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Recreation
Sports
Football Monday
Night Football Leaves ABCThe
familiar faces of John Madden and Al Michaels appeared on TV to cover Super Bowl
XL on February 5, 2006, the last time they would on ABC's Monday Night Football.
After
a 36 year run on network TV, fans who were "ready for some football"
would have to you'll have to tune in to ESPN on cable. After
555 nights of showcasing the American sports of football and commenting on the
major events of the past 36 years, the Monday night tradition that many Americans
had grown up with was leaving home. Monday
Night Football was the second-longest-running prime time show on American television,
after CBS's 60 Minutes. A generation of football fans have gathered with snacks
and brews to catch the action as the titans of American football clashed on the
TV screen. The
first Monday Night Football game aired on ABC on September 21, 1970.
Howard Cosell
was the commentator matched with former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Don
Meredith running interference and play by play commentary by Keith Jackson.
As
unbelievable as it may seem, the show had a hard time finding a network to showcase
football every Monday night during the fall season. The opening match between
the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns, in Cleveland, Ohio erased any questions.
The game pulled in a third of the households watching TV that night and the show's
popularity continued through the next 36 years. A
Monday Night Institution Cosell
broke the news of John Lennon's death on Monday Night Football. Celebrities opening
the show ranged from Presidents and pop stars to opera stars and actors. Terrell
Owens, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and Desperate Housewives star Nicollete
Sheridan caused a stir with her appearance in a slipping towel. On
November 15, 2004 the introductory skit opened the MNF telecast of the Eagles
and the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Despite cries of indecency, the skit was absolved
of breaking any rules and the Eagles won the game with Owens scoring three touchdowns...perhaps
inspired by the pregame locker room activities? Some
games were memorable while others were embarrassing, but most were just plain
old pro football and Americans loved watching. No one planned any non-football
related events for Monday nights. Monday Night Football parties became a common
college gathering and pizza shops and hero delivery services were happier than
the players at the business on game nights. The
final negotiations were finalized and the contract signed on April 18, 2005, when
Monday Night Football was traded to the ESPN cable network. ABC switched to football
on Sunday nights in the 2006 season. Related
Web Sites
Wikipedia
- Monday Night Football MNF
made NFL the real national pastime (MSNBC)
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"Da-da-da-da..."