ESPN Announces new MNF team

[Brian Fein]

Monday Night Football will have a new broadcast team when it debuts on ESPN 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.

"I'm just thrilled to be the next person to take the greatest franchise in television sports history forward," Tirico said on ESPN Radio Wednesday morning.

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.

"This Monday Night Football team enthusiastically embraces our vision for sports television's signature series. We will propel MNF into a 21st century, all-day, exclusive, multi-media event that will engage fans in entirely new ways. This team will develop great chemistry," ESPN Executive Vice President John Skipper said.

"Mike Breen is widely respected for his depth of NBA knowledge and his consummate play-by-play skill. We are very excited to provide such a spectacular forum as the NBA Finals to showcase his talents."

In addition, Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon will take Pardon The Interruption on the road on Mondays during the football season. The shows will air from the site of ESPN's Monday Night Football games.

"We look to the future with great enthusiasm and a strong commitment to enhance the presentation of the NFL and the NBA, two of our most important sports properties," ESPN and ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer said.

Al Michaels, the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football on ABC from 1986 through Sunday's Super Bowl in Detroit, will not return to either broadcast.

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

[Philly Fin Fan]

I'm looking forward to Tony Kornheiser being in the booth.

This means Al Michaels will do the Sunday night game on NBC, which I'm kind of glad to hear.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I'm looking forward to Tony Kornheiser being in the booth.

This means Al Michaels will do the Sunday night game on NBC, which I'm kind of glad to hear.

So Al Michaels is leaving ABC to go to NBC?  I thought he was staying with ABC.  This is interesting. 

[Dave Gray]

While it might be interesting to see Kornheiser, Theisman ruins it for me.  He is an asshat.

[Denver_Bronco]

I should be in the booth.

[Dave Gray]

I have a feeling that there will be a lot more "fake reverses" in Monday night games, next season.

 

[CF DolFan]

While it might be interesting to see Kornheiser, Theisman ruins it for me.  He is an asshat.

My sentiments exactly. I hate to admit it but I have actually enjoyed some of his interivews as of late but I can not stand him in the booth!I take it he has pics of someone at ESPN.

[Sunstroke]

I think that until we see how their chemistry is "together," anything is possible. I like Kornheiser from his PTI work, but have never heard him work a game before. Theisman, as Dave already eloquently noted, is an ass-hat, but I do like Mike Tirico.

[Dave Gray]

I'm open to Tirico, and I think it's good to get a black man in the booth, to help reach a broader audience.  I think that Kornheiser is kind of goofy, but I think that he can be a great personality that may really work.

Theisman doesn't have enough knowledge of the game to do color, though.  He can't add insight.  I think you need an ex-player or coach who actually has something to say of value.

[crazy_scar_man]

this is horrible. Al michaels and john madden were the perfect monday night announcers.

Theisman? oh ... my... god. I was hoping the networks were gonna wise up to his ass-hat ness and demote that som of a biotch to the sideline at least. Instead, he gets a promotion?

this is horrible, horrible news.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I am interested in hearing Tony in the both as I too liked him on PTI! I like Tirico and think he will be a great addition. But like most I can not stand Theisman in the booth. I hated listening to Madden all of the time but I think Thiesman is actually a step backwards. Oh well I guess we will have to wait and see!!!!

[TonyB0D]

i HATE THEISMANN!!!!! argh

however Kornheiser being in the booth is a shock, no one even mentioned that one coming!! i'm stoked, i love PTI, and i bet he'll be great.

[Philly Fin Fan]

To expand on my remarks- I am not too happy about Theismann. I think he is more of a "safety net" for ESPN since he has been on their broadcasts for awhile. I think he will only last one season with this new team.

[Philly Fin Fan]

So Al Michaels is leaving ABC to go to NBC?  I thought he was staying with ABC.  This is interesting. 

Did you read the article? They replaced him on NBA broadcasts as well.

[Philly Fin Fan]

this is horrible. Al michaels and john madden were the perfect monday night announcers.

Thats why NBC signed Madden and didn't give up on Michaels even though he had committed to ESPN. They will both be on NBC Sunday Night Football next year. Guaranteed.