# MNF is on ESPN **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210 "2006-02-13T03:05:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/21 "2006-02-13T18:02:10Z")
> [@Slacker](#): > > **ZamboniRacer**. Oh, for the love of … :smack: _wanders off to find the “Dopers whose names you just got” thread_ ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/22 "2006-02-13T18:14:29Z")
The Lions won a playoff game in the 1990s against the Cowboys. They currently have the longest postseason victory drought in the NFL after the Seahawks won two playoff games this year. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/23 "2006-02-13T18:38:56Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > You say that like it is a good thing. Both of them need to be put out to pasture and the sooner the better. ABC got the better of the deal, getting a cartoon rabbit in exchange for Michaels. I must disagree. Michaels might be the best US sportscaster, period. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/24 "2006-02-13T18:45:25Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > For example, all the Jets and Giants Sunday Night ESPN games were simulcast here in the tri-state area on channels 9 or 11. (Which are merging.) So will the new channel be channel 20 (9+11) or channel 10 ((9+11)/2)? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/25 "2006-02-13T18:46:50Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > I must disagree. Michaels might be the best US sportscaster, period. I agree. This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say anything bad about him. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/26 "2006-02-13T18:49:51Z")
I’ll take Theismann any day over Pam Ward. Her voice was made for the mute button. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/27 "2006-02-13T18:52:37Z")
> [@Werd](#): > > I recently moved to Rochester, NY from Detroit, MI. What does that have to do with Monday Night Football you ask? Well, following the announcement of the move, the local news here covered the story and everyone interviewed said this was a good move. I don’t like to call people names but that is idiotic. Now you have to subscribe to a provider if you want to watch what we have been watching for free… dummy. Maybe my opinion is only shared by people from Detroit. I refuse to become a Rochestarian and I’m definitely not a New Yorker. GO PISTONS! Hey hey hey. The local news can find some jerkass to say just about anything. You’ll learn Rochestarians are not idiotic, but the local news is almost completely worthless (you can find if it will snow tomorrow). BTW, I’m a football fan with no cable. Even if I wasn’t I would be pretty pissed off about it. Football on TV should be free, the way our Great American God intended. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/28 "2006-02-13T18:57:11Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > I must disagree. Michaels might be the best US sportscaster, period. I’ve wondered how Michaels has managed to avoid taking any blame in MNF’s decline. It’s always the color guy(s)’ fault, or the sideline reporter babe’s fault, or just changing demographics, never him. If you like him, that’s fine with me, but I can’t stand him. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/29 "2006-02-13T23:42:43Z")
Why would it be Al Michaels’ fault that the ratings for MNF went down? Ratings for _everything_ on TV are down. There are more things to watch on TV. So if you’re not really a big football fan, you’ve got a lot more options now. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/30 "2006-02-14T00:19:09Z")
My ideal MNF announcing team would be Al Michaels and Phill Simms. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/31 "2006-02-14T01:22:24Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > My ideal MNF announcing team would be Al Michaels and Phill Simms. I’d like to see that one. I like Al Michaels a lot, but I can’t stand Madden. The guy has forgotten more about football than I’ll ever know, but he just can’t communicate it to an audience in real time. Even if he’s got a point that would bring the entire game into a new focus, it always comes out as “…and watch this here - BAM!” For my money, Al Michaels is the best in the business. I’d love to see him teamed with Simms. And for the record, I’m a die-hard football fan who doesn’t get ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/32 "2006-02-14T01:23:18Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > Why would it be Al Michaels’ fault that the ratings for MNF went down? Ratings for _everything_ on TV are down. There are more things to watch on TV. So if you’re not really a big football fan, you’ve got a lot more options now. If it wasn’t Michaels’ fault and its because ratings all over are down because of increased options then how come ABC axed Frank Gifford and/or Dan Dierdorf etc. because the ratings were falling? That’s a rhetorical question, BTW. My point is that Michaels - and Tim McCarver too - seem to be teflon coated. Ratings declines are never their fault, it always the other guy’s. If I never heard either Michaels or McCarver again it be fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![swissmtndog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@swissmtndog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swissmtndog)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/33 "2006-02-14T02:16:41Z")
Micheals is one of the better ones out there. Smooth, concise, a pro. That being said, I think Tirico is really exceptional. His work on the final regulation hole on of the British Open where the Frenchman (Jean VanDeVelde) blew the three shot lead to go into a playoff was incredibile. After a series of events that just defied description, Tirico, in a concise, maybe 30 second period, eloquently made the point the events like these are why we watch sports, and find them so compelling. It was perfect, sent chills up my spine, made a memorable event even more memorable. Then, as VanDeVelde was standing over a difficult 8 foot put, that he needed to make just to get in the playoff, Tirico mentioned that announcers are not required or even supposed to have a rooting interest, but in this one instance, it was impossible not to root for that putt to drop. Nailed what I believe most people who were watching that event at the time were feeling. Have seen a few football games on ESPN he’s done with Sterling Sharpe, he’ll be a big plus for MNF. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/34 "2006-02-14T02:23:08Z")
Btw, put me down as one that LIKES Theismann. The pairing of him and McGwire was hilarious because of the constant disagreements and showing up of each other. It was greatly entertaining, especially when the game was pretty boring Tirico is pretty good, he’s just never really gotten any attention until now. I think Michaels and Madden will probably stay on NBC until one of them dies. NBC is not going to tell either to take a seat after securing their ‘dream team’ ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/35 "2006-02-14T02:43:23Z")
Me, I was hoping it would be time to promote Aaron Taylor. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Werd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Werd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werd)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210/36 "2006-02-14T15:44:57Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > Hey hey hey. The local news can find some jerkass to say just about anything. You’ll learn Rochestarians are not idiotic, but the local news is almost completely worthless (you can find if it will snow tomorrow). BTW, I’m a football fan with no cable. Even if I wasn’t I would be pretty pissed off about it. Football on TV should be free, the way our Great American God intended. There were three or four “jerkasses” that were interviewed and all shared the same broken logic. I have been here for three years and haven’t found any evidence of intelligent life… jk. I don’t even want to mention their driving skills or a lack thereof. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mnf-is-on-espn/344210.md?page=1)