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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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 ...
I think you're right. I don't know if you recall, but when MNF started, every week was kind of like a party --- really. Bars used to set out free food and people even had house parties. I know the bars I used to go to were always packed for MNF and it didn't really matter who was playing. I'd guess that the combination of aging boomers and the new DUI laws have turned it into a solo couch potato game which then get's turned off before halftime if it's dull.
I've never heard him blame the line directly, he does blame pressure from the deffense, usually his victim is the receiver for "not making a play on the ball" (that went 20 feet over his head), and when left with nothing else he'll claim it was a brilliant play by the guy that caught the ball (stood there and caught ball thrown straight too him).
Michaels is God-awful... too bad Jack Buck Sr. couldn't have lived another 100 years.
I was hoping for a Bocephus superbowl halftime show.....
I think that having to work with ThEEsman was THE reason why Michaels jumped ship. Now, if they had Uncle Paulie lined up instead of Broken Leg Joe, maybe the Mouse still would be looking for a way to get Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back in the family.
In some games, you'd be dead by halftime.
I think it's also become harder to schedule very good games in advance. That's why the NFL is now going to have a flexible schedule towards the end of the season.
What is going to happen to Mike Patrick? I really liked him and Paul. Im a die hard Skins fan, but I cant stand Thiesman..
He still does college basketball for ESPN.
Dunno where Mike is headed, but Uncle Paulie will be doing college games on the ESPN family.
I wonder if Mike's health has anything to do with his absence. Recall earlier in the season Pat Summerall filled in for him when he was getting a triple bypass..
Good point.
Your health must be pretty bad to have Pat Summerall fill in for you.
I pass by Theisman's Memphis home every now and again ... By all accounts, the guy is as polite and down to earth as the next guy.
And yes! I know he divorced his first wife via a fax machine ... people can mature at different stages, right?
I'm sure he's a great guy and I'd probably enjoy talking to him over a few beers. But as a broadcaster, he sucks big time. I have no idea what ABC/ESPN is thinking, but they will get hurt from it.
Joe Theisman's quote of the year:
"Jim Haslett should be the coach of the year this season."
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