New MNF broadcast team announced

[Guest Vitamin X]

Kornheiser is just gonna go over the heads of idiot fans, like Dennis Miller. If he doesn't, he won't be any good.

 

Sorry dude, but Dennis Miller was the worst fucking thing that ever happened to sports broadcasting. At least Kornheiser knows about the sport and won't be making random awful off-topic jokes throughout the whole game like Miller did.

 

Also, Michaels will be moving to NBC:

Michaels out at ABC/ESPN, apparently headed to NBC

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

February 8, 2006

 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Do you believe in switching networks? Yes!

 

Al Michaels appears headed to NBC after ESPN hired former quarterback Joe Theismann, Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser and Mike Tirico as its Monday night broadcast crew

 

Michaels had been with ABC since 1976 and had been the play-by-play voice of "Monday Night Football" since 1986, when he replaced Frank Gifford. A four-time Emmy-Award winner, he is best known for exclaiming "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" when the United States upset the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympic hockey tournament.

 

NBC takes over Sunday night games next season from ESPN. John Madden, Michaels' broadcast partner for the last four seasons, agreed in June to a six-year contract with NBC.

 

"Al was not comfortable and let us know he was not comfortable with our vision of where we are going," ESPN executive vice president John Skipper said after Wednesday's announcement. "Back in November he said it was the greatest job ever invented. So sometime between the last couple of weeks and November apparently he had a change of heart."

 

At a news conference July 26, Michaels said he would remain with "Monday Night Football" when it switched to ESPN after 36 seasons on ABC. He was to be paired with Theismann, who had broadcast Sunday night games on ESPN with Mike Patrick and Paul Maguire.

 

"I feel like I'm a creature of Monday night. I'm home and I'm staying home," Michaels said then. "The three words `Monday Night Football' resonate like no other."

 

Skipper was evasive when asked about specifics on Michaels, saying only a "satisfactory resolution" had been reached. Pat Gibbons, a marketing representative for Michaels, said he could not reach the broadcaster.

 

"We will probably discuss and update our position tomorrow," NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

 

Mike Breen will replace Michaels as the lead NBA play-by-play announcer on ABC/ESPN. He will be joined by former NBA coach Hubie Brown, hired in December 2004 as the analyst.

 

ESPN plans to use its various television and radio networks and Web sites for daylong buildups to the Monday night games, which will start at 8:40 p.m., about 25 minutes earlier than previously. MNF has not had a three-man booth since Michaels was teamed with Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller in 2000-01.

 

Theismann was an NFL quarterback for 12 seasons and had worked on ESPN's Sunday night games since 1988. Kornheiser, who had auditioned for the MNF job Miller got, has written for the Post since 1979 and has co-hosted "Pardon the Interruption" on ESPN since September 2001 with Michael Wilbon, another Post writer.

 

"I've got about 27 gigs right now," Kornheiser said. "I've got radio, I've got television, I've got The Washington Post."

 

He thinks listeners do care about who broadcasts games, especially "if the telecast has a certain amount of sizzle."

 

"Roone Arledge and Howard Cosell, among others, sort of changed the viewing habits of America," he said.

 

He also must adjust his schedule.

 

"I live like a barn animal. I go to sleep at 9:30 and wake up at about 5," he said.

 

Tirico has been a "SportsCenter" host for ESPN and handled play-by-play of the last Orange Bowl. He has worked for ESPN and ABC since 1991.

 

"It's the best play-by-play chair in sports," Tirico said. "To be the next person to sit in it is humbling."

 

Michele Tafoya returns for her third season as a "Monday Night Football" sideline reporter, and Suzy Kolber was added as a second sideline reporter.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Kornheiser is just gonna go over the heads of idiot fans, like Dennis Miller. If he doesn't, he won't be any good.

 

Sorry dude, but Dennis Miller was the worst fucking thing that ever happened to sports broadcasting. At least Kornheiser knows about the sport and won't be making random awful off-topic jokes throughout the whole game like Miller did.

He won't be AS out there as Miller, but he is kind of in that same vein. He's not a sports junkie, he's a bright guy who makes a lot of esoteric references most people won't get, and by the way, he kind of follows sports.

[alfdogg 0]

Loaded Glove has to change his subtitle now to "GO AHEAD THEISSMAN, DEFEND YA BOY!"

[Art Sandusky 0]

I'd DIE if Kornheiser asked Theissman at the start of the first game, "Hey Joe, how's your leg?"

[Guest Smues]

Miller was awful, if even Kornheiser doesn't do well it'll be tons better than he was.

 

From Kornheiser's radio show this morning,

 

Junior, talking to Tony

"You will be better than Dennis Miller for two reasons. 1. You know something about football. 2. You're funny."

 

I think that about sums it up.

 

Oh and as for Redskins bias sure Tony roots for them, but he's had no problems ripping them in the past and I doubt any blatent bias will be present on the MNF broadcasts.

[jwpeer 0]

I love Tirico, I love Kornheiser. I hate Theisman. couldn't they have put Steve Young in there.

 

I'd love that Tirico, Young, Kornheiser. That would be some great fun, I'd enjoy them more than the game. ESPN certainly has better football guys than Theisman

[Vern Gagne 0]

I hope Jerome Bettis doesn't end up on ESPN. They'll just suck the life out of him.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I love Tirico, I love Kornheiser. I hate Theisman. couldn't they have put Steve Young in there.

 

I'd love that Tirico, Young, Kornheiser. That would be some great fun, I'd enjoy them more than the game. ESPN certainly has better football guys than Theisman

Tirico/Sharpe/Kornheiser would be even better.

[2GOLD 0]

I love Tirico, I love Kornheiser. I hate Theisman. couldn't they have put Steve Young in there.

 

I'd love that Tirico, Young, Kornheiser. That would be some great fun, I'd enjoy them more than the game. ESPN certainly has better football guys than Theisman

Tirico/Sharpe/Kornheiser would be even better.

 

That would have been a dream team. Sharpe is way underrated as a color man and Trico is a great play by play guy. I have no idea why Theisman is in there. None. Maybe so each week we can say, "SHUT UP JOE", and make us think Tony and Mike are even better?

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

I hope Jerome Bettis doesn't end up on ESPN. They'll just suck the life out of him.

 

Anyone see Bettis Asthma relief commercial that parody's the old "Mean" Joe Greene w/Kid in stadium hallway commercial?

[The Man in Blak 0]

I love Tirico, I love Kornheiser. I hate Theisman. couldn't they have put Steve Young in there.

 

I'd love that Tirico, Young, Kornheiser. That would be some great fun, I'd enjoy them more than the game. ESPN certainly has better football guys than Theisman

Tirico/Sharpe/Kornheiser would be even better.

 

That would have been a dream team. Sharpe is way underrated as a color man and Trico is a great play by play guy. I have no idea why Theisman is in there. None. Maybe so each week we can say, "SHUT UP JOE", and make us think Tony and Mike are even better?

 

We're talking about Sterling Sharpe, right? Not the guy that hastily mumbled his way through highlight reels on CBS's show, but the guy that was on the ESPN NFL show when it was actually good.

[jwpeer 0]

The other potentially good news about this situation, is Al Michaels w/ NBC SHOULD mean Al michaels doing the Olympics. i wonder if his contract will start in time for him to do the Olympic hockey

 

 

That's something else to look forward too

[The Czech Republic 0]

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/NFLNBC.ra

 

Hey, I hope Sunday Night Football uses that.

[nl5xsk1 0]

We're talking about Sterling Sharpe, right? Not the guy that hastily mumbled his way through highlight reels on CBS's show, but the guy that was on the ESPN NFL show when it was actually good.

I can only hope/pray/presume that people are referring to Sterling. Shannon sounds like he has a mouthful of marbles, and that he was only given about 2 minutes to prepare for a show. Says nothing, brings nothing to the table.

[Celtic Guardian 0]

NBC officially announced the hiring of Al Michaels to team with John Madden on Sunday nights. Michaels' network debut is in August so no Olympics for him this year.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Bob Costas and Cris Collinsworth serving as co-hosts of NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show.

CBC, kick their asses.

[jwpeer 0]

Do you think they'll use al michaels for Arena League

 

Imagine Al Michaels and John Madden announcing the Arena Bowl less than a year after doing the super bowl,

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Well this is interesting, Al Michaels was practically traded to NBC

 

In the deadly serious business of sports, a cartoon character from 1927 played a role in Al Michaels' hop from Monday Night Football to NBC.

 

The network traded rights to Ryder Cup matches, Olympics highlights, historic cartoon character Oswald the Rabbit and more to ESPN to acquire the services of Emmy-winner Michaels for its Sunday night games it was announced Thursday.

 

 

 

Think he looks like Mickey? Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is returning to the Disney warren.

NBC takes over Sunday night next season from ESPN, which will broadcast Monday Night Football. John Madden, Michaels' partner for the last four seasons, agreed in June to a six-year contract with NBC.

 

Besides Madden and Michaels, NBC will have Bob Costas and Cris Collinsworth as co-hosts of the network's studio show.

 

"When we made the deal with the NFL this spring, there were four key stars I knew I wanted to build our football team around, but I wondered from the beginning, if I would be lucky enough to get them all," NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said in a statement Thursday.

 

To get the final piece of Ebersol's team, NBC gave ESPN broader access to the Olympics, Ryder Cup golf, Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

 

NBC also returned Oswald the Rabbit to The Walt Disney Company almost 80 years after the character played a role in the development of Disney's signature icon.

 

 

 

 

Walt Disney produced 26 Oswald cartoons in 1927, but Universal distributed the series and owned the rights to the character, prompting Disney to develop Mickey Mouse.

 

 

 

 

Specifically, ESPN gets:

 

• Rights to broadcast live Friday coverage of the Ryder Cup golf championship between the United States and Europe in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, as well as the right to re-air NBC coverage and extended highlights.

 

• Expanded Olympics highlights from this year through 2012.

 

• Monday Night Football promotions during the NBC Sunday night through 2011.

 

• Expanded highlights from Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness through 2011.

 

 

 

When the Monday games move to ESPN next season, retired quarterback Joe Theismann, Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser and Mike Tirico will be in the ESPN booth.

 

Michaels had been with ABC since 1976 and had been the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football since 1986, when he replaced Frank Gifford.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I would've turned down Oswald the Rabbit and gone for a CTBNL

[Bored 0]

Here's hoping NBC gets baseball back as I'd love to hear Al do baseball again. FOX's contract expires after this season.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Wilbon also doesn't ever say anything funny. Theismann's a stiff, and so is Tirico, they didn't need a three man booth without any humor.

 

I don't watch football for humor, I watch it for hard hits and great offense.

[Art Sandusky 0]

That old NBC theme'll never be used. Professional football's a 21st century war game of life and death as far as the presentation goes these days, and that music's too pretty. Expect some bombastic serious shit like Fox and CBS have now.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I love when ESPN Classic happens to show an old TWIB and an NFL Films show back-to-back, for the total disparity in presentation.

 

"THEY COME ON TO OUR TURF, WE AIN'T GON LET UM! THIS IS WAR! THIS IS WAR!"

Why, those Houston Astros sure took a lickin' up there in Montreal!"

 

That NBC theme is only as old as when they stopped covering the AFC and CBS took over. CBS's NFL music wasn't as over-the-top bombastic until a year or two ago.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Hearing the Fox theme at noon on the first day of the regular season is one of the sweetest sounds ever. If it just wasn't Fox.

[naiwf 0]

Wilbon also doesn't ever say anything funny. Theismann's a stiff, and so is Tirico, they didn't need a three man booth without any humor.

 

I don't watch football for humor, I watch it for hard hits and great offense.

 

What makes Wilbon more qualified to talk about football than Kornheiser? If you don't watch football for commentary, why does it matter who is in the booth?

[Guest Ronixis]

I love when ESPN Classic happens to show an old TWIB and an NFL Films show back-to-back, for the total disparity in presentation.

 

"THEY COME ON TO OUR TURF, WE AIN'T GON LET UM! THIS IS WAR! THIS IS WAR!"

Why, those Houston Astros sure took a lickin' up there in Montreal!"

 

That NBC theme is only as old as when they stopped covering the AFC and CBS took over. CBS's NFL music wasn't as over-the-top bombastic until a year or two ago.

 

Yeah, when CBS went Simplisitc Graphicly, they did the little Yanni thing then added the rap song... Fox is better but its been 12 years now... ESPN Primetime had the best theme only next to CBS's 70's/80's theme...but all of it now is too...waristic.

 

I would love for NBC to use the 1994 theme, but im afraid there want a cover for the Contender and use it as the King and Glory(WERE BACK!!!) overkill.

 

As for the new ESPN Announcers? Trico is alright- hes gonna be good...Thiseman? NOOOO. Kornhouser could be wonderfull if he does care about the game. Over at NBC- I dont hate Costas- hes been waiting for this FOR YEARS now. Cris is slimy little bitch toady who wishes he had half the talent that Rice did. They tried to PUT him in the speaking spot next to Madden, when they had Tom Howard doing AFL games and he was more than ready! IMO Its Costas and Rome man FTW and Cris need to sit his BUTT in the Discovery Kids Corner.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Wilbon also doesn't ever say anything funny. Theismann's a stiff, and so is Tirico, they didn't need a three man booth without any humor.

 

I don't watch football for humor, I watch it for hard hits and great offense.

 

What makes Wilbon more qualified to talk about football than Kornheiser? If you don't watch football for commentary, why does it matter who is in the booth?

 

Because Wilbon is much more intelligent then Kornheiser and has more valid opinions. Kornheiser would be a better baseball commentator. It does matter who's in the booth, because I dont want to be annoyed by Kornheiser's dumb remarks.

[Guest Vitamin X]

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/NFLNBC.ra

 

Hey, I hope Sunday Night Football uses that.

 

That's an awful theme.

 

Count me in as a fan of the FOX NFL theme. That's a pumped up theme.

[Brett Favre 0]

I like the CBS NFL Theme.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

Max Kellerman should replace every team and do every game by himself.