snitch.”

Irvin said he put the pipe in his car because he didn’t want it in his house where his wife might smoke up all of his stash. He said he planned to drive somewhere the next day, like a grocery trash bin, then stand behind it and get high one last time before throwing it away for good.

“It’s a situation that is not as it seemed,” said Irvin, whose voice was choked with emotion during the telephone conversation.

“I told you…I’m off that shit. I don’t do that no more. Look at my knuckles! I don’t have crackhead knuckles anymore. They ain’t even ashy. This won’t hold up in court. I’m a rich nigga. I got lawyers, you beat-walking motherfucker!”

Irvin was arrested on an outstanding warrant for speeding in Irving after being pulled over Friday afternoon for speeding in Plano. Irvin said he thought he had paid the outstanding ticket, when in actuality, his anonymous houseguest tried to smoke it.

Irvin paid a fine on the speeding ticket and posted bond on the drug paraphernalia possession charge. He was released about an hour after he was pulled over. At which time, Darryl Strawberry, himself leaving the holding cell, awarded him the legendary Golden Crackhead synonomous with the “Pookie” Award.

The Legendary “Pookie” Award For Crackhead Achievement

Irvin was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams with the Cowboys. Asked how this award stacked up to all of those Super Bowl rings, Irvin said “It is no comparison. This is the culmination of a decade’s worth of rock smoking and sniffing that white stuff. All the while, I’ve maintained high-paying jobs in the spotlight. Let’s see you top that, Bobby and Whitney!”

“The Hall of Fame means such a great deal for me, and hopefully one day it will be there,” Irvin said. “But my Pookie Award and my family mean a little more. I would rather have them, even if it hurts that.”

In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation, a $10,000 fine and dismissal of misdemeanor marijuana possession charges. Irvin said Sunday he’s always been transparent and open about his issues in the past, and now wants to slap slobber out the next reporter who asks him about a drug problem.

Irvin holds Cowboys records for catches (750), receiving yards (11,904) tacky suits (374) and 100-yard games (47), including a team-record seven in a row in 1991.

ESPN said it has spoken to Irvin, who will still appear on the network Monday as an analyst.

“We’ve talked to Michael, who explained the situation to us the way he did to the AP, and we will continue to talk with Michael,” ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said. “But as long as he’s not high while he’s in the studio, that’s his business. I know one thing, he better not be pawning ESPN stuff trying to support his habit. Stuart Scott said he’s ready to beat Mike’s ass if his favorite chair comes up missing.”

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