http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2323121


Monday Night Football will have a new broadcast team when it debuts on ESPN, its new home, in 2006.

Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser will be part of a three-man booth calling the games on Monday nights next season and Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoya will be sideline reporters. Kolber and Tafoya both reported from the sidelines for ABC during Super Bowl XL.

Also, ESPN announced that Mike Breen will be its new lead NBA play-by-play announcer, teaming with analyst Hubie Brown for ABC telecasts beginning Feb. 12 and including the NBA Finals.

Good for Tirico.

Puke...

I like Tirico, and I can tolerate Theeesman, but Kornheiser is just unbearable, IMO.

FUCK

I''ve never been a fan of Theisman either. He's too much like Bill Walton IMO. Sure, he knows the game, but his blatent love for QB's (like Walton with big men) is apparent in every comment. He just rubs me wrong.

I like PTI, but I don't see how he'll fit in on MNF. Unless they are going to argue over which team will win, I'm not sure what he brings to the table.

I feel for Tirico because he's going to have to carry that bunch on his back.

Disagree

Kornheiser is the only one out of the group I like.

The problem here is Tirico....he calls a 2 yard run likes its the most exciting thing he's ever seen. He can be tolerated (barely) for NCAA but NFL won't have the atmosphere for him yelling at everything he sees.

Yikes.

I just can't imagine Kornheiser in a booth.

I think Suzy Kolber has done more to earn a shot shot at it than Kornheiser. And no way she can be any worse than Theismann.

This is going to suck.

The thing I like about Tirico is that, while he may be over-enthusiastic on simple, borderline meaningless things, he's also not afraid to call out horrible plays or calls. Too many guys are ref apologists. Tirico is not. Any reason Michaels is getting hosed? He's been the steady influence in the booth for 20 years. Was this his call or the networks?

I heard that Michaels might be moving to NBC to stay with Madden.

ABC/ESPN promoted Mike Breen to replace Michaels yesterday.

Breen and Hubie are now a team.

I don't know Breen by name but not having Micheals ooze all over NBA games is a win in my book.

To those of you who like Tony Cornholio in the booth, what do you like about him? They've been saying how he's going to be more of a 'straight man' than a color guy.. and if that's the case, I may have to find something else to watch on Monday nights. Tony's voice just annoys the hell out of me, and if he doesn't change his 'Look how funny I am.. no really!" persona, Tirico's going to throw him out of the booth himself.

I like the Tirico pick, though. He knows his football, knows his x's and o's, and can put a good game together.

The jury is out on Theisman as far as I'm concerned. Being ESPN, they needed an ex-player, but I'm not so sure Joey T's the right one. Time will tell, I've been wrong before.

The thing I don't get is why MNF keeps trying all these gimmicks (Miller, Tony Cornheiser, etc) to spur ratings. It has nothing to do with the announcers. It's all about the matchups, time the game is on, what other shows are on, etc. When I sit down on Sunday to watch a game, I choose based on the teams playing, not who is calling the game. There are times when I can't stand an announcer and that keeps me away, but I never tune in to see a specific announcer. As long as you get good guys in the both that aren't too edgy for some people, why mess with it?

They do it because they're not trying to draw the people like us. They know we'll watch the game no matter what. They want to get the casual fans, the wives, the girlfriends, etc to watch. They want to get the people who don't care who's playing.

So did anybody watch last night?

Thoughts?

They were horrible. That Tony tony Tony thing was unbearable.

tony didnt seem to fit in, kinda reminded me of the dennis miller year. but at least its not madden.

I didn't see the game last night so I can't judge Kornheiser's performance, but I love the guy on PTI. Looks like I'm the odd man out on here, but I love his humor. Not sure how well that humor will translate in the world of football commentary, but I'll be watching next week to find out.

Apparently Kornheiser and Mike Golic have some sort of "rivalry" going.

Yesterday on Mike/Mike, Golic gave Korny what could be deemed a "lukewarm" review, he said several times that he was "fine". Korny then went on Dan Patrick's show and blasted away at Golic saying that he must be jealous that he wasn't picked for the MNF and that Golic's always had it out for him.

It came off as very thin skinned of TK, and if he thinks that's the worst reveiw that he's going to get he's wrong.

I was an avid listener to both of TK's radio shows (thank you internet). I can't recall him mentioning Golic, but who knows.

I didn't see the game last night so I can't judge Kornheiser's performance, but I love the guy on PTI. Looks like I'm the odd man out on here, but I love his humor. Not sure how well that humor will translate in the world of football commentary, but I'll be watching next week to find out.

I'm with you Hank. I TiVo PTI everyday and if Kornheiser isn't on, I hit the delete button immediately. That cat cracks me up. I'll definitely be tuning in to MNF and watching longer to see if he busts out "the penguin dance".

I'll definitely be tuning in to MNF and watching longer to see if he busts out "the penguin dance".

It's sweeping the nation!!! :cool:

I have to find a way to get PTI taped here within the next couple of weeks for days that I have class when its on or am working late at the school. Don't have Tivo, and haven't had a VCR in ages.

THEESmann out, Jaws in

bleh

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2812834


Jaworski replacing Theismann in MNF booth

ESPN.com

There will be a quarterback change in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth for the 2007 season.

Ron Jaworski will join Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser on the ESPN telecast. Jaworski replaces Joe Theismann, who has been offered a prominent football analyst job with the network.

Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber will continue as sideline reporters.

"This new lineup will enhance our presentation of Monday Night Football, our most important property," Norby Williamson, executive vice president, studio and remote production, said in a statement. "Ron has covered the NFL from many different perspectives, and he is totally tied into the issues and trends from around the league.

"We appreciate the work Joe has done for 19 years and continue to talk with him about another high-profile football role with ESPN."

Jaworski, who played 17 years in the NFL, most notably as quarterback of the Eagles, joined ESPN in 1990. He has been a prominent NFL analyst for the network and his studio duties will now be spread among ESPN's other NFL analysts, including newcomers Emmitt Smith and Bill Parcells.

Theismann, a storied quarterback in Redskins history, was the NFL's MVP in 1983 and led Washington to victory in Super Bowl XVII.

Last season, ESPN's coverage of Monday Night Football was the most-watched series in the history of cable television and the only NFL series nominated for a 2007 Sports Emmy in the Outstanding Live Sports Series category.

Nine of the top 10 on the list of cable television's biggest household audiences ever came from ESPN's coverage of Monday Night Football in 2006, including the Giants-Cowboys game on Oct. 23, 2006, which ranks No. 1 all-time with a 12.8 rating.



Jaworski replaces Joe Theismann, who has been offered a prominent football analyst job with the network.

= demoted