| Rush Limbaugh?!?!? Just imagine how that would
sound at the top of the "Monday Night Football" broadcast. "Hello again,
I’m Al Michaels, joined by Rush Limbaugh."
But apparently it’s a possibility. Though the folks at the American Broadcasting
Co. wouldn’t acknowledge it — perhaps because they know how silly it sounds
— Limbaugh himself confirmed that he had auditioned for the MNF job opening created
by the firing of Boomer Esiason in March.
Limbaugh called a pre-recorded game with play-by-play man Michaels as part of the
audition, which Limbaugh described as "excellent, to tell you the truth."
"I surprised myself," Limbaugh told WMAL-AM in Washington, D.C. "I had
not seen the game we did. And I didn’t try to study up on the game, because who knows
how the real game’s going to play out. So the thing that I came away with after it
was how much I really dug it."
All due respect, Rush, but I can’t imagine the football world digging you.
First of all, as a color commentator, Limbaugh would be expected to commentate on the
game. THE GAME! Not about the impending presidential race. Not about health-care reform.
Just football. And frankly, I’m not sure Limbaugh can identify a pulling guard as
well as he might a lying politician.
Don Ohlmeyer, who produced "Monday Night Football" in the days of Howard
Cosell and Don Meredith, was rehired by ABC to bring the spark back to the show. After
all, that’s how the network views MNF, as a show. However, in reality, it’s a
game, and it needs football people to broadcast it.
I’m not the only one to think that ABC made a huge mistake in not bringing Dan
Dierdorf back. He was insightful and analytical. His OL experience from his NFL playing
days allowed him to see more than the average fan, and the broadcast was greatly enhanced.
And his banter with Esiason was often comical.
But Dierdorf is now with CBS, and he’s been doing quite well. He must be the
slightest bit amused over MNF’s problems of late, taking some solace in the fact that
the program’s ratings have declined since his departure. No one sees him returning,
though.
But someone similar to Dierdorf is what MNF needs. Forget about trying to be
controversial. Just call the game — and call it well. Michaels is one of the best in
the business. ABC needs to find him a commentator — a football commentator — who
is just as competent. |
