ESPN dumps Kornheiser for Gruden on Monday Night Football
by JasonB on May 19, 2009 2:18 PM EDT
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ESPN has made the decision to replace Tony Kornheiser with former Eagles coordinator and Buc's head coach John Gruden in the Monday Night Football booth. Gruden will join another former Eagle and maybe the best "Xs & Os" anaylst out there, Ron Jaworski, along with PBP guy Mike Tirico as the Monday Night Football trio.
Kornheiser says he's decided to step down from the gig due to a fear of flying, which is frankly fairly hard to believe. I can sympathize with Tony's fear of flying, but to give up an incredibly high paying and high profile job because of it? Come on...Surely, that job would be worth trying pills or hypnosis or therapy or something right?
More likely, ESPN realized that the formula of a "funny guy" in the booth wasn't working anymore this time than it has in the past. I like Tony Kornheiser, but frankly I think he was in an impossible situation. Mike Tirico is completely devoid of any personality and Ron Jaworski is trying to more or less educate people about the game... not exactly an environment conducive to a guy trying to provide comic relief.
The choice to get rid of Tony was correct, but I'm not so sure they made the right choice for his replacement. As far as I know, Gruden hasn't done any color commentating before, so while his knowledge of the game is unquestioned... his ability to be an interesting guy in the booth still is. Plus, you would think ESPN would have hired someone that's likely to have more longevity in the booth. Gruden is likely to get himself a head coaching job in the next year and ESPN will have to go find someone else to take the MNF job. Why not just go try to find someone, like Jaworski, who can be in the booth for a few years?
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More likely, ESPN realized that the formula of a “funny guy” in the booth wasn’t working anymore this time than it has in the past.
Did Kornheiser ever say something funny that I must have missed?
by Bye, Dawk :( on May 19, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not as anti-Tony as some people on here but this is a good move
Let Kornheiser stick to his bread and butter on PTI and I think Gruden will be really interesting in the booth commentating(he also had some nice things to say about the Eagles on NFL network during the draft calling us “Legit”)
Let's get it.
by homestar2281 on May 19, 2009 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I hated Kornheiser
I’m not sure how insightful Gruden will be. I watched a bunch of his comentary on the draft and it left a little to be desired. The NFL network comentators were going over of the top players at each position and after the other commentators would wiegh the pros and cons of each player Gruden would say something positive followed by “I’ll take that player on my team!”
It got to the point where the other commentators started to remind him that he can’t take all the players in the draft. I think this mindset is what lead to the stockpiling of QBs. He can’t rank the players, only determine whether or not he likes them. I guess thats why he got fired.
Then again Kornheiser is like Reno Mahe. I was going to be happy with whoever replaced him.
"Seriously… F off." JasonB to a Denver fan after Dawk left.
by DownHillBradley on May 19, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think commentating on a game is more up his alley
he probably didn’t know too much about most of the guys seeing that he was coaching during the college season and then jobless shortly after…
by PoppiDamus on May 19, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kornheiser got old on MNF
It was at the point where I didn’t want too many MNF football games so I didn’t have to listen to the crew. Although, it was much better than the days where they had guests in the booth for promo’s. I remember one of the times Charles Barkley was on there they asked him something about the game and he said something along the lines of “I don’t know too much about football guys since I played basketball, but…” If we’re talking bad announcing, 2nd quarters of MNF back then made me hate myself.
For Kornheiser, stay on PTI…much better fit there than in the booth.
"Now Sav Rocca played for the Magpies in Australia. I don't know if it's a bird or a pie or what it is." Ike Reese
by The Badassador on May 19, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why can’t they just go back to a two-man booth? Jaws and Tirico could be great as a duo.
TK was awful on MNF. Worse than Dennis Miller. I think Gruden is actually going to do a very good job as the third man in the booth… but I’d really rather it go to a two-man booth.
by wildcatlh on May 19, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good question. I was wondering that myself. Why this need to have a 3 man booth?
by JasonB on May 21, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dunno. I kind of like the prospect of Kornholer stopping by once this year for a cameo. I’m sure it’d take two minutes for Gruden to call him “fucking stupid” and smash him with the nearest blunt object… and I’m all for that.
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on May 19, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This is the third post about this topic.
Jason… This is your 3rd repost in the last 2 days. The other 2 were the JJ absence and Eagles rankings. These were already discussed in the fanposts. Usually you do a great job of not reposting anything.
Taking Route 36 will bring you to Touchdown,PHI
by Route36 on May 19, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess his infant has been on his mind…
by topcat6 on May 19, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I was about to say something to the same affect. It seems like the frequency of postings and topics kind of started going downhill during & after the draft. Although if you’ve got a newborn I totally understand. Those suckers are time consuming! Hope he/she is doing well!
Loooooook here brotha'.....who you jivein' with that Cosmic Debris!!!???
by OkieEagle on May 19, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sometimes that’s going to happen. There are thousands of people who read the site on yahoo or through RSS that never get to see the fanposts… So occasionally I’m going to have to talk about something that was already discussed.
by JasonB on May 21, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kornheiser says he’s decided to step down from the gig due to a fear of flying
more like a fear of being fired for saying stupid or race-driven comments.
by awd777 on May 19, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ouch… and truth
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on May 19, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Gruden, he gives some insight. I liked him on the draft.
I don’t know if he leaves to booth to coach again. The booth pays well and is easier. NFL coaches are way overworked.
Bleed green, or don't bleed at all!
by yophillybro on May 19, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really care for the 3rd man in the booth anyways… they need someone that can show personality and some knowlege themselves while doing play by play (Mike Greenberg type that’s always worked well with Golic) and then Jaws to break things down. The 3rd wheel has always been awkward to me as you have 2 guys fighting over air time between plays.
by Smallbugger on May 19, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gruden
I liked Gruden when he was givin Ricky Watters the finger from the coaches box……
by codi on May 19, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gruden was a coach for the eagles?
I thought he was a coordinator for Green bay, not the eagles.
by andyb on May 19, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Im not a fan of jaws either
He’s too much of a homer when the Eagles come on. Not very interesting. And honestly, ANYONE but Gumble and it WILL be an upgrade over Kornheiser.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Joe_D on May 19, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If I had to hear him go on about how the Eagles fans booed McNabb at the draft on more time the remote was going through the TV,
by no1pipelayer on May 19, 2009 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Personally i really like Brian Billick on Fox and i doubt they could prize him away but he doesnt exactly have much charisma but he knows what hes talking about, i remember one game where he called the next play and didnt gloat about it like some other commentators would try and do.
by thebristoleagle on May 19, 2009 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What annoyed me about Kornheiser...
he was always trying to turn everything into an editorial…this is a football game not the Washington Post…
by PoppiDamus on May 19, 2009 7:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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