Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend itself. it’s up to us.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

“I never thought they’d lock HIM up,” sobbed a distraught member of the Lock Her Up Party.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

Somebody needs to explain to DeSantis that nobody needs to do anything to make him look bad.

Cancel the cowardly WaPo and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

Trump’s legal defense is going to be a dumpster fire inside a clown car on a derailing train.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

I was confident that someone would point it out and thought why not me.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

The willow is too close to the house.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

T R E 4 5 O N

There is one struggling party in US right now, and it’s not the Democrats.

You are here: Home / Sports / Brain Cramp

Brain Cramp

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Who was on the old NFL announcing team with Vern Lundquist and Mark May in the 90’s on TNT?

I always thought that was my favorite NFL announcing team, and never understood why others did not rave about them.

Then again, I like Dierdorf, so what do I know?

*** Update ***

BTW- here is a pretty cool site I recently discovered. Usually just a pic or a video link a day, but fun.

Reader Interactions

49Comments

  3. 3.

    Mark S.

    I didn’t know TNT ever used to do NFL.

    I thought Dierdorf was pretty good on MNF. I think Al Michaels is a good play by play guy because he keeps his color guys in check by not letting them blab incessantly.

  7. 7.

    Zifnab

    I want a blog with a massive readership that can answer random sports trivia on the spur of the moment.

    You have no idea how luck you are, John.

  9. 9.

    Wick

    Favorite Vern Lundquist moment. TNT’s broadcast was opposite an Atlanta Braves playoff game. The game turned into a blowout with one of the teams taking a 10 run lead in the 5th inning. I turned from the baseball game on Fox (or whatever) to the TNT baseball game just in time to hear Vern Lundquist say, “We would like to welcome those of you who had been watching the Atlanta Braves . . .”

  10. 10.

    You Don't Say

    I like Dierdorf too. Being relatively new to football, I Googled him only to find out that (almost) everyone else despises his commentary. Although he did say something stupid last game I watched that he was announcing. I can’t remember what it was, though.

  11. 11.

    Mike Kay

    @Zifnab:

    yeah, but can he get any dates of this blog?

    Or at the very least, some love-sick groupies, like the ones who crawl around and kiss Hamsher’s stilettos.

  12. 12.

    John Cole

    @You Don’t Say: I like him because unlike almost every other commentator, he never feels the need to be cynical, seems to be having the time of his life every game, and is just sort of infectious fun in the dumb jock kind of way. Plus, he always pays attention to the linemen, which everyone ignores. I think watching the O-line is one of my favorite parts of the game, and everyone seems to overlook it. The last Steelers game, Max Starks had one of those once a year blocs where he just completely decleated a guy, opening up Parker for a 9 yard run, and without his block he would have been stopped in the back field, and they didn’t even mention it, but instead cut to a game update from NY.

    Meanwhile, if some jackass WR whose only responsibility is to get open and then move to the QB when he gets in trouble catches an 8 yard out pattern and they replay it ten times fellating the receiver each time.

    /rant

  15. 15.

    scudbucket

    @John Cole: Plus, he always pays attention to the linemen

    Exactly. A good commentator points out things that aren’t obvious. I won’t be rude and enumerate some from that other list (like CC, for example).

  17. 17.

    SiubhanDuinne

    *** Update ***

    BTW- here is a pretty cool site I recently discovered. Usually just a pic or a video link a day, but fun.

    Cute site. The tape-measure guy is pretty amazing, and I especially like the proposed new slogan: “TSA — Protecting you from yesterday, tomorrow.”

  18. 18.

    MattR

    @John Cole:

    I like him because unlike almost every other commentator, he never feels the need to be cynical, seems to be having the time of his life every game, and is just sort of infectious fun in the dumb jock kind of way.

    Do you like Gruden on MNF? It is fascinating how different his demeanor in the booth is compared to when he was on the field coaching.

  19. 19.

    demkat620

    Evening ‘Juicers.

    It was so windy here today, it blew my hippie solar walkway lights right out of the ground. I came home and three of them were gone.

    Winter sux.

  22. 22.

    smiley

    Despite its success as a TV sport, football is pretty bad at it. You can never see what the defensive backfield is doing until they replay the play in question. That’s one of the great things about the show that used to be on ESPN featuring Jaws breaking down offenses and defenses. Is that still on? Anyway, if you’re interested in football beyond the line of scrimmage, good luck.

  23. 23.

    MattR

    @smiley: I agree completely on all points. I thought that HD (or more specifically widescreen) would change that but it really hasn’t, unlike soccer, hockey and basketball which are so much better to watch in HD. I think NBC allows you to watch the Sunday Night Football game online from your choice of cameras which include a wider angle. I am going to have to remember to check that out this weekend.

    That show is NFL Breakdown and it is still on but at ridiculously odd hours like 3:00 am on Saturday and maybe 7 am on Sunday (or something like that).

  25. 25.

    Ailuridae

    @John Cole:

    They had both Warren Moon and Randall Cunningham in studio at various points while they were taking a season off before coming back to still be dominant. That was strange.

    Pat Haden is a legitimate straight up genius. His interactions with whomever he was in the booth with could only be described as “awkward”

  26. 26.

    Crusty Dem

    I remember the TNT coverage, it was good, I made regular bar trips on Sunday night so I could watch. Don’t remember the third in the booth, though.

    Dierdorf did notice the little things, but it didn’t make up for his numerous other failings. My pet peeve was his “Word of the broadcast”. I remember one game he used the word “ubiquitous” 3-5 times, as in “Rodney Harrison is all over the field, he’s ubiquitous!”. That’s just wrong, man…

  27. 27.

    mcd410x

    @smiley: This.

    I’ve seen NFL Network do it, but no one else on the whole HD wider screen/don’t have to center the camera on the line of scrimmage.

    (Case in point, watching the UCLA-Temple game, ESPN is TIGHTENING the shot when the ball is snapped! I hate ESPN.).

  28. 28.

    REN

    I like Dierdorf for the same reasons that you do John. He always seemed to be having fun. But, what do I know, I liked Howard Cosell, because he knew more about the history of whatever sport he was broadcasting, and the participants in said contest, than anyone else,ever.

  29. 29.

    Jill

    BTW- here is a pretty cool site I recently discovered. Usually just a pic or a video link a day, but fun.

    Thanks, John. Nice find.

  30. 30.

    RedKitten

    @Mike Kay:

    yeah, but can he get any dates of this blog?
    Or at the very least, some love-sick groupies, like the ones who crawl around and kiss Hamsher’s stilettos.

    He HAS received a few marriage proposals, IIRC. From both genders.

  31. 31.

    burnspbesq

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    How is it that UK only beat Long Beach by 13? The 49ers suck, loudly. We are up 20 at the half, and I expect the walk-ons to get extensive playing time in the second half.

  33. 33.

    Keith G

    @REN: I loved Howard. My very youngest years were spent with the likes of Kurt Gowdy. I believe I was in 5th grade when MNF started and Howard was such a great change from old style. He loved the players but didn’t feel the need to kiss any ass. Obnoxious, literary, fun (and merciless with Don Meredith).

  34. 34.

    Tom_23

    @smiley: The Edge NFL matchup. My favorite football related show. Jaws and Hodge with some random host. Jaws used to do a similar thing on the lead up to MNF on ESPN. He has a great feel for both the coaching as well as how player are handling their position. Hodge (ex-Steeler) also awesome.

    Favorite Announcers: Jaws, Simms, Gruden, Collingsworth, and Dan Fouts (I think he is college mostly). Lundquist was awesome in his day!

    Dislike Dierdorf. He’s Madden without the intellect. Disked Cosell. He like to stir the pot more than comment on football. For some reason, Michaels grates on my nerves. The best play by play is anyone who can handle hockey, Mike Lange! (Beat ’em like a rented mule ) and Kevin Calabro (voice of Sonics/Xbox)

  36. 36.

    BruceFromOhio

    @John Cole:

    The last Steelers game, Max Starks had one of those once a year blocs where he just completely decleated a guy …

    Let me attest to the coverage the lines are getting. When Harrison of Cleveland had his journey to and from Kansas City, it was Fraley at right tackle and Vickers at running back that paved the road. And that was the water cooler convo for a day and a half. Definitely you had WR starbursts, and rightly so. But for the first time since I started this gig people watching at home (yours truly included) NOTICED what it takes to get real yardage on the ground.

    And it is no picnic. There’s a reason running backs and guards retire in their early 30’s.

    The playoffs beckon, so here’s to watching the O-lines, because that is where the game is afoot.

    ETA: If there was a way to pair Al Michaels with Jim Donovan (local Cleveland voice) there would be no others needed. Al and Madden we’re pretty close to good, and Al definitely kept JM ‘in check’. Had no clue TNT did NFL in the 90’s.

  37. 37.

    Cat Lady

    @John Cole:

    The new local FM sports station has a quiz segment every Tuesday about whether Gruden said “these guys” or “that guy” or “those guys” about some player during the game. Guess what the answer always is? LOL

    Remember Tony Kornheiser? That was awesome.

    /no

  39. 39.

    PTirebiter

    @Ailuridae:
    Haden still does color for all the televised Notre Dame games. I can’t think of who he’s teamed with, but he’s still great.

  43. 43.

    PTirebiter

    @Dr. Squid:

    Yea, there is that. But being a lifelong USC fan, it’s not hard to listen to Pat’s always respectful commentary, and read between the lines.

  44. 44.

    Steeplejack

    @Mark S.:

    I think Al Michaels is a good play by play guy because he keeps his color guys in check by not letting them blab incessantly blabbing incessantly himself.

    Fix’d.

  46. 46.

    Lex

    I have always liked Dierdorf for pretty much the same reason JC has, not that I’m trying to kiss JC’s stilettos or anything.

    One reason is that I’ve followed the Panthers since they came into the league in ’95, and if you’ve followed the Panthers for any length of time you know that the O-line, pretty sturdy at the moment despite the loss of both starting tackles, historically has been a perennial problem. Dierdorf gets stuff like that and talks about it — not always, not often enough, but often enough that you can learn something from time to time, which is what I want in an analyst.

    And I guess I’m a sucker, but when he cried at his Hall of Fame induction, I just thought, “Awwwww …. “

  47. 47.

    patrick

    I always liked dierdorf, again, because he focuses attention on the trenches, and he just seems to love the game.

    I really liked the micheals/gifford/dierdorf MNF team, personally.

    I also really enjoyed Verne Lundquist. he covered most of the Vikings games in the 80’s/90’s when CBS had the NFC contract.

    I like Jaws on MNF, I’m starting to warm up to Gruden. I’d like to see ditka in the booth. Collinsworth bugs me the same way Tim (?) Buck on fox does.

    I also like Fouts in the booth….

  48. 48.

    d. b. cooper

    Matt Millen is a significantly better General Manager than he is an announcer. I don’t understand the reverence for this guy from the powers that be, he was the worst analyst in the league when he left for Detroit (when that happened I was all “WTF? The guy’s a maroon”), he becomes the worst worst GM in the history of football, then BOOOM he finally gets fired and immediately gets two (count ’em, two) high profile jobs announcing FOOTBALL. I think this is football’s version of Wingnut Welfare.

    p. s. Gus Johnson should be the top play-by-play guy (Sunday Night Football, I guess), I never get to see his games and he’s so good.

  49. 49.

    justawriter

    I loved Howard if for no other reason than he drove the football players in my dorm nuts by using words with more than one syllable. I read his biography and he considered himself a journalist who happened to cover sports, and I can appreciate that. It really pissed him off that when the Munich Olympic hostage taking happened, ABC took him off the story.

    My favorite Howard MNF moment happened the year Tarkenton was the designated jock-in-the-booth. The Vikings only had one MNF game that year and Ahmad Rashad had been shut out for the first half. He finally had a ball thrown his way in the third quarter and Tarkenton is practically having kittens saying Rashad is the greatest receiver ever. Howard’s voice cut in like a knife:

    “But he dropped the ball, Francis.”

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