Irvin out at ESPN

GOODBYE, MICHAEL IRVIN.

Hello, Emmitt Smith?

Irvin lost his ESPN job over the weekend when the network decided not to renew his

option.

But he's not upset. In fact, it seems the split was downright amicable.

"I worked hard at ESPN, and I loved my job and the people there," Irvin told the Dallas Morning News. "But I want to do different things and not be stuck in a box. They had other ideas."

Controversy has never been a stranger to the former Cowboys receiver, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2 weeks ago. But, ESPN spokesman Bill Hofheimer said nothing Irvin did in the past, either on or off camera, influenced the network's decision.

"There was an evaluation of the studio-talent lineup, and a decision was made to go in a

different direction," Hofheimer told the

Morning News. "There is nothing here but good feelings about Michael."

The Morning News said that Smith, also a former Cowboys star, might be a candidate

to replace Irvin.

Irvin, who had worked at the ESPN since 2003, is said to have helped Smith get ready for a recent audition for the network. And, Smith has ties - of sorts - to ESPN. He has won ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" competition, and ABC is owned by Disney, which also owns the all-sports network so . . . Stay tuned.

By winning the Diamond Games tennis

tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, for the

third time in 5 years yesterday, Amelie

Mauresmo was awarded a diamond-studded racket trophy worth $1.3 million.

What, one wonders, does one do with a

trophy studded with 1,702 diamonds?

Can you say eBay? *

- Tom Mahon

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