Sports Radio Service


		Thirty-five years of Monday Night Football history By Rick Eymer December 24, 2004
	Miami Dolphins' defensive end Jason Taylor sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady(L) causing him to fumble the ball as the Dolphins upset the 2004 champions 29-28. (AFP/Eliot Schechter)
	I remember Monday Night Football as being an odd thing back in the first year of 1970. I remembered thinking it's an extra day to watch it, but I didn't think it was going to ever work. I was a big 49ers and Raiders fan at the time and both teams were doing pretty good back then. I do remember Howard Cosell and Al Michaels. Cosell really did get MNF going along with Keith Jackson in the old days. It really was a product of football that made it into a great show. It turned out to be an amazing success, even surprising the ABC officials because it was just a phenomenon that became a permanent part of American sports and football culture. Howard was a phenomenal sports broadcaster back then, known for memorable interviews with Cassius Clay/ Muhammad Ali, treating him with respect and putting him in the spotlight. If it weren't for Cosell, MNF may have never gotten off the ground. He was such a voice and such an impact in the broadcasting world that he was an icon in his own right. Cosell drew a lot of people to MNF, especially as everybody waited for his halftime highlights from Sunday's action. It is a completely different MNF crew this year and the show has evolved to where it's had to go back to the drawing board and create some things on its own, like the Nicole Sheridan/Terrell Owens pregame introduction where Sheridan jumps with no clothes on into Owens' arms. Monday Night Football needs more than football now to make it work. It's still a pretty solid product and you couldn't have asked for a better one this past week with Miami and New England - that was a really fun show to watch. Their camera work was outstanding this last Monday. Showing the chest bump with Miami coach Jim Bates and his player was big-time fun. Monday Night Football is quite a big show - not Howard Cosell anymore, but it's still worth watching. Rick Eymer covers all of them including when Monday Night Football when it comes to the bay area. Rick makes spot appearances on KVVN 1430 San Jose and KLIB 1110 San Jose as a broadcast guest.