When you think of the White House, you probably envision that big mansion on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. where President Barack Obama and his beautiful family once lived in. But during the ‘90s, one football team brought a whole new meaning to the term “the White House.”
Life on the football field was sweet for the Dallas Cowboys. Affectionately known as America’s Team, they won three Super Bowls during that decade and were well on their way to dominating the NFL. But off the field, the players were involved in some scandalous activities that would shock the entire nation.
The typical suburban home in a neighborhood with streets named after former Cowboy players is at the scene of this sordid tale. The two-story, 5-bedroom, 3-1/2 bath residence located in Valley Ranch, Texas, right outside of Dallas, is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by a perfectly manicured lawn. But behind the brick walls of the home lies remnants of a frat house of sorts, complete with wild parties, controversy, infidelities, and scandal. The ringleader? Hall of Famer and former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin.
Here’s the scandalous truth about the Dallas Cowboys White House.
Coming up with a great plan
Nate Newton signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1986. He was followed by Michael Irvin, who was selected by the Cowboys with the 11th pick in the first round of the 1988 draft. Years later, Nate and Michael got a new teammate, Alvin Harper, who was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1991 draft.
According to Press Box DFW website, Nate came up with the great idea of having a safe space where he and his teammates could relax and have some fun. Michael Irvin thought it was a genius idea. During an appearance on the show Undeniable with Joe Buck, he said he didn’t want to sneak around at hotels anymore. Alvin thought it was a great idea, as well. And with some help from Classic Property Management of Arlington, Texas, they found the perfect spot. Michael told Undeniable with Joe Buck the home was right around the corner from the Cowboys’ practice field.
Alvin signed the lease for a residence at 115 Dorsett Drive — a street named after former Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, of course. Even though Alvin’s name was on the dotted line, no one actually lived in the home full-time. They would all go home to their wives and girlfriends on most nights, and the rent was reportedly paid for by multiple players.
Batteries, toys, and hidden cameras
To keep their new home in tip-top shape, they had a cleaning crew and handyman on call. Anthony “Paco” Montoya, Michael Irvin’s former personal assistant, and he told the website it was his job to keep the house stocked with beer, wine, liquor, batteries, toys, and protection for intimate encounters.
To visualize the inside of the White House, picture enormous televisions, a pool table, a wet bar, a canal behind the house, and women lots and lots of women. Oh, and don’t forget the handful of hidden video cameras throughout the rooms.
According to the Guardian, the cameras were installed by Michael Irvin’s close friend and assistant, Dennis Pedini. Everything that went on inside was captured on camera, and the other players reportedly had no idea they were being filmed during their escapades.
Charles Haley brings new life to the Dallas Cowboys White House
At first, neighbors noticed several players going in and out of the house for an hour or so after practices. The Guardian reports the women were escorted through the front door, brought to the rear bedroom, enjoyed, and discarded quickly. Most of the women had no special connection to the players, but that all changed in 1992.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones orchestrated a trade that would bring outside linebacker and defensive end, Charles Haley, from the 49ers to the Cowboys. The Guardian reports Charles was famous among his peers for being a bit socially awkward. He was reportedly prescribed medication to treat manic depression but would skip his dosages a few days in a row.
On his first day as a Cowboy, he allegedly arrived in the conference room dressed in a towel. His teammate Tony Casillas told the Guardian Charles laid down on the floor and used his hand to have some extracurricular fun on his nether regions…in front of the entire team. Despite being a bit odd, he was described as very intelligent and he fit right in with the rest of the players that frequented the Dallas Cowboys White House. Charles allegedly used the residence to regularly entertain his favorite mistress.
The Cowboys lived life in the fast lane
No one used the Dallas Cowboys White House to their advantage more than Michael Irvin. The Guardian states the wide receiver was blessed with the ability to stay up for days without any sleep. The Guardian stated Michael drank hard, snorted and smoked substances, bedded three, four, five women at a time – and sucked in as many teammates as possible into his lifestyle.
Charles Haley and Michael Irvin were lucky enough to live a fast lifestyle without hitting rock bottom. But many of their teammates weren’t as successful. Cornerback Clayton Holmes, running back Sherman Williams and defensive lineman Shante Carver were suspended for failing multiple substance tests. Many of the Cowboys began to struggle off the field, including offensive lineman Erik Williams, who nearly lost his life in 1994 after driving while drunk on a Dallas freeway, the Times reports.
The neighbors got suspicious
Jeff Pearlman, the author of the book Boys Will Be Boys, wrote that neighbors in the exclusively white community noticed the “6-foot-5 inch, 300 pound African American men escorting an endless conveyor belt of large-breasted blondes.”
Greg Canty, the man who lived next door to the White House, was particularly nosy. He told the LA Times he noticed the influx of women and made note the women were single because none of them were wearing wedding rings. Greg said he would occasionally strike up a conversation with some of the women and probed them about what was going on inside. He wasn’t able to find out much information until he spoke with another neighbor who told him she could see women running through the house in their birthday suits.
None of the neighbors ever called the cops. Because with the exception of the occasional limousine parked in the street, the Cowboys were never a problem. The next-door neighbor said things were quiet as a mouse in the White House. He added: “Actually, I was kind of hoping they would be loud, just once, so I could have had an excuse to knock on the door. […] I would have told them, either quiet down . . . or let me join you.”
Nate Newton insisted the White House was not a brothel, nor was it a place for players to engage in substances. But in 1994, word got back to league officials that something suspicious was going on at the home. According to the New York Times, the officials alerted the Cowboys organization of their concerns about some players’ potential off-the-field problems, but no action was taken. Well, not at first, at least.
Their lifestyle caught up with them
The players continued to frequent the Dallas Cowboys White House in secrecy. But soon enough, their addictions with the fast life began to catch up with them. Slowly, their commitment to winning declined as many of the players became more focused on hooking up with women
Ahead of the 1996 Super Bowl, the Guardian reported roughly a dozen teammates rented limos in Dallas in order to have their mistresses driven to the Super Bowl, which was taking place in Arizona. Those same vehicles were then used to transport players to the pregame practices. The Cowboys were able to beat the Steelers, 27 to 17. But just two months later, Michael Irvin and all of the salacious details about the Dallas Cowboys White House would make headlines.
Michael Irvin got arrested and faced serious charges
Michael Irvin wanted to celebrate his 30th birthday the only way he knew how: with a few women and lots of substances. In an interesting twist, the husband and father of two decided to skip out on having an intimate party at the White House. Instead, he and his teammate Alfredo Roberts decided to switch things up by booking a $119 dollar-a-night room at the Residence Inn hotel just a couple of miles from the Dallas Cowboys White House.
They were accompanied by two dancers, 22-year-old Angela Renee Beck, and 21-year-old Jennipher Nabwangu. The manager of the hotel called the police to complain the women had been using the hotel to sell their bodies. When the police arrived at room 624, they found the women, Alfredo, a shirtless Michael, a vial with white residue found on top of a bag of Michael’s jewelry, two ounces of marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia and toys used for intimate activities.
Michael reportedly tried to get out of the situation by telling one of the officers, “Hey, can I tell you who I am?” But none of that mattered. To Angela’s surprise, the cops found drugs in one of her bags. She was the only person who got locked up that night.
Less than a month later, a Dallas grand jury indicted Michael and Jennipher on possession charges. But that was the least of his worries because the Dallas Cowboys White House was about to be exposed.
The Dallas Cowboys White House gets exposed
A couple of weeks before the White House was reported by the media, Michael’s teammate Leon Lett called him and said, “Hey man. I think we’ve been infiltrated. You need to shut down the white house.” Michael reportedly responded, “We’re not shutting down the white house […] Man, get out of here with that.”
And then, the bombshell report made headlines. Michael Irvin’s assistant, Dennis Pedini, who was once in charge of setting up hidden cameras in the home, set Michael up by secretly filmed the Cowboys player as he was driving him around one day. The footage, which was aired on an episode of a Fort Worth TV station’s series called Tarnished Star (via AP News), showed Dennis reportedly driving Michael around a neighborhood to purchase cocaine.
Dennis also blew the lid off of the White House during an interview with the tv station. He simply stated the White House was a home where players could party with women without their wives knowing about it.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones heard the news and called Michael in for a meeting. Jerry wanted to know all the details, and he reportedly told Michael: “All I need is the truth out of you and I’m going to fight with you, but you’ve got to tell me the truth.”
Michael said he thought long and hard. He knew he was busted, so he finally responded: “Boss, I was trying to do the wrong thing the right way.” Michael said Jerry just sat there and shook his head.
A Dallas cop puts a hit out on Michael Irvin
With news of the White House making everyone clutch their pearls, Michael’s problems were far from over. He was facing up to 20 years behind bars for the possession charge, and things were about to take a dark turn.
One of the witnesses in the case, a friend of the other two women and a dancer at a Dallas gentleman’s club, was set to testify against Michael with damaging evidence about his previous wild parties. Authorities believed Michael contacted the woman and threatened to hurt her if she testified against him. The woman’s fiancé, Dallas police officer Johnnie Hernandez, believed she might have been having an affair with the football player. So he went looking for revenge.
Johnnie paid an undercover DEA agent $2,960 towards a $30,000 payment to take Michael Irvin’s life. He was found guilty and ordered to serve 12-years behind bars, UPI reports.
Michael Irvin has his day in court
As far as his own substance charge, Michael showed up to court wearing a floor-length mink coat and sunglasses. During proceedings, his attorney suggested the vial of cocaine could have been put inside Michael’s bag by his teammate Alfredo. Smh.
According to the AP News, Michael pleaded no contest, was fined $10,000, was ordered to perform 800 hours of community service, and had to undergo frequent drug tests during his four years’ probation. The New York Times reports the NFL also suspended him for the first five games of the 1996-1997 season.
Saying goodbye to the Dallas Cowboys White House
The players got rid of the Dallas Cowboys White House in 1996. Michael returned to the squad and had some success on the field, up until he suffered a career-ending injury during the 1999 season.
Despite his career being over, he reportedly continued to be a womanizer and use drugs. A year after his retirement, the AP News reported he and a 21-year-old woman were locked up after officers found marijuana in a Dallas apartment they were in.
Michael Irvin changed his life around
After a trip to rehab, Michael Irvin life changed. He now speaks out about his past and attends church regularly. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His wife Sandy Irvin, a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader whom he married in 1990, and their children were in attendance to watch it all go down. With tears streaming from his eyes, he asked for forgiveness and apologized to his wife for betraying her trust throughout the years
Today, 115 Dorsett Drive is still standing. It has been on the market a few times throughout the years, but the real estate listings never mentioned its sordid past. The days of the Dallas Cowboys White House being a party palace for America’s Team are long gone but never forgotten.
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