Posted on 12/27/2005 6:07:01 PM PST by wagglebee
ASHBURN, Va., Dec. 22 - It was one of the ghastliest sports injuries captured on television, and Joe Theismann had spent 20 years avoiding the replay. He would turn his head if clips were being shown of the tackle by Lawrence Taylor that snapped his right leg during ABC's broadcast of "Monday Night Football."
Although he initially agreed to watch a tape of that Giants-Redskins game with a reporter, Theismann then resisted. "Why would I want to watch that?" he said. But after a break, he returned to a viewing room in the Redskins' complex, where he works out and is a regular visitor.
"O.K.," he said, sounding nearly eager to see the play that ended his playing career. "Let's do this. It's been long enough."
Theismann's belated reminiscence came four days before ABC's "Monday Night" finale - the Patriots against the Jets at Giants Stadium - after 36 seasons. ABC has two wild-card playoff games and the Super Bowl left, but the Monday night games will shift next year to ESPN, for whom Theismann has called Sunday night games since 1988. He will call "Monday Night" with Al Michaels, the show's play-by-play voice for 20 years.
"I wanted to continue to do television," Theismann said. "The only viable option for me was 'Monday Night.' "
As he watched the game that turned him into a sportscaster, he recalled that he was inconsistent that season. He was throwing too many interceptions. "I was in a funk," he said, then remembered how in training camp he boasted that he would play until he had to be carried from the field.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
"How many times do I have to watch this?" he said quietly.
Then, he turned away, but not far enough to avoid seeing it.
I couldn't stand Joe Theismann or the Redskins, and I still felt really sorry for him.
NFL (historical) ping.
That was the worst injury I ever saw on a TV football game. Mapolean McCallum's knee was a close second. You could actually see his leg straining against the forces and then see the moment the ligaments and tendons gave way and his knee dislocates.
Yeah, I will remember it as long as I live, it didn't surprise me at all the he refused to watch the replay for so long.
Mapolean=Napolean
A wide reciever for Alabama had an equally sickening break this year. I've seen both breaks. Those two events were quite unsettling, and I have a strong stomach. I hated to see Joe, or any other player, to leave the game like that. Even now, it's just as fresh as when it happened. I never want someone to suffer an injury that has long range health implications. Just glad the Theismann hasn't had any residual problems with it.
As a Cowboys fan, that took a lot of enjoyment out of the Cowboys/Redskins rivalry. I loved it when Dallas frustrated Joe T and the Redskins to no end.
My description was of McCallum's knee injury. Theisman's you could feel the snapping through the TV.
I've been a lifelong Cowboys fan, and I despised Theismann, Riggins and the rest of them. But that night, I truly felt bad for all of them. He's lucky he was able to walk again.
Here's a link to the story with the picture, I don't know where to see the video.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/26/sports/football/26monday.html
I'm a lifelong Cowboys fan, but as a Cowboys fan, I respect a lot of the Redskins players. I remember John Riggins getting his knee dislocated in a game, and hopping off the field on one leg, his foot pointing almost halfway away from his body. Billy Kilmer had to be one of the toughest quarterbacks I've ever seen. The old Cowboys-Redskins and Oilers-Steelers games during the seventies were the hardest hitting games I've ever seen.
The rivalries just aren't the same anymore with all of the trades and free agents. It's tough to have a real rivalry when half the guys on the rival team were on your team the season before. I think Norv Turner becoming the Redskins head coach pretty much was the end of the rivalry that went back to the days of Tom Landry vs. Allen and Gibbs.
Go to http://www.danerd.com/Show.php?vid=1384 for a video link to Joe T's unfortunate break.
While lying on the ground holding his leg in agony, Theisman defiantly screamed at the Giant defense standing over him, "I'll be back!" Leonard Marshall, the Giants defensive end replied, "not tonight you won't" and calmly walked away.
First time I've seen it.
OW.
I can not stand him as a commentator... Not looking forward to him on MNF... :(
I also saw the Raiders game where Napolean McCallum got his knee wrecked. double ouch. He was pretty good btw.
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