Of course both men deny their relationship is of that nature. Smith indicates that he offered Strahan to sleep on his couch when Strahan split from his wife.

He goes on to claim that his friend was in need and that's what friends do.

That sounds believable until the article goes on to mention Smith impending nuptials with his girlfriend of 14 years. 14 YEARS? That doesn't sound cool at all. Let's just call it like it is.

It's likely that the divorce proceedings will get nastier. That's unfortunate as there are children involved.

If Jean Strahan, the estranged wife of New York Giants star Michael Strahan, isn't careful, she's going to get flagged for unnecessary roughness.

According to a report in the New York Post, Jean Strahan said her husband engaged in an "alternative lifestyle" with his friend, television doctor Ian Smith, after the couple split in March 2005.

Jean Strahan made the allegations as she opened up to reporters outside the Essex County Family Court on Tuesday after her husband completed a second day on the witness stand in their divorce proceeding.

"Michael moved in with Ian in his one-bedroom apartment for the next year," Jean Strahan said. "You could say an alternative lifestyle sprouted."

Asked to elaborate, she was prevented from saying any more by her lawyer.

Michael Strahan's lawyer, Robert Penza, called the remarks "outrageous."

"This allegation has been raised in the past by Jean," Penza added. "She's been spreading rumors throughout this entire litigation process."

The Giants defensive end, who is a seven-time Pro Bowl performer and holds the NFL's single-season record for sacks, could not be reached for comment, but Smith strongly denied the allegation.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Smith told the Post.

"Yes, Michael Strahan is one of my best friends, and in a time of need, when he was kicked out of his home and had no place to go, I did what any good friend would do and offered him my couch.

"At the same time, I was planning my wedding to a woman I had been dating for over 14 years, and we are happily married.

"Michael Strahan is very heterosexual, and I am very heterosexual."

Inside the courtroom Tuesday, Michael Strahan chuckled when one of the love letters he was shown looked like it was addressed "Dear John" instead of "Dear Jean."

"I've been accused of that before," he said jokingly, according to the Newark Star Ledger.
Jean Strahan's allegations are not the first vicious shots in what has become an extremely contentious case.

According to the Star Ledger, she also teared up in court after Michael testified he did not remember her birthday or a heartfelt Father's Day card she gave him.

"I was devastated," Jean Strahan said after the hearing. "He denied remembering a really important card. He couldn't remember my birthday. He basically denied that we ever existed."
During other testimony, the couple also exchanged dueling tales of wild spending ways.

According to the New York Daily News, Michael Strahan said Jean spoiled their toddler twin girls, recently spending nearly $100,000 on them - including $27,000 for clothes alone. But Jean responded, saying the Giants star spent nearly $200,000 on two luxury cars, lavished money on a mistress and kept a secret ledger detailing the married couple's sex romps before the twin daughters were born.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged