No one has come close ... nor will they.
Posted on 02/16/2012 7:54:06 AM PST by martin_fierro
Ron Jaworski is out at "Monday Night Football."
ESPN announced Wednesday that the analyst would be removed from the network's signature broadcast beginning in August. Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will operate as a two-man booth.
Jaworski will remain at the network and appear on various programs, including "Countdown" and "Matchup."
< -- SNIP -- >
This paragraph, from a December article in The New Yorker about Gruden, was a perfect microcosm of Jaws' time in the booth:
When it was Jaworski's turn, he issued a stern proclamation. "Call me crazy, but I'm really excited for Tyler Palko tonight," he said, and a roomful of skeptical sports producers erupted in laughter. Jaworski had given himself the thankless task of building up the Chiefs, praising them as much as he could without putting his own credibility at risk. Perhaps viewers would buy into the idea, however far-fetched, that Palko would emerge as the night's underdog hero. Later that day, as Jaworski was making a cup of coffee in the ESPN bus, he tried the line again. "Call me crazy, but I'm excited about Tyler Palko," he said. He exhaled. "I've got to sell this," he said to himself.
He became a carnival barker, not a football analyst. That may have been his own doing or based on the suggestions of ESPN producers. Regardless, the mentality to promote the game rather than describe it, which seems to be shared by Tirico and Gruden, is a big reason why "Monday Night Football" has become borderline unwatchable in recent years. It's not a football game anymore; it's a promotional vehicle. (That's only going to get worse when Gruden is given a bigger stage.)
< -- SNIP -- >
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Jaws was/is the BEST! He can break down plays, players and teams like nobody in the business. If they were going can somebody it should have been the gay guy, Gruden. He is only a micro-meter less awful than Chris Collingsworth — gag a maggot!
You don't like 'chicken-neck'? You could have Musburger.
Worst. MNF announcer. Ever.
“Call me crazy, but I’m really excited for Tyler Palko tonight,”
What the heck is he supposed to say? “hey everybody, don’t watch the game tonight cuz it’s gonna be a yawn fest”!
Jaws is the best analyst in football. Stupid.
These Monday Night shills make me long for the days of Gifford, Meredith, and Cosell. Not that Howard was ever any good. I often had to turn the sound off when he was speaking. But I used to love Dandy Don and his Howard smack downs. Frank Gifford was the perfect straight man. I often watched the games just to find out what Don and Howard were going to get into that night. Their antics were especially welcome when everyone knew the game was going to be boring.
I miss those days.
If a tree falls in the woods.....
MNF is absolutely terrible now. SNF is its replacement. ESPN has really fornicated the canine.
"Otis Sistrunk, University of Mars"
It was a good five minutes before the other two commentators could say a word, they were laughing so hard. Good times.
Totally agree. The few times I watch MNF anymore I mute the tv.
“Not that Howard was ever any good.”
Cosell said some goofy things but he was amazingly knowledgeable and a terrific sportscaster. Gifford and Meredith were entertaining but NEVER in his league.
I would have kept Jaws and dumped Gruden.
So instead of 3 idiots yammering about meaningless sh|t while I’m trying to watch a football game it will be two...
Yep.
I grew up watching MNF with those guys. That’s when Monday Night Football was special. In fact, it was from the mouth of Howard Cosell in December 1980 that I learned of the murder of John Lennon. Me and a buddy were having beers at a mostly empty local bar while watching MNF, and then comes Howard with the news. “Tragedy in New York City...” Nobody cared about the football game anymore.
He’s bad, but IMO, O.J. simpson was awful! He talked like he had mush in his mouth. And then there was Dennis Miller. But at least I could understand him.
The only one I like, but he doesn’t do MNF, is Jack Buck’s kid. He has a professional sounding voice, and doesn’t yell into the microphone. Some of the color commentators jus bug the dickens out of me. They never stop talking! It’s like they have to comment on every little thing, even if a player sneezes. And some of them talk like every little thing is the most exciting thing they ever saw in their whole life!
In fact, since most of my friends are football fans and we're about the same age, they all remember first hearing the news of Lennon's death the same way.
Generational thing.
I lived in NY and heard Howard on the air almost every day. He was arrogant, looked down his nose at everyone associated with football and every other sport he covered. His attempts at being a know it all were laughable at times.
Just before John McEnroe turned pro in tennis, Howard made the statement that Mac would never be a great champion. I remember turning to my husband and saying, “How can he ever know that? I think we have to watch this kid. He’s probably going to be great.” Needless to say Howard is not always right.
Howard’s mouth either succeeded fabulously or failed horribly. There was no middle ground for him and he seemed to succeed and fail equally. Of the three in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth, he was the one who never played football. He was a pompous, overbearing commentator with a whiny annoying voice. God rest his soul. Thank the Lord there will never be anyone else in “his” league.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.