Tony Kornheiser Strikes Again, Talks About Brett Favre More Than Anybody Else

Sooner or later I'm going to get tired of this, but honestly, I just don't see it happening. Twice this year during Monday Night Football, I've taken on the daunting task of listening to every word that comes out of Tony Kornheiser's mouth, and tallying how many times he mentions certain players by name. It's a fun project, and it seems to get a warm reception around the Internet.

Having said that, last night's game between New Orleans and Green Bay was the perfect opportunity to tackle Kornheiser's shenanigans for a third time, seeing as how it involved the Packers, which would surely give everyone's least favorite broadcaster an excuse to talk about his favorite topic, Brett Favre. Despite the obvious fact that, you know, Favre would not be taking part in the game.

In today's Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley wrote about how Kornheiser was stuck on No. 4, and documented a rather hilarious confrontation in the booth, where Ron Jaworski called Kornheiser on his ridiculous claim that Aaron Rodgers is constantly battling some sort of Favre-demon every time he steps on the field.

As for the overall numbers, they're not surprising.

Throughout the course of the game, I kept track of how many times Kornheiser mentioned Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees by name. I chose these players for the obvious reasons: Rodgers and Brees were the starting quarterbacks (and very good starting quarterbacks) in the game, while Favre is always the first thing on Kornheiser's mind.

The final numbers?

Brett Favre: 18
Aaron Rodgers: 16
Drew Brees: 9

Incredible. It's also predictable, hilarious and, for the most part, kind of sad. Sad that one of the three announcers in the booth mentioned a guy not playing, by name, more than he referenced the two starting quarterbacks taking part.

Some Observations

1. In the first quarter, Kornheiser said the following: "Aaron Rodgers is playing well, but the Packers are not a better football team this year." While he didn't come right out and say it, he was, to me anyway, suggesting that Green Bay would be a better football team with Favre still on the roster. He made no mention of the fact the Packers defense has fallen from No. 2 in the NFL a year ago, all the way down to No. 17 this season, and at times -- last night included -- has taken a defense-optional approach to games.

2. Just prior to the 2-minute warning in the second quarter, Kornheiser mentioned Favre six times in less than a minute. It was almost as if he were attempting to construct a sentence using nothing but the word "Favre." He almost succeeded.

3. He did not mention Favre at all during the third quarter. However, when the game became an absolute blowout in the fourth quarter, he mentioned the former Packers quarterback, by name, seven times. During the same time period, he mentioned Brees, a guy actually playing in the game he was announcing, and perhaps the best quarterback in the NFL this season, zero times.

4. ESPN provided us with one graphic comparing Favre and Rodgers.

I admit, I always enjoyed Kornheiser's radio show, and his columns were always, in my mind, a must read. Somewhere along the line, however, he completely lost touch with reality.

Whether it's what he really believes, or if it's some sort of ESPN-driven agenda, the man is convinced that football fans around the country can't get enough of Favre and that he is the only person they want to hear about. He could not be more wrong.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-25-2008 @ 2:16PM

Jim said...

Kornheiser has to go. It's becoming increasingly difficult to listen to his inane, only slightly knowledgeable drivel about pro football and the Monday night game.

He obviously has a serious man love thing with Favre.

Plus, he doesn't get it. The Packers grew tired of continually being yanked by Favre and they needed to look to the future. After all, the Pack received decent compensation for Favre, something that might not have occurred if Favre had flopped with the Packers this year.

11-26-2008 @ 11:23AM

curly said...

Ohh, PUL-EESE Do not defend the Packers in ANY way for the bone-headed move of kicking Favre to the curb. They took away a beloved legend,divided their fans, demoralized the players and sullied the Packer legacy. Now they are at the bottom of the heap when we could have been knocking at the playoff door like the Jets are. Aaron (shut your faces) Rodgers could have sat on the bench for another year for 500,000, and we could have gotten another chance at the Superbowl. But hey, why wait to be bad later when we can be bad now. Hey, lets sit this year out and give the Jets our chance!

11-25-2008 @ 2:30PM

Steve said...

I wouldnt know what Kornheiser says anymore I watch MFL with the mute on...he has ruined MFL and needs to go

11-25-2008 @ 2:58PM

Dan said...

Kornholio is ruining Monday night for me to the point that I'm asking Santa to get Dennis Miller back.

11-25-2008 @ 3:21PM

It's exacerbated by the fact that Jaws knows what he's talking about and talks about the game. I loved when he completely shut Tony off, as mentioned in the article.

If I remember correctly he was dejected and practically admitted that he wasn't prepared to talk about anything else.

11-25-2008 @ 4:21PM

ian b. said...

kornheiser (i dont respect him enough to check if thats right or not) is a goddamn fool. i think we need to start an anti-kornheiser petition and send that shit to the MNF crew to get that blithering idiot off my boobtube. i agree with whoever said it above at least dennis miller, although i didnt like him a great deal either, would be a better option that ol' kornholer.

11-25-2008 @ 5:57PM

Elsquare said...

Klownheiser seems to be an articulate individual, until one listens closely to what he is saying. It then becomes obvious that he has only a superficial grasp of the game. Inane is a pretty tough word, but it seems to apply to many of Klownheiser's observations. It is difficult for me to believe that Klownheiser is as unaware as he sounds when he is spewing his inane dribble over what might be the grave of MNF. Surely there is an obscure ESPN director/producer/somebody or other that is pushing Klownheiser into this role of MNF clown. Please consider doing whatever it takes to have only two people in the booth for MNF. Jaws (if he will slow his rate of speech) is fine. Tirico is steady. The two of them can handle things very well. If you don't believe me, try it.

BumpSchool said...

Ok, but that's not really fair because he wouldn't need to mention Rodgers and Brees 'by name' if they're right there. If Brees threw a nice pass he would just say 'He threw a nice pass', without mentioning him 'by name'. Farve, not being there, would have to be named.

However, yes, Kornheiser's bad. He just wants to argue, so he stirs up shit to argue about. He's a shit disturber.

11-25-2008 @ 6:24PM

Skins Fan said...

its pretty obvious to most people out there that they just dont "get" Kornheiser at all. If you are looking for any real and thoughtful insight into the game of football then you are listening to the wrong man. Being from DC, I had alot of exposure to Kornheiser through the Post and his radio show and this is what made him funny. He is just an average obnixous fan of sports who will just dwell over pointless topics and just can't get over some players or coaches they have fasinations with. I mean just read the stuff on sports message boards and you will know what type of people I am talking about. BUT he just happens to be on TV. Kornheiser is just being Kornheiser. Like I said if you want a "logical" and "thoughtful" insight into the game then you are listening to the wrong guy so expect anything else from him.

11-25-2008 @ 8:21PM

katharine said...

I was wondering if anyone else heard "we'll have seventy &%(#@& by the end of the night" last night on Monday Night Football? We replayed it three times and swear that's what was said, but I can't find it anywhere on the web. I'm not sure if Kornheiser or Jaws said it...

11-26-2008 @ 9:01AM

bigflyer said...

Kotnheiser is often incitefully direct on PTI and his comments are tolerable there. However on Monfaya Night Football he seems to want to fill every silence with inane, pointless remarks.

I cannot bear him any longer and generally turn the sound down beginning with the overhyped, over amplified, annoying Hank Williams Jr and I continue to do so dduring the game until I see a play or replay that requires explanation.

I enjoy Thursday NFL telecasts much more because there is no stupid, repetitive bridge music to every comercial, no Bryant Gumble, no Tony Kornheiser, and no Hank kWilliams Jr. The game is the reason I watch, not the color commentators nor the music.

lance lee said...

I think they should give Joe Thiesman his job back.

11-26-2008 @ 3:15PM

I disagree with the author. Brett Favre is the most exciting player I have ever watched and I can't get enough of him.There are MANY Packer fans who feel the same way and we miss him terribly. Any mention of him is gravy.

11-26-2008 @ 12:34PM

N.J. said...

I can't even watch a Monday Night Game and listen to this idiot. He really needs to go. The game on Monday night isn't worth watching so long as he is still in the booth. Someone should tell him, when describing a defensive play, that it is a good thing to know the refs from the safety. About Farve? Well the Jets are on top of their division and the Packers got EMBARASSED, asses handed to them, ran OUT of N.O. last week. No more needs to be said. Other than Kornholio needs to STFU.

11-26-2008 @ 1:09PM

Blair Conway said...

It's hard to believe anyone could be worse than Dennis Miller, but Kornheiser has accomplished that distinction. The only way to watch MNF is muted. Kornheiser has ruined MNF and needs to be fired.

11-26-2008 @ 3:23PM

Yeah. they will receive decent compensation only when Brett leads the JETS to the Superbowl INSTEAD OF the PACKERS! How bright are you?

12-02-2008 @ 11:05PM

LagJ said...

How many football games (at any level) has Tony Kornheiser played in his lifetime? The guy has absolutely no clue what it's like to play football. I'm sure he would like to play "touch" with Aaron Rodgers, like Ted Thompson does.