Monday Night during Steelers-Redskins, ESPN to conduct phone interviews with Obama and McCain

[scheming daemons]

...on the air during the game

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/HUGE_in_Penn_and_Va.html?showall



Steeler games usually get about an 80-share in the Pittsburgh market and surrounding areas. Seriously.


If there was ever a time to close the deal with Western PA, it will be during Monday Night Football this week.

[Indi Guy]

1. You've got to be fucking kidding!...

I embrace sports largely because they are by nature apolitical.

[GrizzlyMan]

2. I agree. I absolutely detest the mix.

[chollybocker]

3. worst idea ever

[Indi Guy]

4. Well, now I know what I WON'T be doing Monday night...

:puke:

[barkingfrog]

5. I hear ESPN's Chris Berman could be biased in the interviews

He is a big fan of Joe Liebermann who is a big fan of McCain. So I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to sabotage Obama like that one reporter did to Joe Biden. This is bad.

[Indi Guy]

6. I don't give a shit if God Himself endorses either candidate...

...I want my sports to be sports & politics to be politics!

[MadBadger]

7. Berman wont do that

[Indi Guy]

9. Any interjection of politics into sports is a very bad idea...

...it doesn't matter who's involved.

[GrizzlyMan]

8. It's not bad

My impression of Berman is that he's fairly liberal. I have a college buddy who is a researcher at ESPN in Bristol and has been around him a little bit. At any rate, these will be softball questions. What, you think he's going to go Sam Donaldson on him?

[Indi Guy]

10. Sports & Politics don't fucking mix...

If you want to become a political commentator like KO, do the right thing.

[GrizzlyMan]

11. I agree, and I said so up thread.

[Indi Guy]

12. Yes you did, and I apologize...

(like you) It just infuriates me when certain generally understood bounderies are crossed.

When Bob Dole did Viagra ads I was incredulous!

If MLB broadcasters go political -- they will have jumped the Bob Dole shark!

[GrizzlyMan]

13. Do you remember when Al Michaels made a crack about Kerry

It was during the 2004 campaign on MNF Football. Michaels is a notorious hard right Repuke, Israel first guy.

[Youphemism]

14. Wouldn't it be cool if they only asked the candidates about the game? Something like this...

Berman: Senator Obama, despite a good ground attack, the Steelers seem to have trouble advancing the ball against this tough Redskins defense. Should they start throwing more on first down in the second half?

Obama: Well, Chris, that's not a bad idea, but they should stick to short tosses in the flat to Miller and Moore to spread out the field. I'd avoid Holmes today, given that this is his first game back after his reefer bust.

Ditka: Senator McCain, what do the Redskins need to do to overcome the trouble they're having putting points on the board?"

McCain: Mike, you know, I didn't have the chance to put a lot of points on the board during my stay at the Hanoi Hilton. If I were in charge, I'd fire the offensive coordinator and refuse to talk to the team in the locker room until this point-scoring crisis is over.

[Indi Guy]

15. You were so close to being there...

...but you made a funny bit.

[Youphemism]

16. The sentiment was real, and it made me wonder how they might respond...

Thanks, though. Funny works for me.