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Monday Night Football has not been the same

GmeninPSL : 12/3/2019 1:54 pm
in the broadcast booth in a very, very long time but I feel they now have reached a new low with this two man team. So what would be your dream team to take over MNF going forward;

For me I would take Jim Nantz as the Play-by-play
and Romo and Strahan as color guys. Bring back that Giants/Cowboys combo of Gifford and Meredith.

I think this trio would be perfect together and I'd tune in regardless of who's playing.

Who would be "Your" Dream team?
Booger, Warren Sapp and Cris Carter  
Dave in PA : 12/3/2019 1:56 pm : link
The dream team
I can't STAND Nantz  
Optimus-NY : 12/3/2019 1:56 pm : link
Hate the guy. He's like cardboard. Zero personality.
I just want to hear Pat Summerall and John Madden  
Jints in Carolina : 12/3/2019 1:58 pm : link
one more time.
Just get Booger out of there  
cjac : 12/3/2019 2:00 pm : link
anyone would be better
I prefer a no-nonsense broadcast, which is the exact opposite  
truebluelarry : 12/3/2019 2:02 pm : link
of what ESPN will offer.

Aside from the all-time greatest team of Summerall & Madden, the most recent combo I enjoyed was Sam Rosen and Tom Rock. Those guys were great together.
I think ESPN is gonna shovel out a lot of money to get Romo or  
Ben in Tampa : 12/3/2019 2:03 pm : link
Peyton Manning in the booth next year as the color man.

i barely watch MNF...  
LG in NYC : 12/3/2019 2:08 pm : link
it's on too late and it is on ESPN, which I purposely avoid as much as possible.

that said, the best team out there is Nantz and Romo, followed by Aikman/Buck. Either one of those would lend gravitas back to what was once a grand viewing experience.

all that said, I do not mind Joe T... it is Booger that ruins it.
Booger is AWFUL  
GiantNatty : 12/3/2019 2:10 pm : link
in my opinion.

Example: he ripped Eli last year, saying that Eli shouldn't be a Hall of Famer. Even if he honestly believes that, as an announcer it's just dumb and totally unnecessary to say it. I can't listen to him.
I honestly don't know how I feel about Romo  
Matt M. : 12/3/2019 2:11 pm : link
On one hand, I am impressed by his ability to quickly diagnose plays. On the other hand, I often find it distracting, as he is calling out the defense or offense or both before the snap.
I'm not a Romo fan at all  
BlueVinnie : 12/3/2019 2:12 pm : link
He thinks he's quite the comedian but to me he's just annoying. I can live with Tess but I'm not a Booger fan. Off the top of my head, give me Gus Johnson or Verne Lundquist on play by play and Phil Simms as analyst.
You know, these guys have contracts elsewhere.  
81_Great_Dane : 12/3/2019 2:14 pm : link
And they have those deals for a reason. ESPN isn't that attractive a place to work these days. If you've got a nice deal at CBS, why jump?
RE: I honestly don't know how I feel about Romo  
BlueVinnie : 12/3/2019 2:15 pm : link
In comment 14701310 Matt M. said:
Quote:
On one hand, I am impressed by his ability to quickly diagnose plays. On the other hand, I often find it distracting, as he is calling out the defense or offense or both before the snap.


Agree completely. I'm assuming that the calling out of plays is something that could be achieved with the same accuracy by many ex professional QBs out there. I don't see it as some unique talent that Romo has. Even if it is, I don't want to hear it. I just want to see the play unfold.
They are both terrible...  
trueblueinpw : 12/3/2019 2:17 pm : link
I listen to Kevin Harlan and Kurt Warner on the radio. It’s odd because the guys on the radio always seem so much better than the TV crews.

But even with the low standards for TV the guys now on MNF are truly terrible. I just mute the broadcast or listen to the radio.
Mike Ditka and Joe Namath  
jcn56 : 12/3/2019 2:22 pm : link
Put a few six packs between them and let the good times roll!
I never understood BBI'ers getting all upset over TV announcers....  
penkap75 : 12/3/2019 2:30 pm : link
Until Booger showed up. That dude is just fucking awful.
Not sure how  
JerryNicklebag : 12/3/2019 2:31 pm : link
they ever let Michaels walk.
Booger  
jtfuoco : 12/3/2019 2:33 pm : link
is the problem he makes me miss the days of Gruden praising everybody on the field.
RE: I prefer a no-nonsense broadcast, which is the exact opposite  
figgy2989 : 12/3/2019 2:33 pm : link
In comment 14701292 truebluelarry said:
Quote:
the most recent combo I enjoyed was Sam Rosen and Tom Rock. Those guys were great together.


Tom Rock? He has been with David Diehl, Mark Schlereth, Charles Davis and John Lynch the past few years.
Give it back to Mike Patrick, Paul Maguire  
Chris684 : 12/3/2019 2:39 pm : link
and Theisman.
RE: Mike Ditka and Joe Namath  
Greg from LI : 12/3/2019 2:39 pm : link
In comment 14701332 jcn56 said:
Quote:
Put a few six packs between them and let the good times roll!


Ahhhhh, that takes me back to a BBI classic


Link - ( New Window )
RE: Give it back to Mike Patrick, Paul Maguire  
Chris684 : 12/3/2019 2:40 pm : link
In comment 14701367 Chris684 said:
Quote:
and Theisman.


They were obviously SNF but in the old format SNF was what MNF is now.
RE: RE: Mike Ditka and Joe Namath  
j_rud : 12/3/2019 4:14 pm : link
In comment 14701369 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
In comment 14701332 jcn56 said:


Quote:


Put a few six packs between them and let the good times roll!



Ahhhhh, that takes me back to a BBI classic

Link - ( New Window )


That game/thread was simply incredible. Im cracking up readi g through it.
My favorite broadcast team was back in the 80's.  
smshmth8690 : 12/3/2019 4:16 pm : link
NBC broadcast a Jets game that had no announcers at all. As I remember it, the only talking was when the referee called the penalty. It was an awesome experience.

Here's a little tip that worked well last night, I call it 'Booger Proofing'. My DVR will jump ahead 30 seconds (as I'm sure everyone's does), and as long as the team isn't in a hurry up offense, hit the jump just before Booger talks, and he will be done talking after 30 seconds.
I can 't stand Booger either.  
Red Dog : 12/3/2019 4:26 pm : link
Complete silence would be better. So would incoherent babbling.
Kevin Harlan as one announcer  
micky : 12/3/2019 4:52 pm : link
And pick two others.
RE: My favorite broadcast team was back in the 80's.  
Greg from LI : 12/3/2019 4:54 pm : link
In comment 14701603 smshmth8690 said:
Quote:
NBC broadcast a Jets game that had no announcers at all. As I remember it, the only talking was when the referee called the penalty. It was an awesome experience.


I have always wanted an audio option that gives you the sounds of the game without announcers. I don't want to mute the TV because I want to hear the players, the whistles, the crowd, the stadium announcer.
Yes.  
FatMan in Charlotte : 12/3/2019 4:57 pm : link
Yes. MNF will be restored to greatness just by uttering "Hello Friends" as the opening....
This is a weird combo  
djstat : 12/3/2019 5:01 pm : link
But I'd love to see Charles Davis and Bill Cowher
RE: RE: My favorite broadcast team was back in the 80's.  
81_Great_Dane : 12/3/2019 5:26 pm : link
In comment 14701725 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
In comment 14701603 smshmth8690 said:


Quote:


NBC broadcast a Jets game that had no announcers at all. As I remember it, the only talking was when the referee called the penalty. It was an awesome experience.




I have always wanted an audio option that gives you the sounds of the game without announcers. I don't want to mute the TV because I want to hear the players, the whistles, the crowd, the stadium announcer.
They did try that experiment. I don't think it really worked, which is why it hasn't been done again. I think you could get a little closer with a big, BIG tv screen with a "scoreboard" down one side. Still, I think good expert analysis is a big value-add.
I am okay with Booger and his wheezing laughing style  
Jimmy Googs : 12/3/2019 6:08 pm : link
His partner gets a bit too excited at every 20+ yard play like its the Immaculate Reception though.

But generally, I think the pairing is fine for MNF

I never watch MNF  
Gman11 : 12/3/2019 6:27 pm : link
but when I did I really didn't care who the announcers were. The big mistake that ESPN has made through the years is thinking that people that don't care for football will watch it because of the announcers. That's the thinking behind the Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser hires among others.
I'd pay good money to hear the players mic'ed up, been saying that for  
Zeke's Alibi : 12/3/2019 6:37 pm : link
years. Shit is absolutely hilarious. NFL would never let that happen because of the image problem.

I had the pleasure of listening to the Mike Ditka game live which was hysterical.

I usually don't give a fuck about who does the games, and believe generally that announcers only had to the game and don't detract from it, but Booger and Tessitore are unlistenable. I skip MNF way more with those two booth then probably ever.
Tessitore is awful too  
MetsAreBack : 12/3/2019 6:50 pm : link
He gets too much of a pass. Gets overly excited and emotional about every little thing - it’s ridiculous. Only Gus Johnson during March madness - a one and done tournament - can pull that off. Even Gus has toned it down a bit for his college football broadcasts

Booger needs to go do first take with Stephen A or something.

Espn has their in game analyst - Louis Riddick would do well in the role. I also like Kevin Burkhardt as host but why would he leave his baseball and football work with FOX... I’ve heard Hannah Storm does a nice job on radio if espn wants to break ground by going female, she’d be an upgrade on Tessitore ... most are
RE: RE: My favorite broadcast team was back in the 80's.  
smshmth8690 : 12/3/2019 6:55 pm : link
In comment 14701725 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
In comment 14701603 smshmth8690 said:


Quote:


NBC broadcast a Jets game that had no announcers at all. As I remember it, the only talking was when the referee called the penalty. It was an awesome experience.




I have always wanted an audio option that gives you the sounds of the game without announcers. I don't want to mute the TV because I want to hear the players, the whistles, the crowd, the stadium announcer.


Here's a link to the game.
Jets v Dolphins no announcer game - ( New Window )
At best it’s third most important game of the week  
Joey from GlenCove : 12/3/2019 7:47 pm : link
Snf
4:25 National game
Maybe MNF
Why did Mike Tirico leave? Was he fired?  
BrianLeonard23 : 12/3/2019 7:51 pm : link
I really liked him and Gruden together. Madden & Michaels were my all time favorite though.

While I don’t mind Tessitore, I liked Sean McDonough better.
Let's take this in a very different direction...  
EricJ : 12/3/2019 9:36 pm : link
Doc Emrick for the play by play (yes.. a hockey guy)
Strahan for color
Ray Lewis on the sideline
Booger is like nails on a chalkboard  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 12/3/2019 9:44 pm : link
Tess sucks too.

This Simmons article on MNF never fails to crack me up:

1985: Gifford, Simpson and Joe Namath. Let there be no doubt … this was the worst broadcasting team of all time. Much like with Cosell and Jaclyn Smith, you really had to be there -- the comedy was off the charts. Repeat: off the charts. When I'm running ESPN8 some day, we will show all the games from this season on an endless loop. You can't even imagine. It was a "Saturday Night Live" skit for 16 straight weeks -- every play sounded like this:

Gifford: "Hostetler back to pass, excuse me, that's Simms, he takes the sack!"

Simpson: "Whoaaaaaaaa! Whoaaaaaaaa! Wow!"

Namath: "He didn't see the blitz … the blitz was on … gotta watch out for the blitz … blitz very bad … blitz bad … "

Simpson: "Ay-yeeeeeeeeeeee!"

(Even weirder, all three of these guys ended up in bizarre tabloid headlines. Gifford had that stewardess thing and the "You have wonderful breasts, I'm extremely aroused right now" quote; Namath had the "I wanna kiss you" moment with Suzy Kolber; and O.J. trumped both of them. And then some. I'd say more, but he's still on the loose. I don't want to provoke him. Back to the column.)
Link - ( New Window )
I refuse to believe that anyone was ever worse  
Greg from LI : 12/3/2019 10:31 pm : link
than Greenberg, Folic, and Ditka.
Is there some sort of focus testing they've done  
Leg of Theismann : 12/3/2019 11:09 pm : link
since moving to ESPN to determine that the MNF play-by-play guy has to be overly dramatic about every single thing that happens? I thought Mike Patrick was bad and was relieved when they got rid of him, but Tessitore is just as bad. I swear he has the same exact freakin' cadence as Patrick had too, ugh.
focus group* testing  
Leg of Theismann : 12/3/2019 11:10 pm : link
that is.
Oh sorry I just realized  
Leg of Theismann : 12/3/2019 11:11 pm : link
that was SNF that Patrick was on. But as another posters mentioned, MNF currently has same format on ESPN as SNF used to have. You guys get the point.
I don't know  
AndyMilligan : 12/4/2019 1:03 am : link
How any executive could hear Booger and think, "yea that guy would be great for MNF." He's absolutely the worst
Terry Bradshaw was a great, great analyst...  
bw in dc : 12/4/2019 1:12 am : link
I’d enjoy his views. Guy really sees the game well.

Team him with Brent Musberger.
RE: Tessitore is awful too  
Ned In Atlanta : 12/4/2019 2:06 am : link
In comment 14701853 MetsAreBack said:
Quote:
He gets too much of a pass. Gets overly excited and emotional about every little thing - it’s ridiculous. Only Gus Johnson during March madness - a one and done tournament - can pull that off. Even Gus has toned it down a bit for his college football broadcasts

Booger needs to go do first take with Stephen A or something.

Espn has their in game analyst - Louis Riddick would do well in the role. I also like Kevin Burkhardt as host but why would he leave his baseball and football work with FOX... I’ve heard Hannah Storm does a nice job on radio if espn wants to break ground by going female, she’d be an upgrade on Tessitore ... most are



Spot on. Tessistore has an annoying penchant for trying to make routine calls monumental. Also referred to Jimmy G and Russel Wilson in overtime as “dueling banjos” which made no sense
I love Dan Orlovsky  
Ned In Atlanta : 12/4/2019 2:06 am : link
As a color guy for college games.
Also  
Ned In Atlanta : 12/4/2019 2:09 am : link
Has to be rough in the age of social media seeing everyone say how you suck at your job daily
I would start with Greg Olsen..  
KingBlue : 12/4/2019 6:16 am : link
Shit can both Tessitore and McFarland... I cannot listen to either. I actually either mute it or turn the game off. Sometimes I record and just fast forward to the snap, thus minimizing their commentary.
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