Oh, for the love of … :smack:
wanders off to find the “Dopers whose names you just got” thread
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.
I must disagree. Michaels might be the best US sportscaster, period.
So will the new channel be channel 20 (9+11) or channel 10 ((9+11)/2)? 
I agree. This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say anything bad about him.
I’ll take Theismann any day over Pam Ward. Her voice was made for the mute button.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’
Me, I was hoping it would be time to promote Aaron Taylor.
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.