Kornheiser Out, Gruden In At MNF

[Orgazmo]

Kornheiser Out, Gruden In At MNF
Posted by Mike Florio on May 18, 2009, 10:53 a.m.

As we were finishing up our op-ed item regarding whether, based on currently available information, Mike Vick should be allowed back into the NFL as of 2009, our e-mail box was been overcome with messages regarding a huge development at ESPN.

Tony Korhneiser is out at Monday Night Football, and former Bucs coach Jon Gruden will be replacing him.

The move is being sold as a consequence of Kornheiser’s fear of flying; some will wonder whether there was something more to the move.

“I am totally grateful for the MNF opportunity that I truly enjoyed the last three seasons,” Kornheiser said in a release issued by ESPN. “I feel we got better each year. My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true. When I looked at the upcoming schedule it was the perfect storm that would’ve frequently moved me from the bus to the air. I kept looking at the schedule the past month and wanted to find a way to quietly extricate myself.

”If I could handpick a replacement of a football guy, I would cast a net and drag in Jon Gruden. He is the two things you most want — smart and funny — and has the two things I don’t — good hair and a tan. I love PTI and am looking forward to continuing to yammer and yodel with [Michael] Wilbon until the end of time.”

:jump:

I don't know about you guys, but I love listening to Gruden.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

Big difference from Korny.

Korn has a personality that works in the PTI format but often times I found the game coverage less enjoyable.

Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

 

[bodey24]

For the most part I enjoyed listening to Tony during MNF games.

 

[The Ram]

I am among the minority that felt Kornheiser sucked nuts as a MNF announcer.

Chucky will be a solid addition. Above the personality he knows the game big time.

 

[bobbeaux]

I am among the minority that felt Kornheiser sucked nuts as a MNF announcer.

Chucky will be a solid addition. Above the personality he knows the game big time.

completely agree . . .

 

[German CTL]

I thought Kornheiser was absolutely horrible on MNF. He managed to thoroughly annoy me on almost every broadcast and I couldn't be happier to see him leaving.

Gruden should do just fine replacing that doomas from PTI.

 

[catman]

Gruden knows the game and can comment on play-calling and what defenses should and will be called in specific situations. I might watch a few games this fall.

 

[Remote Controller]

His wicked comb-over will be missed, but I think Gruden will be great. What does this say about his coaching future, or is this just lay over?

 

[WesDawg]

I am among the minority that felt Kornheiser sucked nuts as a MNF announcer.

I wouldn't go quite that far, I mean he was no Dennis Miller in the nutsucking department.

I actually liked the dynamic of having the professionally trained play-by-play guy (Tirico), the former QB turned exceptional analyist (Jaworski), and the common guy on the outside looking in with a journalistic perspective and some comic relief (Kornheiser)

With all that said, I would ultimately prefer them to revert back to the traditional 2-man booth. Everyone else does just fine with that, and there's less stepping on each other.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

I wouldn't go quite that far, I mean he was no Dennis Miller in the nutsucking department.

With all that said, I would ultimately prefer them to revert back to the traditional 2-man booth. Everyone else does just fine with that, and there's less stepping on each other.

Dennis Miller was worse but Korny was still to heavy on comic relief.

Who would you like in the booth if it were only 2? Tirico and Jaws? Nothing against Jaws and I'm probably not setting this up very well but if there were only 2 I would look for someone a little more flexible (analysis and setting the conversational flow where I see Jaws more as reacting to it)

 

[Remote Controller]

I wouldn't go quite that far, I mean he was no Dennis Miller in the nutsucking department.

I actually liked the dynamic of having the professionally trained play-by-play guy (Tirico), the former QB turned exceptional analyist (Jaworski), and the common guy on the outside looking in with a journalistic perspective and some comic relief (Kornheiser)

With all that said, I would ultimately prefer them to revert back to the traditional 2-man booth. Everyone else does just fine with that, and there's less stepping on each other.

I didn't mind tony except for his canned opening before every kickoff. That was horrible. During the game I didn't mind him that much. This shake up won't bother me at all.

 

[WesDawg]

Jaws is the analyist, which means he's analyzing. Hard to NOT be reactionary in that role. He's extremely proficient in the X's and O's part of his job.. almost like a younger Madden.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

Jaws is the analyist, which means he's analyzing. Hard to NOT be reactionary in that role. He's extremely proficient in the X's and O's part of his job.. almost like a younger Madden.

I was not trying to discredit his input but he does not have the charisma of Madden which I guess goes more to the point I was originally attempting to make. I was just covering what I would like to see added if the format werer to revert to just 2 talking heads.

 

[Miller]

I am among the minority that felt Kornheiser sucked nuts as a MNF announcer.

Chucky will be a solid addition. Above the personality he knows the game big time.

I think that puts you in the majority.....most did not care for Tony. To be honest, I didn't mind him much....but not one that i care if he goes either.

I do agree that Chucky seems to be a nice choice.

 

[WesDawg]

I don't know how old you are, but if you ever watched MNF broadcasts in the old days, they usually paired Cosell with a former player or coach as the color analyst. Sometimes it worked better than others (Dandy Don Meredith, for example), but we're all on the right track with the preference for a 2-man booth I think.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

I don't know how old you are, but if you ever watched MNF broadcasts in the old days, they usually paired Cosell with a former player or coach as the color analyst. Sometimes it worked better than others (Dandy Don Meredith, for example), but we're all on the right track with the preference for a 2-man booth I think.

As a kid we would sometimes turn the volume off because my dad really did not like Cosell. I never quite understood that other than an air of arrogance that seemed to surround him.

 

[Da Bomb]

i miss Dennis Miller.

 

[WesDawg]

i miss Dennis Miller.

I think he's rocking the infomercial circuit nowadays if you need a fix.

 

[Orgazmo]

i miss Dennis Miller.

Me too. :sadbanana:

 

[Kingdome]

Kornheiser was awful. I don't think he is funny so he was just an annoying waste to me on MNF. He is fine on PTI. They should of pulled the plug on the Kornheiser stunt after the first year. If you want Kornheiser on MNF, put him on at halftime with Wilbon.