Ursa Majoris Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Not sure if this has been posted already, but it's got some interesting info on the possible announcing teams for both SNF and MNF next season. It's from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, I won't bother linking because you need to register. Remember that eight-year, $32 million contract Al Michaels signed last summer to remain the play-by-play announcer on "Monday Night Football" as it moved from ABC to ESPN? Don't worry if it doesn't ring a bell. It appears it might not be worth remembering come Monday. By all accounts the announcer is about to call an audible on his decision to stick with the Disney company and likely will follow broadcast partner John Madden to NBC to become part of that network's Sunday night package. The fallout from this bit of gossip has done two things. First, it has caused the focus on what will be ABC's final NFL telecast -- Sunday's Super Bowl -- to shift from the game to Michaels. Two, it has resulted in rumors about how ESPN would react to Michaels' departure, assuming he is allowed to walk away from his contract. This is bad news only for those working at the network. "We want to keep the focus on the Super Bowl" has been the theme from the joint public-relations empire that controls all things ABC and ESPN. "Good luck" has been the response from just about everybody else as the speculation gains steam with each day. A Monday afternoon conference call with Madden and Michaels turned into a reason to grill the latter about his future plans. Michaels did nothing to stop the rumors by refusing to say he would honor his contract. (NBC, which unlike ESPN received the rights to two Super Bowls, will pay Michaels less money but provide a more prestigious platform that will include late-season flexible scheduling.) So what happens if and when Michaels' contract is torn up? This is where it gets fun. ESPN reportedly is considering having a three-man booth with Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser. The possible addition of Kornheiser to "MNF" makes one hope Michaels does land at NBC and might be the reason ESPN execs are inclined to let him go. Kornheiser, the Washington Post columnist and co-host of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," gives the network hope of making "MNF" more entertainment than hard-core football telecast. He tried out for the "MNF" gig five years ago before ABC decided to go with comedian Dennis Miller. Kornheiser might not be the over-the-top type of choice that Miller was, but he would bring the type of irreverent sense of humor so many NFL telecasts lack. Kornheiser's presence also would challenge Theismann, who along with former broadcast partners Mike Patrick and Paul Maguire was often too effusive with his praise. Theismann, currently set to work with Michaels, would find himself subject to Kornheiser's zingers if the praise or X's and O's breakdown got out of hand. Kornheiser would be well compensated for his witty remarks. According to a Washington Post story, he would more than double his reported salary of $900,000 a year that he gets for "Pardon the Interruption." NBC also is preparing in the event that Michaels is not allowed to break his contract. Cris Collinsworth, hired away from Fox by NBC for what most have assumed is a studio role, reportedly has worked practice games with Madden and could be headed for the play-by-play job. A Collinsworth and Madden pairing is intriguing because it would have the potential to provide a much different feel than any current broadcast team. But with NBC certain to get better games on Sunday nights, the hope here is that Michaels and Madden end up together and Kornheiser gets the nod and adds some spice to what could be some less-than-appealing Monday contests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 I think Madden and Michaels working together would be a very good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted February 4, 2006 Author Share Posted February 4, 2006 I think Madden and Michaels working together would be a very good thing 1305304[/snapback] Seems to have worked recently - Madden got rid of the "Boom" nonsense and was very listenable this past season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 Seems to have worked recently - Madden got rid of the "Boom" nonsense and was very listenable this past season. 1305325[/snapback] I was afraid that maybe something was wrong with me. I have gotten very used to these two and don't have a problem with them at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltaire Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 TO, Heimerdinger, Michaels. Seems whining your way out of a contract is all the rage in alll football related circles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Wings Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 Al Michaels was traded from ABC to NBC for a cartoon bunny, four rounds of golf and Olympic highlights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egret Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 Al Michaels was traded from ABC to NBC for a cartoon bunny, four rounds of golf and Olympic highlights. 1317295[/snapback] Truth is stranger than fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 I think this is great. Monday Night Football will still be great, as it has that Monday Night football label, and I like the announcing team, with the exception of Theisman, who I'm hoping will be better without Maguire. Now, with Madden & Michael doing the Sunday Night games, that might raise the appeal of that game to a whole new magnitude. Last year, the Sunday Night games were painful with that ESPN crew, and they didn't really get top-notch games. I'm hoping with the move to NBC and getting John and Al in the booth, we will now have two nights in a row of premier games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskey Pimp Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 I'm hoping with the move to NBC and getting John and Al in the booth, we will now have two nights in a row of premier games. 1317475[/snapback] We didn't get premier games on MNF with those 2 last year, what makes you think we'll have 2 nights in a row this year? Is there still that plan for the NFL to switch games later on in the year to make sure MNF has a good matchup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giants56 Posted February 11, 2006 Share Posted February 11, 2006 We didn't get premier games on MNF with those 2 last year, what makes you think we'll have 2 nights in a row this year? Is there still that plan for the NFL to switch games later on in the year to make sure MNF has a good matchup? 1317645[/snapback] It's Sunday Night Football that they will be switching games to. That is now the premium package where they will attempt to schedule top notch games and the Monday Night schedule will now be more like the way Sunday Night was - some good, mostly mediocre games. The NFL wouldn't do the flexible schedule for Mondays because of logistics (hotels, etc.) so they just swapped the packages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderCat Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Seems to have worked recently - Madden got rid of the "Boom" nonsense and was very listenable this past season. 1305325[/snapback] Madden will never be a listenable play by play guy. No doubt he knows football, I just don't think he has "it" anymore. I am so Oprahcing bored every Monday Night listening to him analyze the game. Every word out of his mouth is just a repeat of what just happened, or what is the most obvious observation anyone could come up with. "Well Al, if Jonathan Vilma doesn't make that tackle on Dillon, he walks right into the endzone" -not an actual quote Well yeah Martin walks right in, they're on the 2 yard line! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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