Monday Night Football Week One Live-Blog: Pregame

Monday, September 08, 2008


So the plan earlier was to come up with a post on what's new with Monday Night Football this year, but I've just simply run out of time. This will serve as that somewhat, but obviously to a lesser degree. I've collected a few quotes and articles on the changes, but the overall theme for MNF will be "Less Is More". There will be less graphics on the screen, little to no guests in the booth and less chatter that's not Football related. Well, that's the plan at least.

Who: Vikings at Packers and Broncos at Raiders
Where: Lambeau Field and McAfee Coliseum
Why: So we can learn who Tony Kornheiser picked for his fantasy team and/or to check out McFadden and Aaron Rodgers' debuts.
Spreads: Packers -2, O/U 37.5 and Broncos -3 O/U 41
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Tony Kornheiser and Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Mike Ditka

MNF Links:

2008 Monday Night Football Schedule: Are You Ready for Some Football? (Associated Content)
Changing Approach To Monday Night Football (Washington Post)
ESPN's vision is to streamline visuals (Boston Globe)

Quotes:

“We learned that this show, Monday Night Football, is the football fans’ primetime drama. … Our viewers have clearly told us that they want us to dive deeper into the game to give them more insight, more understanding, more context and perspective. All of those things that we’re certainly capable of doing and do very well, and we’re going to do more of that. So, we’re streamlining the show and we’re going to approach it from that perspective."- Executive Producer, Jed Drake

“I’ve always been an in-depth X’s and O’s guy and that’s how I’ve made my mark not only as a player but even in the broadcast field. It was preparation from an X’s and O’s standpoint and there will be more focus on that. We haven’t shown America some of the new technology that we’ve been working on in the preseason. It is phenomenal stuff. We’ve added some personnel on my side looking at X’s and O’s for me because obviously I only have one set of eyes."- Ron Jaworski

"We recognized in the biggest and best moments of the games we had, Tony always heightened the moment – live columns during the course of the game … and that’s where we’re going to focus with Tony … that intellect and humor that you don’t hear in other booths.”- Senior Coordinating Producer, Jay Rothman

“It got better the second year. I look forward to it being even better this year. I like to think that it’s three guys pretty much sitting down on the same couch or sitting at a bar and watching the same game together and just yapping, and I’ve enjoyed that part of it."- Tony Kornheiser

"To bring Monday Night Football to those cities -- as Jaws and Tony can tell you -- what we saw in Buffalo last year, it’s just a reminder of the 39-year continuum that Monday Night Football has been. When Monday Night Football shows up, people are more excited than they are for another game during the regular season. There’s a sense that all the sports fans around the country are watching your fans, your team and your city."- Mike Tirico
_______________________

I'm on the Packers and the Broncos tonight and feel free to leave your predictions in the comments. It should be a fun night and I'll see you all at 7pm for the live-blog!

4 Comments:

AA, I hope you got that exchange on Count Down b/w Stu, Steve and Emmitt. It started out with Stu talking about Tarvais Jackson "between the ears". It was a strange segment.

Anonymous said...
Sep 8, 2008, 6:31:00 PM  

Cris Carter really comes off as a self-important prick.

E Buzz said...
Sep 8, 2008, 6:54:00 PM  

does the raider bronco game start at 7:15 sharp or are they holding the kickoff? Thanks

Anonymous said...
Sep 8, 2008, 8:53:00 PM  

“It got better the second year. I look forward to it being even better this year. I like to think that it’s three guys pretty much sitting down on the same couch or sitting at a bar and watching the same game together and just yapping, and I’ve enjoyed that part of it."

telling comment.

People don't want three other people yapping w/ them they want at least one calling the game that's what they don't understand. And my friends at the bar don't spend over 2/3rd of every game talking about Tom Brady or Brett Favre.

Anonymous said...
Sep 9, 2008, 12:31:00 AM  

Post a Comment