MNF Has Sloppy Field, But Decent Announcing

By Brian Powell
Pregame Highlights:
--Suzy Kolber had four separate reports on the field conditions. For one of them, she held a large hunk of the grass (jealous much, Ricky Williams?) as an example of the new field that had been laid down for game.
--The Monday Night Countdown crew spent the better part of their two hours talking about the greatness of the New England Patriots and their undefeated season. There was barely a mention of the Steelers and Dolphins (you know, the teams actually playing last night). The Pats talk obviously led perfectly to promos for next week’s Monday nighter: New England at Baltimore. It looks like another blow-out is on the docket for ESPN.
--Stuart Scott, who is normally on set at the game with Steve Young and Emmitt Smith, apparently had some sort of illness which kept him home. Reporter Sal Palantonio filled in for Stu and was surprisingly good. Palantonio walked Smith and Young through the pregame items flawlessly, and even lead them to safety at one point:

--At one point, Sal, Emmitt and Steve threw back to Chris Berman and the in-studio crew for a few thoughts on Williams. Keyshawn Johnson had this to say about the Dolphins Running Back: “Why is he even on the team? I can’t trust him as a teammate.” This is coming from the “teammate” who was kicked off his squad back in 2003.
During The Game:
--Why would anyone want to watch the Dolphins vs. Steelers? Tony Kornheiser went with the Ricky Williams angle, as he returned from a 22-month absence. The trio also used Joey Porter returning to Pittsburgh as a reason to watch.
--Mike Tirico was hampered from the start because there were no markers or yard lines on the field. However, ESPN did an excellent job of keeping the yard and down on the screen throughout the game.
--Kornheiser spent the better part of the first quarter begging for Ricky Williams’ appearance while Ron Jaworski explained how tough it is/was to play under these conditions. The scoreless first-half was littered with turnovers, slips, and Seal songs.
--Ricky Williams’ injury in the second quarter took Tony’s angle away from him for the second-half, and talk turned back to the field conditions. Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya both reported on the field multiple times in the second-half, and Ron Jaworski actually “analyzed” the foot placement of players as they tried to make their cuts. The field was basically a 100 yard mud bath (sexy, I realize):

--The crew had almost nothing to work with as the game was scoreless until nearly the very end. Even though the game was sloppy and void of any offense the trio did a great job keeping me entertained throughout. It was one of their least awfully announced games of the season.
Best Quotes:
--“He went on television and said he liked to smoke pot. Well there are rules against that in this league.”- Tony Kornheiser not noting that Ricky Williams’ habits are illegal in the country, as well as the NFL
--“Joey Porter is a sports writer’s dream because he never shuts up.”- Tony Kornheiser
--“If the twenty yard line was the goal line we’d still be scoreless.”- Mike Tirico
--“I feel like I’m a broadcaster for soccer.”- Mike Tirico
“So it’s nil-nil on the pitch Jaws.”- Tony Kornheiser
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