What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

ESPN's Mike & Mike To Be #2 MNF Broadcast Team (1 Viewer)

Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant

Guide
Staff member
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/m...pn_N.htm?csp=34

Makes perfect sense to me. They'll be excellent. #1 team had better be :unsure:

J

ESPN tabs Greenberg, Golic to head second MNF team

By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

ESPN is set to unveil a second Monday Night Football announcing team today: play-by-play Mike Greenberg, analysts Mike Golic and Mike Ditka and sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein.

The new team will make their MNF debut during the Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers game on Sept. 10, says ESPN's Norby Williamson, executive vice president for remote and studio production. The game will be the nightcap in a national NFL doubleheader on ESPN and will kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET.

ESPN's main MNF team of play-by-play Mike Tirico, analysts Tony Kornheiser and Ron Jaworski and sideline reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya will do the first game, the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals, at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN says the second team will only work the one regular-season game while the main team will work all 16 regular-season and four preseason games.

Despite strong ratings, ESPN's initial MNF booth of Tirico, Kornheiser and analyst Joe Theismann struggled to establish on-air chemistry last season. I wouldn't be surprised to see some or all of the Greenberg-Golic group replace the revamped No. 1 team.

Why? Start with momentum. Greenberg and Golic, co-hosts of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning simulcast on ESPN2, are rising stars at home base in Bristol, Conn. Their 7-year-old radio show has expanded to 310 affiliates nationwide. The duo became ESPN's top commentators for the Arena Football League in March and will call ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans on July 29.

Although he praises Tirico, Kornheiser and Jaworski, Greenberg says he would eventually like a shot at the MNF job defined by Howard Cosell, his broadcast idol growing up in New York.

"I want Tony to do that job as long as he wants to do it. Then when he retires, I want them to give it to me," says Greenberg, who'll milk a cow live on air Thursday morning after losing his annual bet to Golic on the NCAA basketball tournament.

Golic, the former NFL defensive tackle, says MNF is the "Valhalla job" of sportscasting. When asked about rising to that assignment, he says: "Who would say no? If given the opportunity I'd love to do it. But they have an excellent crew there now."

Kornheiser had a tough rookie season. The co-host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption was panned by critics at his newspaper, TheWashington Post. Others praised the team of play-by-play Brad Nessler, Jaworski, former NFL coach and previous TV analyst **** Vermeil and Bernstein, who called the second game of ESPN's 2006 doubleheader, and said they should replace Tirico, Kornheiser and Theismann.

But in a vote of confidence for Kornheiser, ESPN brass dropped Theismann in late March and promoted Jaworski, the network's best Xs and Os analyst and an ace at breaking down game tape.

Kornheiser has been publicly ambivalent about the job and its travel requirements; he hates to fly and travels to games by bus. That could be part of his Uncle Tony shtick. Or a strategy to reduce expectations.

Golic says Kornheiser is "a tough bird to figure out." But Greenberg, who has supported Kornheiser on air as a fellow non-athlete in an industry dominated by ex-jocks, expects him to be in the booth for many years.

"It's the best gig in the whole business — and the biggest gig in the whole business," Greenberg says.

Shaq is back in big way:

Shaquille O'Neal has a question for elementary schools in his upcoming reality TV show:

Whatever happened to gym class?

With many cash-strapped schools cutting back on physical education, the 7-1, 325-pound Miami Heat center will star a summer reality show on ABC where he helps obese kids lose weight: Shaq's Big Challenge.

During the six-episode series that debuts Tuesday, O'Neal works with local school and government officials in Florida to develop physical education programs that can be used by students across the country. "We asked the schools what happened to PE. A lot of them talk about a budget crunch. We want to bring back gym class," says O'Neal. Along the way he personally warns six kids about the health perils of being overweight.

"We took them to a doctor who said, 'Here's what you'll look like in 10 years if you don't work out,' " O'Neal says. "It was like being scared straight."

O'Neal likes the entertainment business. Once he retires from the NBA (his contract is for three more seasons) he says he wants to star in movies and TV shows, do public speaking — and run for sheriff.
Click to expand...
 
Color me unimpressed. Never liked them much and the 2nd team last year (Nessler, Jaws and Vermeil) was one the best teams I've seen. :unsure:

 
ConstruxBoy said:
Color me unimpressed. Never liked them much and the 2nd team last year (Nessler, Jaws and Vermeil) was one the best teams I've seen. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well, they can't exactly bring back the 2nd team (Jaws on the 1st team - Vermeil on a rival network). So, please tell us your choice, then.
 
i was so looking forward to football until you mentioned the word Korheiser ... uggghhh!!!

he brings nothing to the broadcast .... nothing!!

 
burd said:
i was so looking forward to football until you mentioned the word Korheiser ... uggghhh!!!he brings nothing to the broadcast .... nothing!!
Click to expand...
Come on - don't you want to know that the catch made by (player x) will help his fantasy team? :thumbup:
 
I think most of the first team will be solid this year, now that JAws has replaced Theismann. I think Kornhole and Jaws will have good chemistry, and Tirico is a solid play-by-play guy.

The person who should be worried is Suzy Kolber. Bonnie Bernstein is much better than she is. It is only a matter of time...

 
Solid. In regard to Jaws, there is something about the way he finishes his sentences(tone of voice) that irritates the hell out of me. But I'm nitpicking, he always brings solid info to the table.

 
On The Rocks said:
Golic I can tolerate....but Greenberg is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
Click to expand...
:shock: However, I do think Mike and Mike will be better than Theismann and Kornholio.I'd love to see Neon Deion on a Monday night crew. Unlike Irvin, Deion seems much more listenable and composed.
 
Oh goody. Will they be doing nifty sports songs, cow-milkings, and arranged sports weddings like they do on their radio social hours?

 
Warpig said:
On The Rocks said:
Golic I can tolerate....but Greenberg is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
Click to expand...
:thumbup: However, I do think Mike and Mike will be better than Theismann and Kornholio.I'd love to see Neon Deion on a Monday night crew. Unlike Irvin, Deion seems much more listenable and composed.
Click to expand...
Deon? Are you kidding me? The guy talks like an inner city televangelist the way he randomly overEMPHAsizes his speech AND ... randomly .. halts ... midsentence ... for ..... effect. .... TESTIFY!!!!After twenty minutes of that garbage, you'll either be scrambling for the remote .... or writing a check to his congregation.
 
' said:
Team 1 is already in bad shape since they got rid of Theismann...
Click to expand...
Theismann has always been horrible. He was incapable of laughing at himself, despite constantly saying contradictory things. And the best change they could make is to get Wilbon to work on his play by play.
 
dparker713 said:
' said:
Team 1 is already in bad shape since they got rid of Theismann...
Click to expand...
Theismann has always been horrible. He was incapable of laughing at himself, despite constantly saying contradictory things. And the best change they could make is to get Wilbon to work on his play by play.
Click to expand...
Joe and Paul together was awesome entertainment...Too bad they don't put them back together...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
burd said:
Warpig said:
On The Rocks said:
Golic I can tolerate....but Greenberg is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
Click to expand...
:wall: However, I do think Mike and Mike will be better than Theismann and Kornholio.I'd love to see Neon Deion on a Monday night crew. Unlike Irvin, Deion seems much more listenable and composed.
Click to expand...
Deon? Are you kidding me? The guy talks like an inner city televangelist the way he randomly overEMPHAsizes his speech AND ... randomly .. halts ... midsentence ... for ..... effect. .... TESTIFY!!!!After twenty minutes of that garbage, you'll either be scrambling for the remote .... or writing a check to his congregation.
Click to expand...
AMEN, brother. I don't want to hear the 'Sermon on the Mount' from Deion while he profiles his wardrobe.
 
' said:
dparker713 said:
' said:
Team 1 is already in bad shape since they got rid of Theismann...
Click to expand...
Theismann has always been horrible. He was incapable of laughing at himself, despite constantly saying contradictory things. And the best change they could make is to get Wilbon to work on his play by play.
Click to expand...
Joe and Paul together was awesome entertainment...Too bad they don't put them back together...
Click to expand...
They were horrid, but atleast they got along. Glad they dumped Theismann instead of Tony.
 
dparker713 said:
' said:
dparker713 said:
' said:
Team 1 is already in bad shape since they got rid of Theismann...
Click to expand...
Theismann has always been horrible. He was incapable of laughing at himself, despite constantly saying contradictory things. And the best change they could make is to get Wilbon to work on his play by play.
Click to expand...
Joe and Paul together was awesome entertainment...Too bad they don't put them back together...
Click to expand...
They were horrid, but atleast they got along. Glad they dumped Theismann instead of Tony.
Click to expand...
McGuire is probably the only announcer I like less than Theismann.
 
' said:
dparker713 said:
' said:
Team 1 is already in bad shape since they got rid of Theismann...
Click to expand...
Theismann has always been horrible. He was incapable of laughing at himself, despite constantly saying contradictory things. And the best change they could make is to get Wilbon to work on his play by play.
Click to expand...
Joe and Paul together was awesome entertainment...Too bad they don't put them back together...
Click to expand...
:lmao:
 
ESPN,please make Mike&Mike only focus on the game not other things.I don't want to hear their useless promotions during this game.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
The hardest part about allowing Mike Greenberg to do play-by-play is that his schtick on-air is that of "the fan". He makes no bones about his undying love for the Jets, for example. How's that going to play out if he's calling one of their games on a national broadcast? It's going to sound kind of awkward.

 
bosoxs45 said:
ESPN,please make Mike&Mike only focus on the game not other things.I don't want to hear their useless promotions during this game.
Click to expand...
I agree. If they stick to the game, reasonable tangents from the game, humor from the game, they probably will do a good job. But the radio silliness that now makes up 2/3 of their broadcasts is just intolerable.
 
Workhorse said:
The hardest part about allowing Mike Greenberg to do play-by-play is that his schtick on-air is that of "the fan". He makes no bones about his undying love for the Jets, for example. How's that going to play out if he's calling one of their games on a national broadcast? It's going to sound kind of awkward.
Click to expand...
They are only doing one game on opening weekend. He isn't calling any Jets games. Unless he goes "Tonya Harding" on Mike Tirico.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The worst thing here is that Ditka is going to be doing the game. He is ok to listen to in the studio but 3 hours of him will get old!

 
burd said:
i was so looking forward to football until you mentioned the word Korheiser ... uggghhh!!!he brings nothing to the broadcast .... nothing!!
Click to expand...
I'd pay good money to see the Movie Trailer Voice Guy ("In a world....") do MNF .Kornheiser is terrible.Being a "rising star" at ESPN doesn't say much. The network has really fallen off, especially in its NFL coverage, and Sportscenter in general is pretty terrible these days versus its 90s heyday.
 
Vikes Fan said:
Workhorse said:
The hardest part about allowing Mike Greenberg to do play-by-play is that his schtick on-air is that of "the fan". He makes no bones about his undying love for the Jets, for example. How's that going to play out if he's calling one of their games on a national broadcast? It's going to sound kind of awkward.
Click to expand...
They are only doing one game on opening weekend. He isn't calling any Jets games. Unless he goes "Tonya Harding" on Mike Tirico.
Click to expand...
The article is specuating that Mike and Mike could very well end up as the #1 MNF announce team in the near future.
 
OMG .. and what's w/ Paul McGuire? Why is he always so pist off? i've never seen anyone TRY to start an argument .. if Theisman said the sky was blue, McGuire would jump all over him and say "No it's not!! ... it's red!!". ANd jeez ... have you ever seen anyone so smug because he correctly called it 4th and short instead of 1st and 10? Wow Paul, way to go!! You're talents are being wasted doing commentary. You should be locked in a small dark room w/ only a monitor. This way you can correctly call the yardage undisturbed. I was SO happy to see him go after years and years and years of having him work my local Bills games.

 
burd said:
Warpig said:
On The Rocks said:
Golic I can tolerate....but Greenberg is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
Click to expand...
:P However, I do think Mike and Mike will be better than Theismann and Kornholio.

I'd love to see Neon Deion on a Monday night crew. Unlike Irvin, Deion seems much more listenable and composed.
Click to expand...
Deon? Are you kidding me? The guy talks like an inner city televangelist the way he randomly overEMPHAsizes his speech AND ... randomly .. halts ... midsentence ... for ..... effect. .... TESTIFY!!!!After twenty minutes of that garbage, you'll either be scrambling for the remote .... or writing a check to his congregation.
Click to expand...
so basically he is trying to be Jim Rome.
 
burd said:
Warpig said:
On The Rocks said:
Golic I can tolerate....but Greenberg is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
Click to expand...
:P However, I do think Mike and Mike will be better than Theismann and Kornholio.I'd love to see Neon Deion on a Monday night crew. Unlike Irvin, Deion seems much more listenable and composed.
Click to expand...
Deon? Are you kidding me? The guy talks like an inner city televangelist the way he randomly overEMPHAsizes his speech AND ... randomly .. halts ... midsentence ... for ..... effect. .... TESTIFY!!!!After twenty minutes of that garbage, you'll either be scrambling for the remote .... or writing a check to his congregation.
Click to expand...
:o BLASPHEMER!!! :thumbup: Seriously, I like the knowledge he brings to the booth. Would you rather have him or Irvin?
 
The thing that is sad to me is that they are choosing personalities from their programming line-up to help sell their product, instead of trying to fill the spots with announcers who will do a good job. Just another example of ESPN selling out and trying to market to "non" sports fans and make a ton of cash!

:moneybag:

 
I liked Kornheiser on the SportsReporters. He should have kept to that. PTI is annoying. HIm on Monday night is really REALLY ANNOYING!

I actually like Mike and Mike. Listened to them do about one quarter of Arena ball. Not bad. They should keep working on their stuff, but I could live with them on MNF.

Not related. But I actually loved when Golic and Bill Curry did college games. Bill Curry is one of the classiest most interesting college football announcers around. Don't think it would work as well for NFL games, but he has a personal story about so much stuff/history that it makes even the boring games interesting.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mungo Burrows said:
' said:
dparker713 said:
' said:
Team 1 is already in bad shape since they got rid of Theismann...
Click to expand...
Theismann has always been horrible. He was incapable of laughing at himself, despite constantly saying contradictory things. And the best change they could make is to get Wilbon to work on his play by play.
Click to expand...
Joe and Paul together was awesome entertainment...Too bad they don't put them back together...
Click to expand...
:confused:
Click to expand...
Bzzz...Joe and Paul was the only reason I tuned into Sunday Night Football when ESPN had it...
 
george said:
I liked Kornheiser on the SportsReporters. He should have kept to that. PTI is annoying. HIm on Monday night is really REALLY ANNOYING!
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say it to this extreme, because I kind of like PTI, but I agree with your basic premise. Kornheiser is at his best in a lengthy radio format where he has plenty of time to explore issues with interesting guests (not players, thank God) and at his worst in the booth on MNF. I don't even think he likes doing MNF all that much but ESPN waved so much money at him to do the gig that he couldn't turn it down.His old radio show in the DC/Baltimore area was a daily pleasure.
 
Looking forward to this.

Predictions:

Golic is the star of the show.

Ditka will get booed mercilessly the next day.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Yogibear
Why Week 14 MNF game IS NOT being flexed out
Replies
4
Views
389
Joe Schmo
J
GregR
  • Poll Poll
Mel Kiper and the Hall of Fame / Pete Rozelle award
Replies
36
Views
773
massraider
massraider
Hot Sauce Guy
FF "Reporting" is sometimes deeply questionable.
2
Replies
56
Views
2K
Hot Sauce Guy
Hot Sauce Guy

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top