Al Michaels

[User 149557]

Al is NOWHERE near where K.J. was at the end. And Uncle Verne knew when to hit the front porch in Steamboat. If you are watching/listening to this broadcast, you cannot say the same for Al. He's firing on all cylinders.

I agree. Just playing devil’s advocate.

 

[MileHigh]

I agree. Just playing devil’s advocate.

Verne said it. And Al said it on DP this week: They would know when it's time. They have close, trusted confidants who would tell them, hey, great run, it's over.

 

[Killick]

Perspective: Watched “Miracle” earlier today.

Al’s “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?” is ****ing 42 years old! Al was already 35 years old when he gave us that gem.

So strong for so long.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

To be fair to NBC, when it goes, it goes fast.

Keith Jackson went from the best to missing the fact the ball had been fumbled 10 seconds earlier and kept announcing the play as if it never happened.

Whoa, Nellie ... can't compare the two. And Al Michaels has done nothing to indicate that he is feeble. At least ... I've heard nothing indicating such.

 

[BTExpress]

The Erlanger, KY, reference for Burrow’s pregame suit was priceless. Tell me another announcer who pulls that out. I’ll wait.

Well, Harry Caray did say, "You know Alou’s name spelled backwards is Uola? That sounds like a first name, Uola.”

 

[MileHigh]

At least Al getting a great game to go out on, from a Super Bowl standpoint.

 

[User 150927]

I know you would need to play clips from 40 years ago with today to see if Al has changed, but in my mind's memory, he sounds exactly the same. He's ageless. And so good at what he does.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Al just announced Michele Tafoya's retirement from the business. And, to listen to his on-air discussion with Cris Collinsworth, he's leaving the door open. Great job of letting NBC hold it if they go through with this Tirico stupidity.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I know you would need to play clips from 40 years ago with today to see if Al has changed, but in my mind's memory, he sounds exactly the same. He's ageless. And so good at what he does.

Do we believe in great sports announcers? Yes!

 

[mpcincal]

So they didn't have an NFL legend take the trophy up to the podium this year?

 

[Sam Mills 51]

So they didn't have an NFL legend take the trophy up to the podium this year?

None of Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield or Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch were available. Has Jack Youngblood's leg healed?

 

[dixiehack]

Wonder if that was going to be Eric Dickerson before he turned down tickets in the 400 level?

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Y'all care way, way more about Al Michaels than I ever have. *

I don't really get NBC moving on -- he's still very good -- but I'm not losing sleep either way. He's 77, and while he's still sharp and good at his job I don't particularly need to watch another Keith Jackson or Marv Albert situation.

If I'm Amazon I scoop him up in a heartbeat. ESPN? I'm not breaking up a pretty good MNF team to bring in a 77-year-old announcer.

Tirico will be fine. He's perfectly adequate. I'll get to make "paisan" jokes for years.

On the bright side, Michelle Tafoya is out. Good riddance.


* Full disclosure: my view of Al is colored by an incident many years ago. I sent a crew out to a minor breaking news scene. Purely by coincidence Al Michaels was there. He went well out of his way to be a giant prick to my crew. The ego involved was astonishing.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Spill, PCLL. Stories like what you're describing is, IMO, a big part of what this board is about (and sorry Jeff Pearlman ... some of us had had enough with greedy, ignorant companies throwing people overboard at the expense of the product and quality to stay just to suit you. If you cannot understand that, Jeff, perhaps a clinic in self-awareness should be slipped into your schedule between tearing down something/someone else and your next project.)

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Spill, PCLL. Stories like what you're describing is, IMO, a big part of what this board is about (and sorry Jeff Pearlman ... some of us had had enough with greedy, ignorant companies throwing people overboard at the expense of the product and quality to stay just to suit you. If you cannot understand that, Jeff, perhaps a clinic in self-awareness should be slipped into your schedule between tearing down something/someone else and your next project.)

It was a long time ago, so I'm a little shaky on the details.

A passenger jet had to make an emergency landing at our airport. I think it was some kind of major mechanical issue, like a blown engine or something similar that would get the full firetrucks-on-the-runway response. Our crew was talking to passengers who were relatively freaked out by the whole thing.

Al Michaels happened to be on the flight. He told the crew that it was nothing and they needed to leave. A few minutes later he noticed that they were still there, still talking to other people. He stormed up and got in their face with an angry "I guess you didn't hear me..."

Big "Don't you know who I am" vibe for a ******* sports play by play guy.

 

[Scout]

Well, Harry Caray did say, "You know Alou’s name spelled backwards is Uola? That sounds like a first name, Uola.”

Santana backwards is anatnas.

Rafael fouls it off. Game winning run at third. Two outs in the ninth.

anatnas. Sounds weird.

Santana takes the second pitch for a ball.

 

[User 149557]

Harry was the only announcer who got better the more senile and drunk he was.

Oh, and Walton.

 

[heyabbott]

None of Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield or Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch were available. Has Jack Youngblood's leg healed?

I think they pissed off Eric Dickerson. And Roman Gabriel is too old.

 

[playthrough]

It was a long time ago, so I'm a little shaky on the details.

A passenger jet had to make an emergency landing at our airport. I think it was some kind of major mechanical issue, like a blown engine or something similar that would get the full firetrucks-on-the-runway response. Our crew was talking to passengers who were relatively freaked out by the whole thing.

Al Michaels happened to be on the flight. He told the crew that it was nothing and they needed to leave. A few minutes later he noticed that they were still there, still talking to other people. He stormed up and got in their face with an angry "I guess you didn't hear me..."

Big "Don't you know who I am" vibe for a ******* sports play by play guy.

That's disappointing. An emergency landing is an emergency landing, and he's in the TV business too.

I'm a huge honk for Al but it wouldn't surprise me to hear he's got a big ego. I can imagine waiters who accidentally serve him vegetables must get ripped pretty good, like they're supposed to know his life story by now.

 

[User 149557]

He’s lasted 77 years without eating a vegetable. That’s the real story here.