Did anybody notice that once Dan Dierdorf went to CBS, he was more tolerable? He called a Green Bay Packer game, and my friends and I were upset that he would be a commentator, but he did a much better job. Granted, that was the only time I heard him on CBS, but it was 138% improvement over the Dierdorf of MNF.
I think it will be a riot! He certainly will be more entertaining than Slobdorf and Boomer were…He might just say some of the things that actually go through your mind during the game.
What’s the over/under on how long before he says fuck?
I give him 5 minutes into the first quarter –
“That pass wobbled than Ted Kennedy on St Patrick’s Day! Who made that ball, the same company that made Weebles? What the fuck was that all about?”
Hey rubes–
I agree with your Dierdorf comment. I actually felt kinda bad for him after the way he was pushed out to make way for Boomer. I watched the Packer game he called and he did a good job. (Side note and inside Packer reference–I’ve only been watching Packer games with the TV sound on for a year. Ever since Jim and Max retired, I can’t listen to the radio anymore). It made me wonder why I hated Dan so much on MNF. I guess with Boomer comes perspective…
Denbo,
Jim and Max were the only way to listen and drink to the Packers. You know what that’s all about…
Personally I love the choice of Dennis Miller in the booth. I’m less than enthused by Dan Fouts. Most of the time the ex-athletes suck. I’m a little surprised ABC didn’t pull Patrick from ESPN’s Sunday night games, but I guess his role is the same as Al Michaels. (I agree with denbo, Al Michaels is one of the best sports announcers around right now, second only to Bob Costas).
As for Dierdorf, everyone ragged on him a lot, but he actually had much better insight than he’s given credit for (and certainly much more than most ex-athletes).
Boomer was horrible! The only time I enjoyed him in the booth was when I thought Dierdorf was going to beat the living shit out of him on live TV. A sports columnist used to count the number of times Boomer said “Ya Know” each week. After reading about it, I can never watch Boomer again because I just laugh when he says it (which is very often). Theisman’s another one that needs to shut the fuck up!
As to Mller’s sportscasting ability, can anyone confirm a vague memory I have of him doing some work in the booth at, I believe, a Cubs game?
I think Miller can make it. After reading as much commentary as I could find on the internet, from both inside ABC and outside, for the past few hours, I’m ready to chime in on my opinion on this one:
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It’s refreshing to have someone who knows how to be entertaining broadcast sports. Dennis knows how to play to a microphone, and will probably know when to shut up (believe it or not) better than say, Joe Theismann, who can bore even a rabid football fan with his analysis of a blocking scheme on a successful extra point attempt.
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Several folks at ABC said Miller had something other people auditioning (including Rush Limbaugh) didn’t: Unique insight into the game itself. The finalists were all asked to call the Buffalo/Tennessee game from last years AFC championship, and Al Michaels himself said that Miller noticed things that no one else seemed to. He was both knowledgeble of the game, and insightful in his analysis of key plays. For one he focused on the famous last play not by analyzing Tennessee’s desperation, or Buffalo’s self destruction in kick coverage, but instead questioned the coaching decision on the Buffalo sidelines that called for the short kick in the first place. Now, he did have a year to think about the game, but his analysis was one not considered by anyone auditioning or even the commentators or post-game analysis offered at the time. He showed in his audition the ability to provide original football commentary, which was the deciding factor in giving him the job.
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It is possible to be deeply knowledgible in more than one subject. Dennis is known for his biting political commentary and deep working knowledge of popular culture, but he may very well be a football expert. As someone who, like him, has never played the game competitivly, I fancy myself an expert of sorts in the game. One does not need to have formal training in a subject to be knowledgable of it.
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It’s better to have an announcer that everyone hates rather than one that bores everyone. Howard Cosell proved this, and MNF has had some GAWD AWFUL broadcasters, and the ratings have showed this (remember the O.J. Simpson/Joe Namath years. Sheesh.) The “classic era” of MNF featured Cosell and Dandy Don Meredith, who were successful for their personality and wit as much as their football commentary. Even if fans quickly anger with Miller, at least they will watch him.
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Good entertainers know how to adapt themselves to context. People see Miller on his show and think that is the only “character” he can play. I’m not saying he isn’t refreshingly real on Dennis Miller Live, or that he is somehow “acting” his way through it, but he may be quite able to change modes and be a solid sports broadcaster as well. As an inteligent sports fan himself, he probably knows what goes into good sports casting and what works, as well as what doesn’t, and should be able to perform accordingly.
That having all been said, I think (and hope) that Dennis Miller will be great in his capacity as MNF commentator. I certainly hope for him to have a long and productive career at it, and that this won’t be a gimmick. I, for one, will continue to tune in every night (as I did during the atrocious Boomer years).