NFL Monday Night Football

What started as an oddity in 1970 and became a national tradition on television on Monday nights from September through January is leaving ABC after 35 seasons. Having lived on the east coast for many years, I always found it frustrating not being able to stay up to watch the end of many games, especially the competitive ones.

I'll always remember yelling "Shut up!" to Howard Cosell despite some of his interesting observations and reports. I'll remember how much I liked play-by-play announcers Frank Gifford and Al Michaels. I'll always wonder why a 3rd announcer was needed when only two announcers were enough.

The baby of the late ABC Sports executive Roone Arledge, ABC's Monday Night Football became appointment television. You made time to check out which teams were playing.

With the increase of other media sources and more competitive scheduling by other networks, it was determined by the NFL to air Monday Night Football on ESPN. NBC will air Sunday Night Football starting in the fall of 2006.

R.I.P. ABC's Monday Night Football

Those who feel or prefer that commentators of Football stick to statistics are more than likely not listening to any of them anyway, or at least not remembering any of them. I may note that there are 2 other commentators there to provide such or they can be gathered almost anywhere. Read the paper. I find Dennis Miller a fresh relief from some often boring material concerning # of 1st downs made by such and such on 3 & 7's during home games over the last 4 years only to find the stats irrelevant in this particular situation at this time against this new defense and with this new offense. Give him a chance. He isn't ignorant concerning the game either but just likes to give others their chance and expects the same from themand you.

Monday Night Football is definitely the best game sports programming on television. Now that they have Dennis Miller onboard he should take it to new levels of entertainment not done before in pro football broadcasting. Plus with a top of the line play-by-play announcer like Al Michaels and also Dan Fouts. Short of John Madden and Pat Summerall this has to be the best broadcasting team in football.

Nothing use to touch Monday Night Football when it aired for over 38 seasons!! The other two major networks would try different approaches to Monday night programming and to no avail!! The initial idea to Monday Night Football was that Monday was the day of returning to reveille, kids back in school, everybody back to work, and just a naturally depressing day for everyone!! Once Monday Night Football came on the scene, Bars were having drink specials, friends were getting together for football parties at their homes and there now entered a little lilt in everybody's monotonous Monday blues schedule!! I counted on some of the best games in the NFL to be on Monday Night Football, and it was a real treat if they had the Dallas Cowboys' games!! I am a big Dallas Cowboy fan!! I also thought they should have given a fat contract to Mike Barz for being the new host of Monday Night Football, bringing him on would have been great!! "Monday Night Football" was a spectacular idea, the new Monday Night Football is not as good, but, it fills the void somewhat!! My bone of contention with "Monday Night Football" on ABC: BRING IT BACK!!!!

Oh how we miss Howard Cosell and the good old boys Frank Gifford and Dandy Don Meredith. Throw in a smidgeon of the lovable Alex Karras and you have a recipe for Monday Night Football on ABC that has long past, but certainly not forgotten. I have watched Monday Night football since day 1 and I still watch Monday Night football, but since ABC lost the TV contract, it just has not been the same.

The game of football has become so safety conscious and the referees throw more flags during todays game than most Quarterbacks throw completed passes in an entire game.

The current FOX TV NFL Sunday crew comprised of host Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson, and recently added Tony Gonzalez are decent enough and a joy to watch, but no one can compare to the original 1970's and 1980's NFL Monday Night football cast led by Howard Cosell. High definition and 4K quality may make the picture look crisp, clear and colorful but the game of NFL football itself isn't near half as exciting as it was back in the 1970's through to 2002 when ABC hosted us each Monday night with their color commentary and funny anecdotes. I will never forget when the Buffalo Bills were playing the Miami Dolphins and the venerable lawyer turned TV sports commentator howled out those famous words, "While Miami has the oranges, Buffalo has the JUICE!!!!!" (referencing NFL Running Back and current Hall Of Famer O J Simpson)

Rest in peace men, Monday Night football was at its best with you calling the Monday night game(s) on ABC. Without you guys and ABC I had to drop my IMDB rating down from a perfect 10 to a passable 7.

Howard Cosell died April 23, 1995 (aged 77) Don Meredith died December 5, 2010 (aged 72) Alex Karras died October 10, 2012 (aged 77) Frank Gifford died August 9, 2015 (aged 84) Honorable mention to Keith Jackson who died on January 12, 2018 (aged 89)