Monday Night Football on ESPN

[RedKingGold]

A few observations...

--I really do not like how they have the score/time overlay on the bottom of the screen instead of the upper left. It was a lot easier (and familiar) to be able to keep one eye on the play and the other on the time/play clock, etc.

--Only ten seconds in, and I'm still optimistic about Tony Kornheiser being in the booth. That's more than I can say when Dennis Miller was involved.

--If I see those "One Monday Closer to Monday Night Football" commericals again, I'm gonna vomit on the TV.

--I wish they gave more information on the team intro screens (perhaps they will when they actually hav regular season stats.

--I'm waiting for the first Tirico freak-out (I'm surprised it didn't happen on the opening fumble).

[RedKingGold]

Dola, the new Vikings uniforms are definitely NOT an improvement.

[Logan]

A couple more things:

- I read your thread title, and still put on ABC to find out that "Wife Swap" is on.

- Tony K sounds very different than he does on PTI.

- I swear upon everything holy that I will never watch another game on ESPN until I know for sure that the middle of the field graphic display is gone. Unfuckinbelievable how annoying that shit is. I DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE SCORE, DOWN, DISTANCE, AND TIME WHILE WATCHING A TOSS LEFT!!!

[jbmagic]

Mike Patrick was the better announcer. Why did they let him go.

[aran]

Kornheiser + Theisman = Conflict.

It's funny, but once the novelty wears off, I'm going to have to start muting my TV.

[aran]

Dola,

It's actually quite annoying to have such confrontational/angryish people in the booth. I'd much prefer more relaxed announcers, myself.

[LionsFan10]

Why is everybody SO upset over the score overlay? It's the same thing you've been looking at for years only now it's in a different spot, big deal. C'mon, it's not that bad ... is it?

[caspanky]

Lots of people dont' like change, no matter how small.

EDIT:
But, now that I've seen it, I don't really like it either. Seems too big.

[Brillig]

I can't tell whether I hate the guys in the booth, or just can't get excited about pre-season football. Ten minutes was all I could take.

[aran]

Note to ESPN: "MOST" is not a rank.

[panerd]

A couple more things:

- I read your thread title, and still put on ABC to find out that "Wife Swap" is on.

- Tony K sounds very different than he does on PTI.


I am trying to figure out if that is just an audio thing or if Kornheiser is nervous, but I didn't think it was him until they showed video of him talking. I am also trying to figure out if Tony is just playing around with Theisman or intentially messing with him, but either way Theisman doesn't seem to appreciate it.

[PineTar]

I've heard that watching the new MNF crew in the booth can lead to erectile dysfunction.

[aran]

I've heard that watching the new MNF crew in the booth can lead to erectile dysfunction.

My sperm explode at the mere thought that such men can exist and combine powers in such a terroristic fashion.

[flere-imsaho]

Who's doing PBP? I'd turn it on to find out, but my wife has the Tivo recording something....

[sooner333]

I liked it when Kornheiser responded to Theisman's comment about Walsh being more ready than Joe Gibbs to get back into football with "I don't know I would raise my hand for that one"

[kcchief19]

Why is everybody SO upset over the score overlay? It's the same thing you've been looking at for years only now it's in a different spot, big deal. C'mon, it's not that bad ... is it?
FWIW, I like the middle screen score bug, although I think I might like it at the top better than the bottom. The corner overlay is annoying to those of us snobs with widescreens who can't stand that bug just hanging there in an odd spot on the screen.

I think Kornheiser is serviceable, the problem is that he's not a football specialist. He says funny things everyonce in a while and he's OK for some color about the players and stuff, but he doesn't know jackshit about strategy, history, bios, backgrounds, trivia, etc. And I'm not holding my breath that he'll get better because writing a column and hosting a TV show means he has no time to do his homework. Theisman does football 24/7, and Tirico is just an over achiever.

I think "The Game" of the the week will be the Sunday night game because that's that marquee booth team and supporting cast.

[kcchief19]

--If I see those "One Monday Closer to Monday Night Football" commericals again, I'm gonna vomit on the TV.
Those things lick the sweat off a dead man's balls.

[saldana]

during the pregame, the only thing i could think was...How much hair dye does Theisman use to make his hair that color"...i dont think it was that color when he was in his 20's

[Wasabiak]

I'll share some thoughts in this sea of negativity...........

1. The Vikes uniforms are a lot better than the old ones IMO.
2. The O'Sullivan/O'Brien comments were quite amusing.
3. TK did make a comment about JT's hair not being real, was slightly amusing.
4. The sideline reporters did a good job.

Ok, continue with the bashfest.........

[Deattribution]

I don't like three man booths, especially when one of those three includes Theisman.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Observations...


The overall presentation--and I think the score in the bottom middle is part of this--had a throwback feel to it. Black and white, basic graphics. There were very few of the spinning, loud screen transitions and zippy graphics. I really enjoyed this laid-back aspect of tonight's broadcast, as I've felt the high-powered graphics overshadow the play on the feel and for the most part are annoying.

Having said that, the score info in the middle of the bottom of the screen eats up a lot of real estate. Can we make it smaller? Or move it out of the way?

I've always found Theisman abrasive, and I didn't enjoy the conflict between him and Tony K. Tirico had to draw them back to the game on a number of occasions.

I thought Tirico was excellent on play-by-play.

I thought Tony K made some insightful "big picture" comments and for the most part improved the broadcast.

For a preseason game, I greatly enjoyed the filler time between plays. I thought they did an exceptional job with content on the recent history of the franchises, which made the preseason game much more enjoyable. I watched the game on videotape and was planning to zip through much of the between-play stuff, but I actually found myself listening to most of it.

Although I hated the "Tony Tony Tony" lyric the used for the random questions, I liked the questions and the discussions that ensued, unless of course they spiraled into Theisman/Tony K arguments.

The lack of country music at the halftime is a noticeable improvement.

Sideline reporting was good, but went on too long on some occasions.

And they completely missed the Chad Greenway (Viking's first round draft pick) situation. Maybe I missed it, but I heard them report in the second quarter that Greenway left with a knee injury, and then...nothing. This could be the Viking's new "we're not going to tell you anything about injuries" stonewalling, but still, ESPN should tell us something.

[sovereignstar]

All indications are that Greenway is done for the season with ligament damage. Yippee.

[Godzilla Blitz]

All indications are that Greenway is done for the season with ligament damage. Yippee.

Argh. No kidding? That sucks. He seems like a decent guy.

[Groundhog]

Vikings top pick Greenway injures left knee

NFL.com wire reports

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 14, 2006) -- Minnesota Vikings rookie linebacker Chad Greenway injured his left knee and didn't return in a preseason game on Aug. 14.

Greenway, the team's first-round draft pick from Iowa who is the second-string weakside linebacker behind E.J. Henderson, was covering a kickoff in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders. He broke through the wedge, but got hurt and limped off the field.

After he was examined on the trainer's table behind the bench, Greenway was able to get up and walk around the sideline. Vikings coach Brad Childress said Greenway would have an MRI on Aug. 15, but provided no other details.

Though he declined to speculate on the severity of the injury, defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin said he felt "sick" for Greenway.

"I'm disappointed for the kid," he said. "Injuries are a part of the game, and we accept that. But I feel bad for him."


If those damn Raiders hadn't game planned in order to keep the Vikings D on the field as much as possible this would never have happened. The NFL needs to implement some sort of clearly defined pass/run play ratios to keep pre-season play clean and fair.

[Wasabiak]

All indications are that Greenway is done for the season with ligament damage. Yippee.

Where you getting your info? He's having an MRI tomorrow. Obviously, you are speculating.

[Bee]

I generally like Tirico, but he had a "fake announcer's voice" thing going on that was driving me crazy. Since no one has mentioned it yet, maybe I was the only one who noticed but he'd start off a sentence like he was imitating one of those commercial pitchmen or something and then after a few seconds would start to relax and return to his normal voice. Then the next play, he was back to the "fake" voice.

[Capital]

Chalk me up for one of the middle of the screen graphic haters...although I didn't consider the logic until I thought of the HD middle left baseball graphic. That being said, any play to the bottom of the screen could be destroyed by the graphic.

[saldana]

if they want to have that grapic there, they should fade it out when the ball is snapped

[Subby]

Theismann is a humorless prig. Theyneed to get rid of him and pull someone in there that isn't so fucking arrogant.

[cuervo72]

Theismann is a humorless prig. Theyneed to get rid of him and pull someone in there that isn't so fucking arrogant.

I nominate Paul McGuire.

[stevew]

Theismann is a humorless prig. Theyneed to get rid of him and pull someone in there that isn't so fucking arrogant.
I can't believe that the people in charge of programming can listen to that douche and still decide to give him a job. He's f'n horrible and pretty well single-handedly ruins every game he calls. SNF was unbearable with him and McFuckface....I hold out little hope for this season.

[Ryche]

One thing that was pissing me off last night was when they would be interviewing somebody while plays were going on. I don't need to see the face of the guy you are interviewing. It's bad enough you're not doing any play by play, but at least give me the full picture of the game.

[RedKingGold]

Where you getting your info? He's having an MRI tomorrow. Obviously, you are speculating.

Now, its official:


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2550612

[Wasabiak]

Now, its official:


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2550612

bummer :(

[yabanci]

A great start to MNF's hard hitting investigative reporting.

If you watched the Oak at Min game, you might remember sideline reporter Suzy Kolber doing a piece about the inspirational story of Koren Robinson, how his arrest last year for drunk driving changed his life and made him a better man, he overcame adversity, blah, blah blah. A very glowing piece of ass kissing.

Today:

Vikings receiver Robinson jailed on suspicion of drunken driving
By DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Sports Writer
August 16, 2006

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson stretches in this April 29, 2005 photo, on the opening day of Seahawks Mini-Camp in Kirkland, Wash. Minnesota Vikings receiver Koren Robinson was arrested Tuesday night, Aug. 15, 2006, on suspicion of drunken driving and fleeing from police. Robinson's blue BMW sedan was caught on radar going more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone at 10:45 p.m., and he refused to stop, Chief Matt Peters said Wednesday. He was arrested by police about 10 miles away in Mankato, Minn., where the Vikings hold their training camp. He was given field tests for drunken driving, police said.

Robinson's blue BMW sedan was caught on radar going more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone at 10:45 p.m., and he refused to stop, Chief Matt Peters said Wednesday. He was arrested by police about 10 miles away in Mankato, where the Vikings hold their training camp.

He was in the Nicollet County jail on Wednesday, with charges possible later in the day. He may face a felony charge of fleeing police along with a possible DWI charge, Peters said.

He was given field tests for drunken driving, police said.

Robinson's agent, Alvin Keels, didn't immediately respond to messages for comment.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Wednesday he learned of the arrest soon after Robinson missed the team's 11 p.m. curfew Tuesday.

"I couldn't be more disappointed for him, for the football team, and for the community to have that happen," said Childress, adding it's too soon to know how the arrest will affect Robinson's status with the team.

Vikings players had Tuesday off after losing to Oakland on Monday night.

"When you have 24 hours off, it's hard to walk around with them" to keep them out of trouble, said Childress, who was hired by owner Zygi Wilf in January to straighten out a team prone to off-the-field distractions.

"One of the reasons I'm here in this job and one of the mandates from the Wilf family is they want this ship run right," he said. "I am trying to create a culture of accountability."

The 26-year-old Robinson's prior history with the league includes a four-game suspension in 2004 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy while playing for the Seattle Seahawks. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wouldn't comment Wednesday on Robinson, but said the league reviews cases based on its policy.

After pleading guilty to DUI in 2005, Robinson was cut by the Seahawks and later spent 28 days in an alcohol treatment facility.

Given a second chance with the Vikings, he turned into a solid receiver and made his first trip to the Pro Bowl. The Vikings gave him a new three-year contract in March that included $5.5 million in guaranteed money.

In July, Robinson said in an interview with the AP that he knew he'd always be under scrutiny as a recovering alcoholic. He said he was taking some relapse prevention classes in preparation for the NFL season, when he said he would have little time to work on maintaining his recovery.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Ouch.

Star Tribune is reporting Robinson had a .11 alcohol level (.08 is intoxicated by state law) and is probable to receive at least a one-year suspension from the NFL.

So it looks as if in the span of two days the Vikings lose their #1 draft pick and their #1 receiver.

[LionsFan10]

A great start to MNF's hard hitting investigative reporting.

If you watched the Oak at Min game, you might remember sideline reporter Suzy Kolber doing a piece about the inspirational story of Koren Robinson, how his arrest last year for drunk driving changed his life and made him a better man, he overcame adversity, blah, blah blah. A very glowing piece of ass kissing.

Today:

I like that headline, "suspicion" of drunk driving. I'm sure the breath-a-lizer and field sobriety test couldn't really determine whether he was drunk or not.

[Raiders Army]

While a little late to the party, I thought the booth was okay. While only a preseason game, I shudder to think that they actually practiced doing the game. I would've guessed they did the game cold. It annoys me when they don't know the players. You have all week to study the teams and you mess up by calling a player another player.

Al Michaels did it during the HOF game when he called Fabian Washington a rookie. This is his second year. I'm sure everyone makes mistakes, but make em on a undrafted FA who probably won't make the team.