Deadspin
We are always hesitant to grouse and grumble about the low excitement level of a particular NFL game and use it as an opportunity to make some larger statement about the game itself; one of the more random things about sports is that sometimes an individual game will just stink, and it's no reflection on the sport itself or the players participating. You can bring two good teams together, and sometimes, bad play will just result. That doesn't mean it's not fun; it's still sports, and it's still better than dealing in spreadsheets or doing a sales call.
That said, last night's MNF game between Carolina and Tampa Bay was aggressively boring; we give credit for a yeoman's effort by ESPN to come up with a headline that said so without saying so: "Carolina gets win, but there's room for improvement." (Yes: Also, Tampa Bay lost, and there's room for regression. And footballs were thrown, but there's opportunity for them to be handed off as well.) When in doubt on what to write about following a Monday night game, we can always hit the old standby: The announcers. At The Fanhouse, The Mighty MJD contorts himself to write something some of us couldn't help but think: Joe Theismann is currently a stronger broadcaster than Tony Kornheiser. Ugh. We think we need a shower after typing that.
Carolina Wins, But There's Room For Improvement [ESPN]
The Kornheiser Chronicles: Week 10 [The Fanhouse]
Comments
Tampa Bay is a disaster.
Tony Kornheiser is a disaster.
If by stronger, you mean thoroughly less entertaining and more frequently incorrect with in-game analysis, then I agree completely.
You know what makes uninteresting games interesting? Gambling! And in that regard, the meaningless final spread-covering touchdown was utterly gripping.
Yeah but Aaron Sorkin threw a twist into Studio 60 last night...so that was fun
Kornheiser was a bad idea. His commenting ability has become as thin as his comb-over...
I give TK some slack, I mean, any time the guy tried to say something even remotely funny it gets absolutely killed by Theeeeezman's humorlessness. A friend of mine suggested Steve Young instead of Theezman and I tend to agree. The ESPN broadcast is sorely lacking the mormon perspective, as well.
UM, I fell asleep a half hour in, what happened? I'm pissed that I didn't catch the 450lb John Goodman, who looked on death's door in the commercials.
By gripping, I assume you mean "exceedingly painful."
Yep, I had money on Gang Gradkowski. I should change my commenter name to Mush.
It's probably bad for Studio 60 that any scenes last night at the actual Studio 60 bored and annoyed me.
What else is on Monday nights?
All Tony Kornheiser needs is a slap in the face. Get Bob Knight on a plane!
I thought it was funny how they will keep the show running until the end of the season after all that cancellation talk. Did Matthew Perry threaten painkiller abuse again?
Is Studio 60 moving to a different night? I switch over to NBC every Monday at ten and I miss Chris Berman's halftime bloaviatings...oh...that's probably a good thing.
We've always known TK was a disaster on MNF. To say Theezman is a better broadcaster is going a little far, thuough. The man was born a complete moron.
Studio 60. Ugh. I hate it, yet I watch it every week. Much like the MNF crew.
Bah, No S60 spoilers! I crashed hard after the Duke game and have it on TiVo. Had to rest up last night, tonight's a big night (MDT is 23) [/shameless birthday pandering]
[hey, I CLOSED the tag]
Studio 60 has absolutely nothing on sports night or west wing. that said, it's still better than watching tampa bay. i really wish they'd switch snf and mnf back to normal
I felt so bad about myself last night for thinkingthat JT was doing a better job than TK, I'm glad I am not alone in my shame.
Don't be talking shit about spreadsheets, Will.
MDT - Happy Birthday! Try not to boot as much as everyone in last night's game did.
Sorry MDT, I just figured anyone who wanted to see it (all twelve of us in the country) already saw it last night. I'll just download it, no worries.
Happy bday, and it makes me happy that I'm not the youngest person here (turning 24 on Monday).
I won't put any S60 spoilers in, but I will say that last night was the first time that I felt like Sorkin actually was doing six weeks of setup to get to a point. Then I realized that these episodes are probably the first one's being written and filmed after some feedback started coming back in from the public, and maybe he was humbled.
Then again, everytime I think he has it figured out, he goes and does something else to madden, so you know, results may vary.
Does anyone else think its funny that ESPN got totally screwed on Monday night with the new flex game on Sunday. NBC got the sweetest NFL contract of any network. These Sunday night games are going to much more compelling. I guess Monday night has become the time to check the injury report for Tuesday's Dancing with the Stars.
I don't have ESPN anymore (the joys of graduate school life!), but it looks like the FREE stuff truly is the best out there so far; kudos to NBC for being very smart about the time slot and the games picked up, even if John Madden needs to retire.
Then I realized that these episodes are probably the first one's being written and filmed after some feedback started coming back in from the public, and maybe he was humbled.
It's also possible that they were the first ones writen after rehab.
Speaking of TV, anybody else thrilled about the trainwreck that is Shatner as gameshow host? As an appetizer, this is William Shatner going Bobby Knight on $20,000 Pyramid (video quality poor, Shatner quality hilarious): http://youtube.com/watch?v=-UyxR9g7xi4
NBC vs. ESPN
Sunday night flex game vs. Monday night Theisman
Genghis Kahn vs. Richard Simmons
MDT, that's not right. Your mother didn't close tags. Your father didn't close tags. We're not tag-closing people.
This game will be written about, but less words could have been used.
this is what you all get for complaining about the seattle oakland MNF game, which (at least for a Seahawk fan) was quite tolerably watchable in comparison.
At least as a non-partisan fan in that one you had the morbid curiousity in that game of seeing exactly how many times walters would go down...
Dude, the chick who plays the psychic cop's partner on "Heroes" might be the worst actress in the history of everything ever. Besides Heather Graham.
The CFL doesn't care about black people.
Monday Night Football needs only one thing to get back on top:
A modified Joan Jett cover sung by Pink.
Maybe so, big daddy drew, but she did have a nice lesbian scene in carnival. so she's got that going for her, which is nice.
Have the Carolina Panthers ever been involved in an exciting game? And yes, I include their epic Super Bowl and NFC Championship games.
Anytime teal is involved, the excitement factor is nonexistent.
ESPN: $1.1 billion a year for MNF
NBC: $650 million a year for SNF
Who's the real winner? Roger Goodell.
Heather Graham was pretty good on Scrubs.
(Two words for you in the worst actress debate: Mischa. Barton.)
why doesn't someone tell kornheiser no one cares about his fantasy team?
Last night I studied for a communications exam instead of watching MNF. COMMUNICATIONS! What have you done to me, ESPN?
The most exciting part of last night's game were all the commercials for Saturday's game.
The Big Game Lives Here.
GO BLUE!!!!
Theisman called the coach's challenge a 20 minute basketball time out. I think he is starting to show a pulse...sort of.
I bet Theeesman can bench more than TK, so yes...stronger.
They built a Sunoco-themed bike on American Choppers last night. THAT was more exciting than the game.
BDD - she was great in Carnivale. I think she was in The Grudge, too. The sister, maybe?
I am so god damned addicted to Heroes.
Has anyone talked about Tirico pulling a Joe Morgan on baseball stats? I did hear that right? I wasn't really paying attention at that point, but it sounded a bit bizarre.
We think we need a shower after typing that.
Are you going to invite Captain Caveman to join you?
(Two words for you in the worst actress debate: Mischa. Barton.)
Yeah, she's so awful. She's very beautiful (she has great hair, nice eyes, a gorgeous face), but she is completely wooden in her acting. I hear she used to be good on "Once and Again," but I wouldn't know.
Jackmama says:
All Tony Kornheiser needs is a slap in the face. Get Bob Knight on a plane!
Bobby Knight did not slap a player. He merely grabbed the kid's chin, to lecture and spew spittle in his face. Maybe Knight could spit in Kornheiser's face to wake him up?
Did the NFL intentionally try to screw ESPN on MNF?
But she is completely wooden in her acting.
Sorry, that was my fault.
Minor John Goodman threadjack here:
I worked on a film with him years back. Every Friday at wrap he bought out a bar for the crew to drink in for a few hours on his dime. He would start off with a giant plate of bacon and eggs chased down with a few martinis.
In conclusion, I love the guy, but am shocked he is still alive.
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