# American Football Fans: Which pregame show do you watch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453 "2005-10-02T15:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/1 "2005-10-02T15:14:55Z")
I always catch the Fox pregame, even when my team isn’t playing or is playing on another channel. The guys just seem like they are having fun and like they genuinely like each other. And of course Jillian Barberie isn’t too bad too look at either. What do you watch? ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/2 "2005-10-02T15:18:47Z")
I’m partial to ESPN myself, mostly for the “Mayne Event” which always has me rolling in laughter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/3 "2005-10-02T15:31:34Z")
ESPN does a good job of covering the actual game issues. Fox panders to its audience; Jillian Barberie is just “look at Me!” for her segment, and they spend too much time on fake banter and competition. Bradshaw was a great quarterback, as far as Super Bowls go, but he doesn’t analyze games well. Next year, everything will be different with the new TV contracts in effect. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/4 "2005-10-02T17:48:36Z")
I pretty much think they all suck, so I just stay in bed until kickoff and don’t watch any. If forced to choose, I’d probably go with ESPN since they do a little actual reporting with guys like Hammerin Hank Goldberg and John Clayton. Also, I like watching the Inside the NFL guys on HBO, though it’s not technically a pregame even though they always replay it on sunday mornings. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/5 "2005-10-02T19:17:27Z")
I’m with _Omniscient_ - I would rather have an extra hour’s sleep than watch any of those inane pregame shows. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/6 "2005-10-02T21:40:07Z")
If I have to choose, I’ll go ESPN. I like the guys and I like the reporters. It hasn’t been the same since Sterling Sharpe was replaced with Michael Irvin. Irvin annoys the hell out of me and ruined the brotherhood chemistry. But still, Tom Jackson and Steve Young are the best in the biz. Most of the time though, I watch Meet the Press and Wolf Blitzer until game time. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/7 "2005-10-02T23:45:25Z")
I definitely sleep 'till about 12:30 on fall Sundays, get up, shower, do my picks, and settle into my spot on the couch at about 12:58 or so. (well, except for this morning, when I woke up at 1:10 massively hung over and realized that all of my 1pm pick’em games were screwed, dammit!) ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/8 "2005-10-02T23:54:14Z")
ESPN, until Michael Irving begins to, um, speak if you can call it that, and then I switch to another channel. I flip back every 2 or 3 minutes or so and see if Michael Irving is done (and if Steve Young is still glowering at him). ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/9 "2005-10-03T00:52:53Z")
Any that don’t have Shannon Sharpe. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/10 "2005-10-03T00:59:19Z")
I’m rarely up in time for pregame – one of the drawbacks of living on the West Coast is that the games start so freakin’ early. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/11 "2005-10-03T03:24:39Z")
ESPN’s Countdown. Though during commericals, I can switch to Fox’s. NEVER though, will I watch CBS’s. Their’s sucks badly. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/12 "2005-10-03T09:48:57Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > ESPN’s Countdown. > > Though during commericals, I can switch to Fox’s. NEVER though, will I watch CBS’s. Their’s sucks badly. The CBS show is so painful that only the Clockwork Orange treatment could get me to tune in. Honestly, I had kind of forgotten they even did one. I watch ESPN’s, which is far and away the best one out there IMO. Of course, it’s still a bit sucky, so it isn’t saying much. I will periodically flip to FOX to try and catch the weathergirl segment, but that’s the only wandering I do. Generally I just spend the time cooking up a big huge breakfast. As an added bonus, eating a big meal and then having the three hour adrenalin rush of watching my G-Men kick ass lulled me into a nap around 20 minutes after the Giants game ended, so I blissfully slept through the trainwreck that is the New York Jets. Ah, Sundays. They really are holy days. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/13 "2005-10-03T12:23:22Z")
Which is a shame because I really like Jim Nantz. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/14 "2005-10-03T15:03:20Z")
None really. Since I’m going to be watching TV for the next 10 hours, I try not to turn it on until 1. If any, ESPN. They seem to have a little more X’s and O’s and a little less bullshit about some poor with leukemia, or some kicker who lost a brother when he was 8. I hate that crap. That said, I’m no longer getting ESPN. I really don’t like either FOX or CBS. I do find Frank Caliendo funny from time to time. CBS’ show is LOST. Every year it’s some new gimmick. Outdoor studio. THose talking cartoons that all look the same. What the hell? ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/15 "2005-10-03T16:11:17Z")
Countdown It’s all about Chris Berman for me. I love the guy. It also seems to be the most informative of the three. Does anybody watch the regional ones? Buffalo Bills have one and I’m assuming there are others. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/16 "2005-10-03T17:00:57Z")
I’ll start off with ESPN because of the aforementioned Steve Young and Tom Jackson. I still like Berman too, although that might put me in the minority. At 11:00 though, I’m all FOX. James Brown, Howie, Jimmy… what’s not to like? Oh… Terry. Eh, I’ll suffer. Yesterday I somehow managed to stumble across CBS; Sterling I like, but Shannon is a blithering, unintelligible, idiot. “Cuts like a fire though a canefield in a high wind”? Apparently altitude sickness can be chronic. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/17 "2005-10-03T17:13:30Z")
I think they need to ratchet back the ex-Player/ex-Coach ratio on a few of these shows. Throw a color guy or two in there who can speak as a fan as opposed to some posturing “expert” who happened to play for one of the teams they are commenting on :rolleyes:. I love Jackson, Berman and Young like the rest of you guys. Jimmy Johnson tends to be the most astute of anyone on any of the channels IMHO, not always that charismatic, but he seems to be correct more than anyone else anywhere. I would love to see less laughing and gibes from clowns like the Sharpe Brothers, Irvin, Howie and Terry. Replace one of those tools with an uber-fan who actually watches every minute of the games, has a fantasy team at home in his personal life, and won’t punctuate every point by saying “back when I was playing”. Then I’ll get back on board. Of course this doesn’t mean bringing in a self-important wind bag like Limbaugh or a self-promoting gimmick like Dennis Miller. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/18 "2005-10-03T17:22:48Z")
I gotta admit… I’m a Howie whore. That guy is such a stud; reasoned, intelligent and a freakin’ riot when he’s bustin’ Terry. PLus, how _bad_ have you got to be to make the Raiders look classy? ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/19 "2005-10-03T17:29:21Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I love Jackson, Berman and Young like the rest of you guys. Jimmy Johnson tends to be the most astute of anyone on any of the channels IMHO, not always that charismatic, but he seems to be correct more than anyone else anywhere. I completely agree on all points. I hate Jimmy Johnson. Hated the Cowboys when he was coach (and still do), couldn’t stand him when he was at UM, I just think he’s way too smarmy for my tastes…but goddamnit if he’s not spot on with most of his analysis. He certainly knows his football, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453/20 "2005-10-03T17:29:37Z")
> [@BabaBooey](#): > > Any that don’t have Shannon Sharpe. Boom. Couldn’t have said it better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-football-fans-which-pregame-show-do-you-watch/324453.md?page=2)