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Michaels jumps to NBC Broadcaster to join Madden on Sunday nights
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/02/09/bc.fbn.nbc.michaels.ap/index.html ^

Posted on 02/09/2006 1:34:01 PM PST by mainepatsfan

Michaels jumps to NBC Broadcaster to join Madden on Sunday nights Posted: Thursday February 9, 2006 12:15PM; Updated: Thursday February 9, 2006 12:33PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- Al Michaels is moving to NBC and will broadcast Sunday night NFL games with John Madden, his partner on ABC during the past four seasons.

In exchange for letting Michaels out of his contract with ABC and ESPN, which are owned by The Walt Disney Co., NBC Universal sold ESPN cable rights to Friday coverage of the next four Ryder Cups, granted ESPN increased usage of Olympic highlights and sold to The Walt Disney Co. the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character in silent cartoons made by Walt Disney from 1927-28.

Michaels had been with ABC since 1976 and was the play-by-play announcer on Monday Night Football since 1986. He said in July that he would stay with the network to become the announcer for ESPN's Monday night broadcasts, which start this year.

Michaels' mind changed during the past season, realizing he wanted to work with Madden, producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff, who also are moving from ABC to NBC.

"I began to realize more and more how much I was going to miss being with those people," Michaels said Thursday on a conference call. "That's my family, that's my broadcasting family."

Michaels had hoped to finish the current NBA season as ABC/ESPN's lead announcer. He is being replaced by Mike Breen.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: almichaels; bushsfault
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To: mainepatsfan

Michaels will produce many more returns than a lucky rabbit. Good move for NBC.


21 posted on 02/09/2006 1:46:52 PM PST by stainlessbanner (^W^)
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To: My2Cents

I try to listen to the Pats on the radio. I just can't stand most of the national broadcasters.


22 posted on 02/09/2006 1:47:32 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

The Oswald sale was the clincher!!


23 posted on 02/09/2006 1:48:16 PM PST by Mikey_1962 (I grew up in a slum, when I got to college it had become a "ghetto".)
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To: mainepatsfan
Mickey is more of a corporate symbol than a cartoon character these days.

Like these guys --


24 posted on 02/09/2006 1:48:18 PM PST by My2Cents (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. -- George Orwell)
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To: discostu
That and the fact that the MNF games are no longer going to be the marquee match ups. Not that they have been in recent years anyways.
25 posted on 02/09/2006 1:48:33 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: Condor51

Games like the Packers vs. Ravens in December didn't help either.


26 posted on 02/09/2006 1:49:07 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: My2Cents
The new MNF will be unwatchable, IMO.

I won't miss the Bochephus introduction, however. That was getting stale.

27 posted on 02/09/2006 1:49:10 PM PST by ez ("Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is." - Milton)
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To: bikepacker67

First rule for the Theesman drinking game: whenever Theesman says an interception was not the QB's fault, drink. IMHO that's one of his most irritating habbits, the only good part about Paul is he would point out the times the QB threw to an area with 4 guys wearing the other jersey and with no one in his face.


28 posted on 02/09/2006 1:49:33 PM PST by discostu (a time when families gather together, don't talk, and watch football... good times)
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To: mainepatsfan

As long as Madden is there I won't watch,blah blah blah!!!!


29 posted on 02/09/2006 1:49:35 PM PST by GregB (Super Bowl XXL,This one is for Myron Cope!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: stainlessbanner

I was wondering who they were going to pair with Madden. I guess they didn't like any of the younger talent out there.


30 posted on 02/09/2006 1:50:01 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

You know I have usually skipped the Sunday night games in the past because I figured "I've had enough football today." I'd tell myself I can watch the Monday night game. But with Theisman on Monday night, I'll probably blow off Mondays in favor of another game on Sunday. The Michaels/Madden team don't set my nerves jangeling the way Joe Theisman does. (What is ESPN thinking anyway?) And, the 8pm start time is lots better than the Monday 9 pm.


31 posted on 02/09/2006 1:50:28 PM PST by Ditto ( No trees were killed in sending this message, but billions of electrons were inconvenienced.)
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To: Mikey_1962
I thought this crap was going to end when Eisner was dethroned. Guess not.
32 posted on 02/09/2006 1:50:40 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: My2Cents

I hope the NFL and Burger King didn't sign a multi year deal.


33 posted on 02/09/2006 1:51:17 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: discostu

Hopefully Kornheiser will do most of the talking.


34 posted on 02/09/2006 1:52:21 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: Ditto

I think the 9:00 ET wasn't helping their ratings.


35 posted on 02/09/2006 1:53:45 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

Or at the very least point out when the nearest teammate of the QBs to the pass was the waterboy.


36 posted on 02/09/2006 1:54:13 PM PST by discostu (a time when families gather together, don't talk, and watch football... good times)
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To: discostu

I wonder if he ever blamed any of the Hogs for one of his INT's?


37 posted on 02/09/2006 1:55:17 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan
     
   
     

So long, Ozzie - we hardly knew ye...

38 posted on 02/09/2006 1:55:18 PM PST by mikrofon (Watch your tail, now)
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To: mikrofon

That's almost as creepy as the Burger King guy.


39 posted on 02/09/2006 1:56:56 PM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: bikepacker67

Thiesman is light years ahead of Jack Buck!


40 posted on 02/09/2006 1:58:58 PM PST by The Sons of Liberty (Former SAC Trained Killer)
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