Do you have memories of Don Meredith On Monday Night Football? (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

As you've heard, Don Meredith has passed away.

I can clearly remember Meredith and Cosell but that was a pretty long time ago. I'm guessing there are lots of guys here that were too young to have heard him live on MNF.

That made me wonder how many maybe were too young to hear him live but were aware of his work.

And that maybe some were not really aware at all.

So I thought I'd ask.

For those that didn't get to hear him, he was excellent. He and Cosell seemed to have a great chemistry there.

J

 

[Sudsy]

I vividly remember his career as a player.

 

[oso diablo]

my dad was a big fan. he would sing the "turn out the lights" refrain before or along with DM

 

[road warrior]

There were so many moments, but my favorites would be when Cosell would get on his soap box about something and Dandy Don would reply "That's not it at all, Howard."

I think he was the only one who could put Cosell at a loss for words. Not an easy feat.

 

[Harjiran]

He always had a great sense of humor. I also remember him from those Lipton tea commercials.

 

[DoubleG]

He always had a great sense of humor. I also remember him from those Lipton tea commercials.

Yep. Good call on both.

 

[V1LL]

"We're in the mile high city, and I really am!"

CLASSIC!

 

[DCThunder]

Dandy Don and Howard were what made MNF what it was back in the day. Their pairing was evidence of Roone Arledge's genius. Without them, there might never have really been a MNF and the franchise has been searching for that chemistry for 30 years...

 

[The Jerk]

Like road warrior, I loved that Meredith could tie up Cosell's tongue. Also, I loved the "This Oiler fan thinks they're #1" or something similar when the fan flipped the camera the middle finger. (see link)

He was my favorite broadcaster from my first memories of watching football into my teenage years.

5 Reasons to Mourn Meredith

 

[Sudsy]

Cowboys Q.B. in the Ice Bowl.

 

[coolnerd]

He signed a Cowboys helmet for me at a Sears when I was a kid.

 

[The Jerk]

Dandy Don and Howard were what made MNF what it was back in the day. Their pairing was evidence of Roone Arledge's genius. Without them, there might never have really been a MNF and the franchise has been searching for that chemistry for 30 years...

Well said.The difference between Meredith and Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser (in terms of bringing humor to the booth) is both the vast credibility of having been a successful NFL player and the inside knowledge that comes with it. Miller and Kornheiser are each witty and smart in their way, but it felt more artificial coming from them. Also, Meredith had a homespun element to his delivery that was simply fun.Cosell was a Don King caliber promoter and showman.Meredith was both folksy and confident, which made him more of a champion to the "masses" who watched MNF.I don't think anyone comes close to Cosell in terms of being a controversy magnet in the booth, while John Madden comes closest to being the combination that Meredith had, and with similar mass appeal. Given the homogenization of TV announcers and the increasing fragmentation of the TV audience, there will almost certainly never be another phenomenon in sports TV like MNF's golden era.

 

[buster c]

Fair Hooker...well, I haven't met one yet!

 

[Joe Bryant]

Meredith still has more TD passes than Tony Romo.

J

 

[road warrior]

Dandy Don was Joe Namath.... before Joe Namath. The games were just getting started when the final gun blew.

It's really too bad the Cowboy fans didn't truly appreciate how good he was until after he left.

 

[Flash]

Dandy Don and Howard were what made MNF what it was back in the day. Their pairing was evidence of Roone Arledge's genius. Without them, there might never have really been a MNF and the franchise has been searching for that chemistry for 30 years...

Well said.The difference between Meredith and Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser (in terms of bringing humor to the booth) is both the vast credibility of having been a successful NFL player and the inside knowledge that comes with it. Miller and Kornheiser are each witty and smart in their way, but it felt more artificial coming from them. Also, Meredith had a homespun element to his delivery that was simply fun.

Cosell was a Don King caliber promoter and showman.

Meredith was both folksy and confident, which made him more of a champion to the "masses" who watched MNF.

I don't think anyone comes close to Cosell in terms of being a controversy magnet in the booth, while John Madden comes closest to being the combination that Meredith had, and with similar mass appeal. Given the homogenization of TV announcers and the increasing fragmentation of the TV audience, there will almost certainly never be another phenomenon in sports TV like MNF's golden era.

Two excellent posts.

 

[westlake]

Here's a Meredith quote I'll always remember:

"If ifs and ands were pots and pans, the world would be a kitchen sink.

 

[prosopis]

I clearly remember him. Sad to see some of my memories dying.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Dandy Don and Howard were what made MNF what it was back in the day. Their pairing was evidence of Roone Arledge's genius. Without them, there might never have really been a MNF and the franchise has been searching for that chemistry for 30 years...

 

[BobbyLayne]

Used to love the way Cosell and Meredith went at it:

He came out of nowhere to make that play!

No, Howard, he came from the Weak Side Linebacker spot

I mean he came out of nowhere!

No, actually he came out of Ohio State

Well, you know what I meant, Don

I usually have no idea what you are talking about



Honestly don't remember him as a player. Johnny Unitas was in a class of his own; Sonny Jurgeson put up big numbers on lousy teams; and Bart Starr was the ultimate field general. I always felt like those three were elite in that period, even though Dandy Don went to the Pro Bowl his last three years. Meredith was in the next tier with Fran Tarkenton and Roman Gabriel. Very good, but not quite great.

But he came into the league with the Cowboys. Didn't start much the first few years (QBs never did back then), but once he got the job full-time in his 4th or 5th year, Dallas always had great production on offense. Never won the big one, so maybe that is why I never put him up there (not fair, but it is what it is).

As an announcer, he was just cool. Just seriously cool. They went through a lot of people in the booth (Alex Karras, the Hammer, O.J., Tarkenton, Joe Namath, etc). The best team was clearly Frank Gifford, Dandy Don and Howard. Pretty easy to pick who everyone's favorite was in that group.

 

[Mr.Blonde]

Fair Hooker...well, I haven't met one yet!

I'm trying to find a media clip of this and the "We're in Mile High ...and I am". If anyone finds one, thanks.