A Page From the Past

For one night, at least, it was as though the fabled Monday Night Football of my youth was back, vibrant and thrilling.

Then, it was Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford and Don Meredith providing a wonderful verbal overlay to games that were often exciting, if only because they seemed a little more special on Monday night.

Last night, it was the threesome of Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser supplying the words while the New England Patriots, in search of a perfect season, banged heads with the Baltimore Ravens.

Tirico and Co. have developed brilliantly this season, so much better than Al Michaels and John Madden on Sunday nights. Kornheiser, in particular, has one of those verbal motors that just never shuts down and keeps tossing out smart, witty stuff. He's a sportswriter, too, and believe me, we never speak too kindly of one another. But in this case, it's unavoidable - Kornheiser is just that good.

So you have the personality, the smarts and the information in the booth, and on the field, the Pats and Ravens delivered a marvellously flawed game. Kornheiser kept using the term "tragic inevitability" to describe the sense that while the Ravens led the game into the final minutes, it just always seemed the Patriots would win in the end.

Which they did.

From one angle, it made you think these guys will, in fact, be able to put together the first perfect NFL season since the '72 Dolphins. From another, piled on top of last week's narrow escape against the Eagles, you wondered if the Pats are getting closer and closer to losing, showing a new wart every week.

"I think the "S" has kind of been ripped off their shirts," said Baltimore cornerback Corey Ivy.

Maybe. The Steelers, who blitz almost as much as the Ravens, are next up, followed by the Jets, Dolphins and the New York Giants.

It's hard not to feel that everybody in football, outside the Pats and their fans, want them to lose one of those games. Watching New England defensive back Rodney Harrison taunt Baltimore head coach Brian Billick during last night's game - Billick responded by blowing kisses - just gave a lot of people another reason to dislike the terrific and terrifically arrogant Patriots.

The NFL, to me, just seemed too tough for any team to go unbeaten, but now, even I'm starting to wonder if New England will pull this off.

This much seems true. They're showing a few holes these days, and you have to wonder if there's a possibility that they could be perfect in the regular season, but then exposed in the playoffs.

If only MNF did the post-season.

Comments

[J. Boyd]

Just getting Joe Theisman out of there was improvement enough.........

[Jimmyboy]

I'm kind of betwixt and between on these guys running the table. On the one hand you'd like to see them knocked off their perch at least once because they ARE good enough to strut and back up their arrogant attitude on the field; on the other hand, you've got those annoying keepers of the Dolphin flame (such as a giggling Don Shula last night, as a case in point) that break out the champagne when somebody else's perfect season is torched.

[Don]

I think it generates interest in the NFL. Heck, I'm gonna tune into watch the Patriots lose one of those 4 games, or win those 4 games.

[chris]

The way New England played these past two Sundays, they were fortunate to come away with victories over two mediocre sides. Pittsburgh might just have the best opprotunity to deny the Patriots a perfect season this weekend. If not, they might just run the table, considering they play the gawdawful Jets and even more gawdawful Miami.

And Damien, you should consider making yourself avaliable as a substitute co-host on Pardon The Interruption. You'd be great butting heads with Kornheiser and Wilbon (and LeBatard) like you used to with McCown on Prime Time Sports.

[mark]

Love the way the media has turned the Patriots into 'arrogant'. Pick one team out of the NFL who doesn't have at least one or two guys on their roster who doesn't showboat when they do something on the field to warrant attention? The media loves to knock people/teams off their perch and can't wait to see the mighty fall. The media (not the Pats) is also guilty of constantly talking about the perfect season. Every Pat without exception has had the exact same response to the media posed questions about 'the perfect season'. We want our record to be 1-0 in the next game. The thing is, this isn't just agent trained/coach reinforced media 101. These guys are actually sincere when they say 'we play one game at a time'. The more I read about their perceived arrogance, the more I want them to succeed. As the saying goes...it ain't boasting if you can back it up. I'd add this: they aren't boasting...so it's really special if they succeed.

[Stu Royal]

Interesting that you slightly knock Madden and Michaels, Damian. Often, it seems that they receive kudos just for having been around for so long, and so entrenched as part of the NFL fabric. I haven't heard the Sunday Night crew this year, but I much prefer the Sunday afternoon tandem of Dick Enberg and Randy Cross to Monday's M and M. Just superb.

Enjoy the blog
Regards,
Stu Royal
Brampton

[bd]

Have you completely lost your mind? You may both be sportswriters but I guess androgenetic alopectics stick together. What else you have in common is that your effluence is more about yourselves than the subject you're covering.

Kornheiser makes Dennis Miller look informed yet quiet and understated. He makes MNF almost unwatchable.

I agree with the football content of your post, but comparing this MNF crew to Cosell? Get some fresh air.