Barkley on MNF?
 

Oh, brother...




Barkley, ABC talking about 'MNF' job

From news services
Published on: 5/18/04

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ABC wants to add some basketball to its "Monday Night Football."

Executives at the Walt Disney Co. network have "informally" inquired whether former NBA All-Star Charles Barkley would be interested in joining the network's flagship sports program, ABC and his agent said.

"We've been approached about doing something," agent Marc Perman said in a telephone interview, declining to discuss specifics. Barkley is an analyst on TNT's "Inside the NBA."

The addition of Barkley, who once responded to complaints from an animal rights group by eating a hamburger on the air, would be another attempt by ABC to bolster ratings with a high-profile announcer without a football background. Barkley would follow comedian Dennis Miller, who was fired after the 2001 season when his highbrow wisecracks failed to draw viewers.

"Monday Night Football has always been that mix of sports and entertainment, so this makes sense," said Jay Rosenstein, a former vice president at CBS Sports. "He's got the wit and a sense of fun -- everything you look for in a broadcaster."

Mike Pearl, senior vice president of ABC Sports, said he and the 41-year-old Barkley have had "casual chatter" about a "Monday Night Football" post, most recently at the NBA All-Star game in February.

ABC execs....

Why not just put in a rotating crew of 32 guys each doing a half. And at the end of the year we can vote which one of em gets to be the next Bachelor?

If they started the games earlier and showed them on tape delay on the West Coast--then more people would watch.

Agreed. I can't easily watch until 1 in the morning to see the end of an f'in game. I probably watch at most 2 games until completion each season.

I usually fall asleep at halftime.

Screw Barkley. Bring back Melissa Stark!

I grew up on the east coast and I didn't mind staying for MNF if it was a good game.

"who once responded to complaints from an animal rights group by eating a hamburger on the air,"

Why is that even in the article?

dola

I don't even watch MNF because I won't feel like staying up until the end.

yeah, well when i have to get up at 5am for work.. it's not so easy.

To show that he's a wild and crazy guy, and we all know that a wild and crazy guy= Ratings :rolleyes:

Am I the only one who likes this idea?

then why not just say "the outspoken co-host of TNT's coverage of the NBA?"

What MNF needs is Bill Walton.

What MNF and all sports need are guys to sit there and call the action, thats it, period. They dont crazy funny guys, the dont need idiots running the sidelines asking coach schmoe how it felt to lose the game or win the game.

He's a better choice than Rush Limbaugh, but I can't see this as a move that needs to be made.

I second this motion.

I will say that Inside the NBA is to me the most enjoyable studio show in American sports coverage to watch, mainly because of Barkley and Kenny Smith. Couldn't be any worse than Dennis Miller!

You didn't just mention the worst basketball announcer this side of Dick Vitale in all seriousness did you?

SI

The hell with Barkley, screw Melissa!!!!

I didn't see Billy Packer's name being thrown around.

So I wonder how much Chuck really knows about the intricacies of football...

Probably about as much as any average fan. He's got to be more knowledgeable than half the sideline reporters they trot out there...

Nope... I'm a huge Barkley fan. He actually provides insight, something every single fucking football announcer doesn't do.

No, but I thought it would lose its effectiveness if I put a smiley in there.

Can you imagine? I don't want to.

Q- Charles, what do you think of the game so far?
A- I dunno, i'm watching to see who Jessie picks on The Bachelor.

I can live without that deep insight.

Why? Why him?

How does this guy keep getting these kinds of jobs??

For his mouth??

C'mon!