In the second quarter the broadcast booth welcomed in Christian Slater, who pitched his upcoming movie Bobby, which seems to feature a cavalcade of stars, assuming the year is 1997. And you could just tell he cared so much about football. He said he was a fan of the New York Jets, which is amazing timing for a night featuring two teams on the West coast.
I'll let ESPN's ombudsman George Solomon speak for me here. "It's a football game, not a night-time talk show." Although I can certainly see bringing Slater in on MNF. It'd give him and Michael Irvin something to talk about.
But while the pure football fan may not enjoy the show, the spectacle is still bringing in the ratings. Two weeks ago, the Cowboys-Giants game brought in the largest rating (12.8) in cable history. The occasion gave everyone at ESPN a free cafeteria coupon. No, seriously.
As for last week, their halftime inflatable ESPN personalities' race just confused the heck out of everybody, including our managing editor. (Which isn't that hard to do, granted.) But that couldn't have been good for the ratings to see an 8-foot goofy-looking Joe Theismann scuttle across the field.
The American tradition of watching a football game on Monday night, I've learned this year, is a tough habit to break. The product certainly has changed, but the programming — despite the number of ridiculously loud personalities and corporate tie-ins — will always feature two teams playing football. But please beware that, occasionally one of those teams will be the Raiders.
So take Craig Lyndall's advice. Watch it and turn down the sound. Strap on the iPod and get some writing done. Because, come Tuesday, you'll be asked about that Cardinals-Bears game, and you don't want to turn it off prematurely.
And once the game is over, it's only ... uh oh, I suddenly forgot how to do simple arithmetic. Hey ESPN, how many more days is it?
Article comments
1 - Joan Hunt
Suss, you're such a tool sometimes. You dare to insult the woman who holds the power to 'accidently' lose your article? You foolish boy. Don't make me call Flores on you.
Phone lines are open, folks. If you have any particularly fun bit of aggravation to dispense upon the Puddle of Suss, bring it.
Anyhow, thanks for the mention. I appreciate it. There's no such thing as bad publicity, right?
2 - RJ Elliott
What a sucky game...Michael Wilbon had a nice turn in the booth, tho...
3 - Jet in Columbus
Hell hath no fury Suss... a word to the wise!
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
"You dare to insult the woman who holds the power to 'accidently' lose your article?"
So you're not only confusable, but you're forgetful as well?
(Always save a copy on your hard drive, people!)