BRISTOL, Conn. -- Everyone here at ESPN headquarters is taking pains to say that replacing Tony Kornheiser with Jon Gruden in the Monday Night Football booth is not an indictment of Kornheiser's work as an announcer. But in the next breath, everyone then talks about how great they expect Monday Night Football to be now that Gruden is a part of it.
Jay Rothman, senior coordinating producer for Monday Night Football, said Friday that he has no regrets about having Kornheiser in the booth, but he also thinks Gruden is one of the few people anywhere who can match Ron Jaworski in breaking down game tape -- and he thinks with play-by-play man Mike Tirico setting them up, Gruden and Jaworski will give hardcore football fans an education in the game, 17 Mondays a year.
"The fans want football," Rothman said. "That's what we're going to do."Rothman pointed to Kornheiser's work when Monday Night Football went to New Orleans for the first Saints game after Hurricane Katrina as an example of the perspective he wanted Kornheiser to give the Monday Night booth.
"Tony brought a different wrinkle to it," Rothman said. "He elevated the game in the biggest moments."
But with Kornheiser gone, it's clear that ESPN is thrilled about the potential for Gruden and Jaworski to work together. During the preseason, ESPN officials say, Gruden and Jaworski have developed chemistry and learned from each other while breaking down film together, and some folks at ESPN are already suggesting that Gruden could become the next John Madden -- a coach who leaves the sidelines at a young age and then becomes even better known for his work on television than he was for his work in coaching.
Of course, that would mean Gruden never returns to coaching. It's equally possible that at the end of the 2009 season, as coaching vacancies begin to open up, Gruden will tell ESPN that he wants to get back in the game, and in 2010 Gruden will be on the sidelines and ESPN will be shuffling its Monday Night Football lineup once again.
Rothman says he hasn't even thought about that.
"I'm not worried about Jon," Rothman said. "Jon wants to be great. He wants to be awesome at this. He wants to, as he says, 'Choke it to death.' I honestly am not concerned about it. I think Jon is really loving the experience."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-28-2009 @ 9:37AM
jstensecta said...
I cant believe he is not coaching somewhere
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8-28-2009 @ 10:17AM
Red Lapple said...
Having watched MNF since the beginning, Kornheiser was the absolutely WORST ever!
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8-28-2009 @ 5:59PM
jonitia said...
You may not agree with me but I stopped watching MNF when Dennis Miller was there. Was Tony K worse than that?
8-28-2009 @ 10:50AM
Murph said...
I’m looking forward to see what “Chucky” can do. I still think they have the wrong combo. Mike and Mike and Mike ( Tirico, Golic, Greenburg) would be the real home run.
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8-28-2009 @ 3:37PM
popeye3354 said...
you are mentally disabled if you think that is a home run...go back to watching tennis
8-28-2009 @ 5:24PM
jrocky48 said...
Mike and Mike are just as bad as Kornheiser-
Football is not about ESPN Shtick. Get that through your fcking head.
8-28-2009 @ 10:55PM
Murph said...
I was being sarcastic you myopic dwarfs
8-28-2009 @ 1:34PM
Ralph said...
Watched "Monday nite" football since it's inception; and must say that current anouncers,
with Jon Gruden added will be the best combo yet!
He (Gruden) reminds me of the late Hank Stram (Radio football anouncer); He could call the play
before the team did, Jon (like Hank before him) is
very knowledge-able, and will be a great asset for
"real" NFL fans. PS- The TB Bucs will miss him as
the team will have a loosing year and fall to last
place in there division. Where is Brian Griese?
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8-28-2009 @ 2:56PM
Gordy Anderson said...
I could not wait for Kornheiser to get tossed from the MNF booth. I just wish Jaws would have done it on live TV last Year. Kornheiser added NOTHING to the broadcast. Gruden knows what he's talking about and will bring a much needed boost to the MNF broadcast booth. Tirico will now have two very good color commentaters to set up. Can't wait for the season to start!
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8-28-2009 @ 2:57PM
medinensis said...
Finally some good news in the sports world. I couldn't stand that drama Queen (Komheiser). Gruden is a most welcome addition.
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8-28-2009 @ 3:21PM
iypgary said...
Yea, I love PTI and Tony is great on that show, but was tedious on MNF. The couple games I have watched parts of with the new crew have been pretty good. Chuckie is definately OK - and seems to have good raport with Jaws. Looking good for the season.
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8-28-2009 @ 3:26PM
Unclemy said...
I thought MNF got to "wordy", especially with Kornheiser. Most fans tune in to watch the game, not listen to endless gab by the play by play people. Oft-times it had nothing to do with the game itself. If one wants to listen to information about the personal lives of the players then they need another format.
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8-28-2009 @ 3:31PM
obamaizamarxist said...
The more insight the better with professional sports. Jaworski tried to carry Korny, he just got too heavy..
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8-28-2009 @ 4:06PM
greg said...
The addition of Jon Gruden is a big mistake. He's all blow and no show. They could have done better by hiring Daffy Duck.
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8-28-2009 @ 4:17PM
david052483 said...
i am so glad Kornheiser is gone!!!! now i can enjoy MNF without some idiot talking about a bunch of nothing lol!! Kornheiser dosen't even know the first thing about football..nobody will ever be John Madden
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8-28-2009 @ 10:41PM
jamesdgill said...
How about John Madden?
8-28-2009 @ 4:51PM
Hi Alven said...
I am glad Jon is doing the show. However, I am happier that Korn-wiser is not!
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8-28-2009 @ 5:03PM
RON said...
Kornholer was as bad or worse than Cosell. Neither of them know a damn thing about football.
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8-28-2009 @ 5:24PM
D said...
MNF was best with Gifford, Cosell and Meredith. Why? You never knew what would happen next.
Do you just want to hear football cliches over a 3 1/2 broadcast? Cosell covered that in less than 3 minutes during halftime. Listening to Gruden is like pulling the string of a toy doll that has 4 or 5 tag lines. How dumbed down do you want the broadcast?
I'm sure many of you don't remember how much the MNF viewing public hated Cosell. Didn't the fans lobby for a broadcast free from commentators?
Kornheiser was good. He knows the game. Jaws butt was clenched so tight he didn't understand Tony's humor. Funny, but I think we all need to laugh every now and then. That's why the Gifford, Meredith, Cosell threesome worked so good. They were having fun and we were having fun. The commentators do not change the outcome of a game, But when "the party's over" who's listening? And let's face it-sometimes the MNF party is over before its started.
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8-28-2009 @ 5:41PM
TheMcEntyres said...
Having Mike Greenburg would be horrible.The Dude never shut up.I wish someone would tell Greenburg that there is Sports outside of New York and Boston. He what we called a Homer. Stick with the microphone behind the desk and stay there.Hey ESPN,there is Sports west of Hudson River.
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