Al Michaels has signed on to be the play-by-play guy for Monday Night Football on ESPN. Various reports have him reconsidering and trying to get out of his contract, so that he can be a part of NBC’s Sunday Night Football game. And if he does manage to weasel his way over to NBC… prepare for Tony Kornheiser.
ESPN would, according to today’s New York Post, opt for a 3-man booth of Mike Tirico, Joe Theisman, and Tony Kornheiser. Or, Mike Tirico and two guys who would gladly pay to give Joe Gibbs a reacharound.
I like Tony Kornheiser. I think he’s a funny, well-informed, interesting personality. But he’s not, you know… a football expert. That’s kinda what I would prefer. I’m funny like that… I want guys who really know football to be the ones talking about football on television. It’s just a weird little quirk of mine.
But if we’re giving up on the idea of anyone actually providing expert in-depth commentary, and clearly, we are… then sure, I’ll take Kornheiser. It’s certainly a step up from Rush Limbaugh and Dennis Miller, but it’s a step in that same “entertainment in lieu of analysis” direction. But at least they’re not making offers to Ray Romano or something.
theotheruw Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
I don’t have an opinion specifically on Kornheiser being an announcer, but I like the general direction of getting someone who doesn’t want to fellate every single player and coach. This might offset Theisman’s analysis of “I love that they’re going for it on 4th down,” which is immediately followed by “I love that they’re kicking a fieldgoal” after the fieldgoal unit checks in. Tirico can’t cancel-out Theisman by himself.
King Dan Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
I didn’t like the Miller or Limbaugh moves, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like this one either. I’m a big PTI fan, but when it’s 3 and 7 with 3 minutes left and the Bears down by 6, I want an expert to fill in my short commings. I’ve I never played pro football or watching game film, so an i would appreciate an expert opinion. Kornheiser would probably start rambing about being bald or Canada, which is fine on PTI, not one Monday Night Football.
Yo Yo Mother Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Anyone remember Al Michaels’ opinion on the TO contract situation, whether he gave an opinion? Cause it seems like he’s trying to TO-Vince Carter-T-Mac-Byron Davis his way out of HIS contract. What a bitch.
The Big Picture Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Good point about Kornheiser not really being a football guy. Sure, he gives some decent insight, but he’s a journalist, not an analyst.
Great line about a reacharound. Absolutely priceless!
Raj Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Kornheiser isnt even the best journalist on PTI.
I like him, but if ur gona go that route, I’d rather have Wilbon; but really, I’d rather have neither. Go get a football guy, I’m weird like that too.
Diddly Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
You guys are missing the point. Mike Tirico is one of the worst announcers that has ever lived. Just the thought of him talking during something like Monday Night Football almost made me cry at my desk. I don’t know why I hate him so much, but god, he is awful.
Insomniac Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Well, any warm body is a step up from Paul Maguire just saying, “I want you to look at this play” during a replay. Personally, I’m not a fan of the three-man booth in general. It’s only worked once- Cosell/Gifford/Meredith, and that’s because Don Meredith was content to just sit quietly and watch 58 minutes of gametime and then sing, “Turn out the lights…”
I’m surprised by the negative feedback on Tirico. I think he and Kirk Herbstreit are one of the best announcing tandems in football.
Raj Says:
January 30th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
I think Kirk Herbstreit can make anybody teamed with him tolerable, but yeh I thought Tirico is okay, he even adds his own opinions now and then. Anything is a step up from the 3 stooges booth of years past. I actually thought the dierdorf/gifford/michaels booth was good. I think their last 2 years were bad moreso because every freakin MNF game was a blowout, which was really the demise of MNF, horrible matchups with not flexibility to change out.
BigBoi Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 11:51 am
Ok, hold on to something this is a revolutionary suggestion; How about some color in the booth?????
Just as I thought, crickets and frogs.
Seriously how about a blackman or a hispanic man don’t know if any of you noticed but the dudes they are talking about aren’t all white. Have a great day.
the mighty mjd Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 12:58 pm
I think Mike Tirico is black. I’m not sure, though, I haven’t done a complete DNA test.
BigBoi Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Oh, my bad that’s incredible MJD, they have a token black person on there I take back everything I’ve ever said about inequality. You have made me see the light I shall never again request that there should be more “minorities” in the booth. I bow to your wisdom, and if in the year 2006, one black man in the booth in the biggest games (sunday and monday night TV broadcasts)satifies you then I should be satisfied too. Wow, well there’s no more questions about benevolent host. 1 black guy for every 20 white guys, allright whooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Dr. King’s dream has finally come true, thank god allmighty!!!
Thank you for showing me the mountain top. Thank you MJD, no really thank you soooooo much.
the mighty mjd Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 3:32 pm
You know, I thought that the comment you posted under this particular thread related to this particular thread. My bad on that. I was talking about the three-man ESPN booth. That’s what the post is about.
A lack of black/hispanic/asian color commentators is a whole other issue. And sure… they are way under-represented. I agree with you. And I apologize for not knowing that you were taking the conversation in a whole other direction, because I really need to do a better job of getting in tune with your thoughts.
Insomniac Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Ok, I’m sure I’ll get ripped for this, but I’ll point it out anyway:
In the NFL alone, the following people are on network/espn announcing teams:
Ron Pitts, Solomon Wilcots, Curt Menefee, Gus Johnson, Pam Oliver, and next year, Mike Tirico.
In the studios, these gentlemen are paid for their opinions: Greg Gumbel, Shannon Sharpe, Stuart Scott, Michael Irvin, Tom Jackson.
I’m pretty sure that’s not a 1:20 ratio. Especially when you consider the low turnover rate in broadcasting (Dick Stockton, Dick Enberg, Al Michaels, and John Madden have been around forever), and look at the number of african american commentators relative to the number of job openings in the last 10 years, then that ratio gets even lower.
I don’t know for certain, but I’m willing to wager that the percentage of nfl commentators that are african american is significantly greater than the percentage of college journalism/broadcasting majors that are african american.
There is still far too much racial inequality in this country. But as far as broadcasting demographics go, this is a sign of progress, not of the problem.
BigBoi Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 4:32 pm
True, I agree with the fact that progress is being made. I just would like to see, ya know, the opposite of Al Michaels and John Madden, or of MacGuire, Theismann and the other cat. Until monday night football has at least one host, or back to my crazy revolutionary talk, TWO (oh my god no he didn’t) that are black, I won’t be happy. And on the Sunday night thing put one white guy in with 2 brothas and that’s cool. I don’t want it solely black, but when I see for the past 30 years two white guys on the MNF broadcasts, no one could fault me for wanting to see to brothas for the next 30yrs. Right??
Insomniac Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 5:46 pm
Hey, I can support any movement where the end result is that Theismann, Bradshaw, and Marino are out of the broadcasting biz…well, unless it puts a mic back in Eric Dickerson’s hand. My support can only go so far.
BigBoi Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Insomniac, I hear you. On your earlier post Michael Irvin and Shannon Sharpe are SURROUNDED by white guys. So I’m not too cool with the tokenism that exists there. Kellog and Gumbel are awesome and one of the reasons I love watching college hoops. I don’t know you or anything about you but for me it is a surreal feeling seeing two brothas doin what they do in a sport dominated by their folks. It is great.
GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!
Mullet Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Dan Fouts needs an announcing job.
BigBoi Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 7:58 pm
No, no he doesn’t. but thanx.
Insomniac Says:
January 31st, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Dan Fouts has an announcing job. He’s paired w/ Keith Jackson on ABC.
sniffable Says:
February 2nd, 2006 at 11:33 am
I would prefer if someone would take the mic out of sharpe’s hand. he absolutely sucks, and has a speech impediment. and we get it…you love ray lewis.
JSteed Says:
February 8th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Michael Irvin is surrounded by white guys? On what show? On NFL Countdown he sits right next to Tom Jackson. The monday night show also has Tom Jackson as is hosted by Stu Scott. And by the way, guess who is the new host of Shannon Sharpe’s show? James Brown who is also a brotha the last time I checked.
Big Boi apparently is set on making a point - facts be damned. “How about some color in the booth”? Seems to me the reality is he just didn’t know who Mike Tirico was.
Onions Says:
February 8th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Mike Wilbon knows more about football than Tony Kornheiser - why isn’t he getting the MNF job? Because he’s black? Wilbon would probably think so (despite the fact that Mike Tirico is black, sort of), but the real is because ESPN was looking for a guy who will look really funny in HD.
chas Says:
February 8th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
What about Mr. Tony’s bedtime. He’s always talking on his radio show how he never gets to see the end of the game since he is in bed by the end of the first quarter. Will he only broadcast the games on the west cost? I guess Mr. Tony will have to change his clock and sleep to noon each day.
silentkman Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 7:57 am
I like Tirico and I can tolerate Theismann but Kornheiser is the absolute worst. This guy will make Dennis Miller look like a genuis. He is not funny and knows nothing about sports. MNF as we know it is over. I’ve tried to watch PTI but all they do is scream the whole time. I guess i’m in the minority here because somebody must like him. I guess I’ll be listening the radio broadcast of the game.
Pisoni Says:
August 22nd, 2006 at 6:22 pm
So I started watching the preseason, Vikings v Raiders and was shocked to see Tony Kornheiser, from PTI sitting in the booth. From the first comment he made to last he showed not only lack of football knowledge, but he brought this misinformation upon everyone with the same high pitched annoying voice that has been plaguing sportcenter for years. I love shows like Around the Horn and Jim Rome, but Kornheiser doesn’t cut it for me, too unessecaryily eccesentic, and he countinually he never seems to bring anything to the arguement but the basic facts with some vebal excentuations. I hope I don’t have to listen to this guy ALL SEASON!! and I hope many of you agree with me. In the game he made so disturbingly off comments about Randy Moss and that he has never played on a team this poor and put up numbers and that he may be negatively affected by playing on a loing team?? I am not even going waste my time bringing up stats but im sure Moss put up big numbers in Minnestota when they had many a bad year. Raiders offense is also respectable with Lamont Jordan a solid o-line and Jerry Porter, though I am not a Brooks fan, he still put up numbers with Horn. STOP THIS MADDNESS
Charlie Sheeners Says:
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:04 pm
How about having more Asians and Indians in the booth? They are severly underrepresented in all sports broadcasting.
The Critic Says:
October 22nd, 2006 at 7:09 pm
The “I won’t be happy until two (of any color) are in the booth” is the lamest shit I’ve heard since Deion Sanders uttered his first malformed words on television. How about hiring people based on ability and not race or gender. If someone’s good give him/her a shot but don’t do it to please some asshole who thinks that makes things equal. Where in life is anything equal? Not in nature and not in life. Perform or get off the fucking bus.
Stephen Says:
November 21st, 2006 at 12:13 am
Tony Kornheiser doesn’t belong in the monday night football booth. Please do all Monday night football fans a favor by removing him from his spot as an announcer.