Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 8, 1994                   TAG: 9404080099
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRISTOL, CONN.                                LENGTH: Medium

ESPN'S ROME TAKES A HIT BUT WON'T BE SACKED

During the interview Wednesday night on ESPN2, Everett lost his temper when Rome called him "Chris Evert" several times, even after the quarterback asked him to stop. The incident was shown again on television stations around the country.

"We're not proud of what happened," said John Walsh, executive editor of ESPN, during a conference call. "We regret the incident occurred, as I'm sure Jim Everett did."

But, in a conference call to the Saints camp from his home in Las Vegas, Everett said Thursday night he was provoked by Rome and had no regrets. A Saints spokesman said the call was arranged so Everett could give his side of what happened.

"Number one, I don't condone the physical abuse-type thing," Everett said. "I really don't condone my actions, but I was put in a position that I was going to be in a journalistic-type interview and, instead, I was put into what I felt was a taunting attack.

"I don't regret what I did. I mean, I have to live with the actions and I'm prepared to face whatever repercussions there are. I think that in the future I hope that I can learn something from this incident and I hope that I can be a little bit more prepared, not only on what I'm doing in an interview but also who's interviewing me."

Rome said Everett was aware he would be called "Chris Evert" on the air.

"I have to say it was not with malice," Rome said. "It was all in good fun. There was some jousting. It got out of hand. That's regrettable."

Shortly after Everett came on the show, "Talk 2," at a studio in California, he and Rome exchanged pleasantries. But moments later, Rome began referring to him as "Chris Evert."

The quarterback immediately took issue, and became increasingly irritated as Rome persisted. Everett warned him not to do it again.

"You'd better take a station break," Everett said. "You've been talking behind my back."

"Well, now I'm saying it to your face," Rome said.

Rome, smirking, refused to back down or apologize. That seemed to anger Everett more.

"I bet you won't say it again," Everett said.

Rome did.

The 6-foot-5 quarterback then stood, placed a hand on the round table that separated the two and tipped it onto Rome. As Rome fell, Everett jumped on him. No punches appeared to be thrown.

Some of Everett's critics, including Rome, have questioned his toughness, mocking him as "Chris Evert" - a questionable analogy considering Evert was one of the fiercest competitors in women's tennis history.