Comments on: Can the JV MNF Crew Start Warming Up in the Pen? Because This is a Debacle

By: Brian R

Brian R — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:25:33 +0000

The Monday Night Football format is twenty-year-old leftover pot roast, rotting away slowly in the big sports television refrigerator.

The audience for the product has changed dramatically. They have TIVO and cable or satellite and picture in picture with a hundred channels of sports and entertainment to cruise when you lose their attention span. They increasgly go to the web when they’re bored with the game or its coverage.

Tony K., who is a know-nothing who has stunk up radio and television, slapped into the same tired format, is no answer, nor is speeding up the game.

ESPN needs to do something bold, like run the game with one or two decent commentators, and push a lot of the side show stuff to the internet. In a year or three, you’ll have set-top boxes that mix internet content with television, and more television on your computer. Getting ahead of that curve should be relatively easy for a 53 billion dollar television network.

How about being the Leader in Sports in more than just your promo material, ESPN?

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:41:55 +0000

“Sadly, it makes you miss the ESPN crew they used to trot out to the booth every Sunday Night (Theismann, Patrick, Maguire).”

Take that back. That was, far and away, the worst announcing team in history. The only team that made me unable to enjoy a football game.

By: Mark B

Mark B — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:05:41 +0000

Besides firing Joey T (which is an obvious move) maybe ESPN should give TK the half-time show. Instead of Berman showing highlights we’ve already seen 100 times since Sunday, let TK do his TK thing for ten minutes at the break, interviewing/tweaking Young, Irvin, and Jackson. Because if TK’s game telecasts have shown anything it’s that he doesn’t have a lot of interesting insights to add. He seems to enjoy the celeb interviews more than the game, because during the game he basically just says two or three things over and over. He’s not wrong to say them – that would have been a huge upset and Leinart was impressive – but he keeps circling back to them like he’s working from a wrestling script.

By: Sports Pulse

Sports Pulse — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:43:41 +0000

I’m sure I’m not the only one sick of hearing who Tony has on his fantasy team. From the players he named, his team must be dead last!!!

By: Mark D

Mark D — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:43:06 +0000

Tony K’s exchange with Sir Charles pretty much sums up his poor broadcasting abilities. When Barkely pointed out, correctly, that the Bears 2nd quarter stop of the Cards, resulting in a FG (17-0 at that point) could be a game changer, TK just started raising his voice and asking rehortical questions in an incredulous manner. He basically spouts on about nothing, and debates by raising his voice instead of presenting facts or detailed analysys. ESPN already had Theisman doing that! What does Tony bring to the table.

I agree, get rid of Theisman and TK and give us Jaws and Vermeil. That way I won’t be reminded 20 times in the 1st half that one of the announcers is an ex-NFL QB!

By: robwein

robwein — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:47:13 +0000

Just to clear up TK’s ability to riff and scat–
PTI is taped, but it’s what’s called live-to-tape, meaning there is the ability to go back and clean stuff up, but they really don’t want to. More to the point, it is written, but he has the ability to go off on what Wilbon says, which is when the show shines.
Also, Tony handled 3 hours of live radio a day for years–he clearly can be funny off the cuff. The problem begins and ends with Joey T, who managed to call U of Miami “The M” on ESPN radio yesterday. Totally agree with Riggs–who put index finger to temple in Bristol this summer and yelled “aha! I’ve got it! Let’s add Tony! And keep Asshat with him!”

By: WBRS Sports Blog

WBRS Sports Blog — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:32:00 +0000

I agree with you Big Lead. The MNF crew has gotten much worse. Sadly, it makes you miss the ESPN crew they used to trot out to the booth every Sunday Night (Theismann, Patrick, Maguire).

By: Bone

Bone — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:31:53 +0000

Riggs is right. I don’t like TK but JT is the worst announcer ever. TK is the only one that has ever called out the heights of JT’s stupidity. JT ruins any broadcast team. JT is to broadcasting what Ted McGinley is to sitcoms.

By: JimbroDewangalangra

JimbroDewangalangra — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:30:09 +0000

Kornheiser is a funny guy no doubt about it but he is terrible on live TV. The irreverence we appreciate in his column and on PTI sounds like ignorance when you are watching the game. Everyone keeps panning Theisman but he was good on Sunday night football. I’m sorry but Jaworski is an unnacceptable choice as a replacement. His breakdowns and commentary are weak and I don’t know what he would add to chemistry for this lot.

Kornheiser like Dennis Miller before him should be gone.

By: ding dong

ding dong — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:27:32 +0000

Buster is right. They should really play rap videos during all commercial breaks. Tony was great – he really added alot to the profound stylings of Theismann. The game was On point. There is no debating that. Some of the finest professional football that has ever been played. On point! Truely. Finally – I DID see the butts on them gals! Those gals’ butts were On point!