MNF Coverage Highlighted By Crotchety ‘72 Dolphin

By Brian Powell
Pregame Highlights:
--The Monday Night Countdown crew was joined on set by two members of the 1972 undefeated Dolphins team. Quarterback Bob Griese and running back Mercury Morris were interviewed by Chris Berman and even hung around to be pieces in Bill Parcells mini-field demonstration. Bob Greise seemed genuine enough in his thoughts on the Patriots undefeated season, but Mercury Morris was another story.
The outspoken back compared the team’s run to Sir Edmund Hilary’s ascension of Mount Everest before proclaiming that “every man needs a wife” when asked how he’d feel if the Patriots pulled the feat off. If the Pats are the wife, than Morris must be the angry, abusive husband:

--Stuart Scott was missing from the set once again and Sal Palantonio was again his replacement. Sal again did an excellent job with Steve Young and Emmitt Smith on a very windy set.
During The Game:
--The talk obviously centered around Tom Brady and everything the Patriots were doing right. Even when the Golden Boy overthrew people or was a hair behind receivers, Jaworski and the gang were quick to blame the pass on the wind.
--Tony Kornheiser spent the better part of the game convincing people that they should stick around and even called it “selling the game” at one point. The thing that he doesn’t yet seem to understand is that Monday Night Football sells itself, which was very evident in the game last night.
--Great job by the MNF camera crew to catch a hilarious exchange between Ravens’ coach Brian Billick and Pats’ safety Rodney Harrison. With the Ravens up, the Pats stopped a third and short with Harrison tackling Willis McGahee for no gain. Harrison jumped up and immediately started saying something to Billick on the sidelines. The Ravens’ coach calmly smiled and blew a few kisses Harrison’s way.
--The game itself was nothing short of amazing, and as the second half got underway, I think the trio knew that had themselves a winner. All three portrayed genuine amazement at what the Ravens were doing and it was good to see real emotion from a crew that’s usually mailed it in by the fourth quarter.
--Another Dolphin, coach Don Shula, also made an appearance during the third quarter and did everything but yell and scream for the Ravens. On Baltimore’s third quarter touchdown, Tony Kornheiser proclaimed that the coach was even punching him in the arm.
Best Quotes:
“[Adrian Peterson] is redefining the way teams defend the running ability.”- Emmitt Smith
“It’s way to early to say what I’m gonna say: Maybe this is the night.”- Tony Kornheiser in the first quarter referring to the Pats losing
“I played for Buddy Ryan.”- Jaws
“Did you knit him that blanket.”- Tony Kornheiser
“He looks like my paper boy.”- Tony Kornheiser on the Patriots Coach McDaniel
“If [the Ravens] win You’re here for life.”- Tony Kornheiser
“And I like crabcakes.”- Don Shula
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Read more of Brian Powell’s work at Awful Announcing, which is updated daily with tons of sports media goodness.
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