Is it me or is MNF, still MNF?

[31smackdown]

OK... so there's the whole big hoopla and change going on where the Sunday night game is supposed to be the new "Primetime" game and essentially replace MNF in some capacity...

So now it's Monday and I'm thinking.. MNF is still MNF.. it's still the only game in town.. I don't care if you can only get it on ESPN.. people will still be going out to sportbars, eating wings and drinking beer and talking about just one game on Tuesday..

Maybe it will turn out to be different or feel different somehow during the season as they steal the "big game" for Sunday night, but right now the Browns can be playing the Saints and I'm still watching it, along with other "NFL" fans that just want to watch football.

Thoughts?

 

[Alexander]

It won't be the same for me.

I am a traditionalist. Taking it off the networks ruined it for me. I am very much against taking games off free television. You just haven't lived if you haven't watched a Monday night game with rabbit ears.

And I am not even going to get into the Joe Theismann issue.

 

[theogt]

Being too young to remember only having the Networks, there is really no difference to me between network and cable.

 

[1fisher]

It won't be the same for me.

I am a traditionalist. Taking it off the networks ruined it for me. I am very much against taking games off free television. You just haven't lived if you haven't watched a Monday night game with rabbit ears.

And I am not even going to get into the Joe Theismann issue.

Boy does that bring back memories! There was a time when I only had a black/white television set and it would only pick up 6 channels! 3-5-13-24-7-10

 

[Doomsday101]

Boy does that bring back memories! There was a time when I only had a black/white television set and it would only pick up 6 channels! 3-5-13-24-7-10

Yep in those days I was the remote control.

 

[31smackdown]

I guess that's what I'm interested to see... if Sunday Night Football will now take on the persona of MNF... and vice versa. The fact that the Sunday night audience can be much more universal may be the factor that changes that, as you mention.

I agree with the announcers being.. um..subpar

I wonder what percentage of households have ESPN?.. Living in a big city you get the perception that almost everyone has it.. but maybe that's far from the truth.

 

[Seven]

It won't be the same for me.

I am a traditionalist. Taking it off the networks ruined it for me. I am very much against taking games off free television. You just haven't lived if you haven't watched a Monday night game with rabbit ears.

And I am not even going to get into the Joe Theismann issue.

Here, here, young man. I'm 100% with ya on this gig.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

OK... so there's the whole big hoopla and change going on where the Sunday night game is supposed to be the new "Primetime" game and essentially replace MNF in some capacity...

So now it's Monday and I'm thinking.. MNF is still MNF.. it's still the only game in town.. I don't care if you can only get it on ESPN.. people will still be going out to sportbars, eating wings and drinking beer and talking about just one game on Tuesday..

Maybe it will turn out to be different or feel different somehow during the season as they steal the "big game" for Sunday night, but right now the Browns can be playing the Saints and I'm still watching it, along with other "NFL" fans that just want to watch football.

Thoughts?

If I had it my way, every game would be on at 1pm on Sundays. Makes it much easier for me. I personally like watching Sunday Night games much more than MNF. The crowd on Sunday nights really seems to be amped for the game whereas on MNF you've got people coming off a day of work to go back tomorrow morning.

And with all of the supposed financial problems ABC had with MNF, I'm not sure why they just don't get rid of MNF altogether....unless they plan on switching the kickoffs to 7pm EST.

Rich........

 

[Alexander]

If I had it my way, every game would be on at 1pm on Sundays. Makes it much easier for me. I personally like watching Sunday Night games much more than MNF. The crowd on Sunday nights really seems to be amped for the game whereas on MNF you've got people coming off a day of work to go back tomorrow morning.

And with all of the supposed financial problems ABC had with MNF, I'm not sure why they just don't get rid of MNF altogether....unless they plan on switching the kickoffs to 7pm EST.

Rich........

I think by the time the next network contract comes up, you might see that as more games will go to the NFL Network and they will see that Monday Nights just don't work without good commentators. People used to tune in to MNF in the 1970s because it was quality entertainment with controversy (Cosell) and humor (Meredith). Gradually it eroded until Madden, who is at least entertaining.

Unless Kornheiser can do something, a colossal bore like Tirico and an arrogant airhead like Theismann will run everyone off in due time.

 

[bobtheflob]

I just think it's funny how both NBC and ESPN are claiming to be carrying on the MNF tradition. NBC because it's a major network doing a primetime game with the same broadcasters that did MNF, and ESPN because it's actually on Monday night. I'll still watch both like I did last year, but I'm sure I'll enjoy Sunday nights more because of Joe T. It just sucks that I don't have Tivo anymore to record Family Guy and watch football.

 

[Derinyar]

With this particular crew I doubt I'll watch anything but non home Cowboy games that hit MNF. I do think that the NFL needed to allow for some movement on the Sunday night and Monday night games. The biggest problems they have is that frequently they have had games on them that just don't matter to anyone.

 

[Stash]

I think by the time the next network contract comes up, you might see that as more games will go to the NFL Network and they will see that Monday Nights just don't work without good commentators. People used to tune in to MNF in the 1970s because it was quality entertainment with controversy (Cosell) and humor (Meredith). Gradually it eroded until Madden, who is at least entertaining.

Unless Kornheiser can do something, a colossal bore like Tirico and an arrogant airhead like Theismann will run everyone off in due time.

I couldn't agree more!

NBC has put together a top-notch team for having just one game per week.

ESPN on the other hand, has put together a "B" quality team for their games.

How Theismann still has a job of any kind in sports astounds me, much less getting the Monday Night gig!

It's like ESPN just used what they had on hand rather than attempt to put together a good group.

After they "traded away" Al Michaels, they didn't even try....

 

[Doomsday101]

I still love MNF and have never watched it because of who is in the booth. It is always nice to have a game to look forward to after a long monday

 

[silver]

it wont be the same. living in mexico, the only feed that i'll get on espn by my mexican cable provider will be in spanish. and that my friends, will not be the same however you wannna call it, wether you're a tradiotionalist or not. simply put, i will miss monday nights. all i know is that i'll get my mnf fix on sunday nights and will prolly miss the monday night version of espn en español.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It won't be the same for me.

I am a traditionalist. Taking it off the networks ruined it for me. I am very much against taking games off free television. You just haven't lived if you haven't watched a Monday night game with rabbit ears.

AMEN, brother!!!

I'm a big fan of broadcast TV. I remember many a Monday night when working at my typical college menial type job where there was a TV, but the boss certainly wasn't paying for cable TV. But because the game was on ABC, I was able to watch it.

And there's just something cool about being able to being able to set up a TV anywhere you want -- in the garage, on the patio on a nice night, in a home gym, on a boat, wherever -- and get the game. Now, it has to be on cable.

It wasn't such a big deal for the Sunday night games, because we'd had a full day of NFL earlier in the day and a lot of those matchups weren't great ones anyway. But Monday Night is still a big deal IMO, and I hate having to have a cable or dish hooked up to the TV to get it.

 

[1fisher]

Yep in those days I was the remote control.

that's funny..... I was too...

and I was the one that had to go outside in the rain and freezing cold weather to turn the antenna!

clothes hangers and aluminum foil would sometimes get us another channel or two!

 

[Alexander]

And there's just something cool about being able to being able to set up a TV anywhere you want -- in the garage, on the patio on a nice night, in a home gym, on a boat, wherever -- and get the game. Now, it has to be on cable.

It wasn't such a big deal for the Sunday night games, because we'd had a full day of NFL earlier in the day and a lot of those matchups weren't great ones anyway. But Monday Night is still a big deal IMO, and I hate having to have a cable or dish hooked up to the TV to get it.

I agree on both points.

I have never got into Sunday night games because usually by end of the second game, I am pretty much mentally exhausted, especially if the Dallas game is a late game.

 

[31smackdown]

living in mexico the only feed i'll get on espn by my mexican cable provider will be in spanish

Well... how does that even count.. don't most people in Mexico watch it in Spanish? I understand your point though and I'm sure a lot of international viewers will have the same issues.

I still love MNF and have never watched it because of who is in the booth. It is always nice to have a game to look forward to after a long monday

I agree with this. Sunday and Monday night have been pretty similar to me over the last few years.. Sometimes I wouldn't watch a Sunday night game unless it was really good because I just watched football for the last 10 hours straight and didn't mind watching something else. Whereas Monday nights I could watched a so so game because it was better than watching anything on the networks at that time and it had been 24 hours since the last game. It will be interesting to see the Monday night line up... I don't really expect them to put 24 on against MNF.. Maybe Grey's Anatomy though..since that trends towards the female viewer I think..

As bobtheflob put it..

It just sucks that I don't have Tivo anymore to record Family Guy and watch football.

 

[Alexander]

Maybe Grey's Anatomy though..since that trends towards the female viewer I think...

I would not admit this if I were you.

Now, drink a case of beer and eat some red meat so you can feel like a man again.

 

[Angus]

Aside from the personalities in the booth, the players will still be eager to play on Monday nights, I believe, because they will expect all the players of all the other teams to be watching. Their's will be the only NFL show in town.