Will not be calling playoffs. At age 79 I think it’s time . About a month ago during one game he sounded like he lost his dentures.
Was one of, if not the …best ever. Quite the career.
Was one of, if not the …best ever. Quite the career.
Al Michaels out at NBC Sports
- Thread starter The Spin Meister
- Start date
"Meanwhile, NBC is very high on Eagle and Blackledge following their first season calling the Big Ten. The duo will have NBC’s call of the Steelers and Bengals on Dec. 23. That day, Tirico and Collinsworth will be in the booth for the Bills and the Chargers that is exclusively on Peacock."
nypost.com
Al Michaels out of NBC’s NFL playoff coverage in move he wasn’t expecting
The legendary Al Michaels is out of NBC’s NFL playoff coverage, The Post has learned, and the move apparently caught him off guard.
nypost.com
He made one fatal mistake, he criticized the constant panning of Taylor swift a few weeks ago on live TV.
Because of their two game losing streak the Chiefs have decided to make a change.
https://babylonbee.com/news/after-back-to-back-losses-chiefs-replace-taylor-swift-with-selena-gomez
I think Al is still pretty sharp, but he’s getting quite loose with some of his comments. With all due respect to all the other great play by play guys over the years, I think Al is the best to ever do it.
I would love to know that. How do they decide? Unless Al has slipped badly, even if they didn't want him back in 2024, you'd think they'd say "This is Al Michaels swan song, tune in to hear his last game" and then they might get a ratings tweak that way. He's got to be their highest profile broadcaster or if not then very close to it.
Could it be a money thing? I read he gets $1 million per game. Maybe they can plug in a guy getting $100 K per game and save $900 K.
He apparently has another year on his contract with Amazon Prime for Thursday night games. I don’t think he had called any games on NBC these last two years, but was going to be called in when NBC has more than one game in coming weeks. NBC just had Sunday night football and I guess the one crew of Tirico & Collingsworth.
There is obviously some way to evaluate all these guys that is beyond me. There are probably subtle finer points of the craft that you don't notice unless you are in the biz. On the surface all of these national broadcasters seem very professional so for me it is hard to differentiate between them.
Al is so good he has reached iconic status (think Keith Jackson) and has had so much staying power that it makes me wonder if it is not the technical part of broadcasting but more about control. They get some lesser name in there who some egotistical Exec producer can boss around and to your point save a ton of money without losing ratings then they make the decision.
It's been 43+ years since Al Michael's "do you believe in miracles" classic call from the USA -- USSR Hockey game in the Winter Olympics. It was a great call and it's been a great career for Michaels.
At a point, it's time to leave the stage.
At a point, it's time to leave the stage.
OldiesAtTheGaff
Well-Known Member
You really think they’re going with Eagle and Blackledge so they can “boss them around”?
Seems like NBC needs a crew for one game…they’re going with their college crew that’s worked all season and will adjust to the NFL, rather than putting Michaels out there with a new partner. I’d probably rather Michaels and whoever, but seems like people were underwhelmed by Michaels/Dungy last year.
For a network like NBC, we can offer the perfect man from Fox to replace Al Michaels -- the upwardly mobile Gus Johnson.
OldiesAtTheGaff
Well-Known Member
Just seems odd that there is no home for Al at NBC now. What about Tirico and Collinsworth? Yes, a producer can influence an Eagle to their way much easier than Al. Maybe Al is getting more difficult to work with as he is older. Has Blackledge everv done an NFL game?
NBC has two games that weekend…Tirico will cover one, and Michaels thought he’d have the other one (as his only game for NBC all season).
Eagle and Blackledge are on a game next weekend too when NBc has two games. Not sure if Todd has done any regular season NFL games, but he’s definitely done preseason games as a color guy.
I am sure they do post game analysis of the announcers every week. Did he miss cues to commercials? Miss the spotters in the truck on a replay? Use the wrong names for players? Talk too much or not enough? And a dozen more criteria.
About a month ago he did a game and at one point his speech was really slurred, like his dentures were lose or something. He didn’t seem as sharp as he was in the past. But that was one game….maybe he was fighting a cold or something.
Seems they could have handled this better. The guy is an icon and deserves a curtain call. Or two.
Agreed but he's 79 years old. I have to believe the travel can be tough. I don't have any scorecard but he's been spotty. As you said, I watched a game where he sounded really bad. Then, more recently, he's been just fine. But the studio is investing a lot ($1m a game, as I understand it) and has a lot to lose. Not only does he have to be good, he has to be good every single time. He seems to be inconsistent.
I saw this article, a couple of months old, where he was asked about retirement.
Al Michaels has strong feelings on retirement as criticism builds
Al Michaels can still do the job even if he sounds like he’s giving it 80 percent, but he should start having a retirement plan in mind.
nypost.com
Holy crap the Babylon Bee is funny. No wonder the powers that be are so scared of it and had to have Twitter censor it.
As a 79 year old, I walk 3-4 miles every day. I am dragging my butt as I walk into our garage. Every year, you lose a % of your energy. As you near 80, that % is greater every year. Time for AL to travel and see the world.Agreed but he's 79 years old. I have to believe the travel can be tough. I don't have any scorecard but he's been spotty. As you said, I watched a game where he sounded really bad. Then, more recently, he's been just fine. But the studio is investing a lot ($1m a game, as I understand it) and has a lot to lose. Not only does he have to be good, he has to be good every single time. He seems to be inconsistent.
I saw this article, a couple of months old, where he was asked about retirement.
Al Michaels has strong feelings on retirement as criticism builds
Al Michaels can still do the job even if he sounds like he’s giving it 80 percent, but he should start having a retirement plan in mind.
PS. I found a whole new avocation and ministry after I retired. Retirement should open new doors , not restrict your life.
Too funny - The next Headline was just as good: Harvard President Claudine Gay In Hot Water For Plagiarizing Large Sections Of 'Mein Kampf'
to me, everyone is different. I am sure Al enjoys the perks that come along with being at every major sports event in America and getting paid $1m to be there. But it appears that this decision is being made for him.
I read that the reason he was fired is that he didn't talk enough or wasn't excited enough for big plays - the things that I love. about him - with most. announcers, I can't hear myself think!
Corso's 88. Doesn't stop ESPN from propping that fossil up in front of a camera every Saturday for 3 hours.
Michaels was pretty good with Collinsworth about 6 or 8 years ago. Now they're both too political and Collinsworth thinks he gets paid by the word. I have the sound off for most games anyway. Most sports fans understand what's going on without these people's spin on it.
Michaels was pretty good with Collinsworth about 6 or 8 years ago. Now they're both too political and Collinsworth thinks he gets paid by the word. I have the sound off for most games anyway. Most sports fans understand what's going on without these people's spin on it.
..or Terry Bradshaw.
My guess is that they'd give Michaels as studio job, if he wanted it. but play by play has passed him by.
Now, don't get me started on those embarrassing Chris Berman halftime clips. Woop!
That was probably Al's mistake. In today's US culture you don't criticize Taylor Swift.
I agree but it also takes courage to let go and then see what and see what God has ub store for your sone people are afraid to let go.to me, everyone is different. I am sure Al enjoys the perks that come along with being at every major sports event in America and getting paid $1m to be there. But it appears that this decision is being made for him.
