Some good news for your Monday Tony Kornheiser is out of the ESPN Monday Night Football booth to be replaced by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden (I will fight the urge for the Chucky references because everyone is going to be using that today).
Love Tony Kornheiser on PTI and on radio, but he was a disaster on Monday Night Football. I understand they wanted to interject some personality into the broadcast, but there were times last year that I am sure 60% of the viewing audience was watching on mute. If it wasn't for Ron Jawroksi there wouldn't have been any reason at all to watch.
The fact that Kornheiser very publicly stated he didn't do much research or studying about the actual games is something that I know bothered a lot of people. It is one thing to have the pregame guys to be airheads, but the broadcasters covering the games need to be as informed as possible.
If you are not going to be informed at least be entertaining and he was neither.
Sometimes in the 4th quarter of game I wondered if he was actually sleeping in the booth he seemed that disinterested in what was going on.
With Gruden I don't think we have to worry about preparation or drowsiness being a problem. ESPN has learned from its mistake and hired substance over flash. Also Gruden has a very good sense of humor so I definitely like the dynamic of the booth better now.
Now with all that being said if I was ESPN you know what I would have done? I would have dropped everyone from the booth and hired:
Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Chris Webber and Ernie Johnson
How good is the TNT NBA crew? I know for a fact that people stay up late just to make sure they catch them after the TNT game goes off. More twitter conversations
(http://www.twitter.com/BlkSportsOnline) goes on about them than the game sometimes.
I know they cover basketball, but I guarantee you they would be more insightful than anybody in the booth now (sans Jaws) if you gave them a full three to four months to prepare.
As long as Chuck doesn't try to get some "Mouth Loving" before the game in the parking lot it would be a great arrangement don't you think?
I totally agree
He won't ever admit it but I think Michael Wilbon is secretly happy Tony is off of MNF. Like you said, Tony didn't do research and would make light of the fact that he really didn't know football as much as he should. Also, after he got the job he seemed to be a bit more self-absorbed.
Dean I think Wilbon is happy too and I hope don't think I am Tony bashing because I love Tony just not on MNF he was god awful
I am better!
100% correct
I think Tony Dungy may have been a good choice or even Mike Greenberg.
Not once did Tony ever contribute anything to the commentary in terms of football when he was on MNF. Good riddance.
KdmnN7
KdmnN7