Lloyd Grove: Carville, Begala blast "Monday Night Football"'s Al Michaels

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Daily News gossip, Lloyd Grove:


Bashing from the booth

ABC Sports star Al Michaels sure likes to put the political back in "political football."...

***

During his play-by-play of the New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts game in Foxborough, Mass., last week - a special Thursday edition of "Monday Night Football" - Michaels somehow discovered an opportunity to stick it to John Kerry.

When co-announcer John Madden marveled at the seesawing of the score - "This is what you call a flip-flop," he said - Michaels retorted: "You're in the right state for that."...

***

"These announcers are getting to think they're some kind of political commentators or pontificators," (James) Carville told me. "But the football fans watch football to hear about football. If Al Michaels wants to give his political opinions, tell him to come on 'Crossfire.'"

(Paul) Begala, meanwhile, told me: "I hardly ever watch ('Monday Night Football') anymore. It's the television equivalent of Sominex. And they have had all these right-wingers on: Dennis Miller, Rush Limbaugh and Al Michaels - and all it does is drive viewers away."

(Grove reports Begala added: "I don't think anybody's going to base their vote on what someone wearing a polyester blazer in an announcer's booth thinks.")

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/231491p-198771c.html

[Zech Marquis]

1. yes!!

The Ragin'Cajin out chewing Michaels's sorry ass for sliping in that flip flop remark. I've emailed ESPN Radio, and for now, the Mike and Mike Show haven't done any more wingnut routines...but that reains to be seem.

[dennis4868]

9. Mike and Mike Show haven't done any more wingnut routines.

what routines did they do?

[TacticalPeek]

2. Al Michaels on Crossfire?

Can you say "forfeit"?

[dennis4868]

10. Al Michaels on Crossfire?"

do you believe in miracles?

[gmoney]

3. Isn't Al putting the FOOTBALL back in Political Football?

That headline seems reversed to me... the term political football has always had plent of politics in it.

Just picking nits...

[Supersedeas]

4. Maybe Michaels should get a right-wing radio show---like RUSH

That is what Michael Powell would consider diversity on the airways.

[Doosh]

5. good, you have to be relentless with the repugs

don't yield an inch

[wardunn28]

6. Should we write letters to ABC? (eom)

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Welcome to DU, wardunn28! Here's ABC contact info from their website --

How do I contact the ABC Television Network?
Mailing Address:
ABC, Inc.
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4551
Phone number: [phone]

For ABC's Primetime and Daytime shows, as well as our Movies and Specials: Audience Relations Department at [e-mail]

For ABC Sports: [e-mail]

[arewenotdemo]

8. Anyone want to venture a guess

whether Michaels ever set foot in Vietnam?