Pft: Tafoya, Kolber Out At MNF

[Bob Sacamano]

Kolber is still kinda HOT..

oh hell no

 

[WoodysGirl]

ESPN ADDRESSES MNF SITUATION
Posted by Mike Florio on February 10, 2008, 6:09 p.m.

ESPN has issued a statement in response to our report that Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber have been dumped from the Monday Night Football broadcast.

“Michele and Suzy will still be assigned to our multiplatform Monday Night Football presentation, including the game, pre-game and post-game,” the statement says. “Their precise roles are currently being determined.”

Also, we’ve been told by an ESPN spokesperson that Tafoya and Kolber will continue to travel to the site of each game.

So what does any of this mean? Clearly, something is up. Otherwise, there would be nothing about their roles to “determine.” Also, ESPN might be holding out hope that they opt to give up their assignments to MNF, so that in the end it will appear that they weren’t removed from the team.

Said one of our sources in response to the statement, “It’s bull**** . That’s all I can tell you. Utter bull****. They are no longer sideline reporters.”

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MEDIA TYPES UP IN ARMS OVER MNF MINI-MASSACRE
Posted by Mike Florio on February 10, 2008, 4:57 p.m.

The big buzz on the first Sunday after the end of the football season (the Pro Bowl doesn’t count) is the decision of ESPN to drop sideline reporters Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber from the Monday Night Football team.

Several rumors are flying. These are not hard news items, but only rumors.

First, we’re hearing a rumor that the duo initially were asked to voluntarily step aside, and they were told that if they didn’t their use during games would be dramatically limited. They decided not to quit, and instead of merely having their face time cut during broadcasts they were dumped.

Second, there’s a rumor that ESPN management wants to make the broadcast booth work at all costs, and the belief was that dumping the sideline reporters would help.

Third, and contrary to the notion that the move was about not diluting the work of the booth, there’s a rumor that Andrea Kremer of NBC (and formerly of ESPN) and/or Jay Glazer of FOX could be pursued to handle the in-game journalism role, which frankly neither Tafoya nor Kolber really actually served.

Fourth, there’s a rumor that Tony Kornheiser doesn’t care for Suzy Kolber, and a belief that their relationship played a role in the move.

We’re also told that there is “outrage” among on-air types regarding the treatment of Tafoya and Kolber.

Stay tuned for more.

 

[ilovejerry]

We need this woman. Ratings would friggin skyrocket!!!

:abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: :abuseme: ray: ray: ray: ray: ray: ray: ray: ray: ray: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :eyepoke: :eyepoke: :eyepoke: :eyepoke:

I like your taste DanTanna

 

[SuspectCorner]

We need this woman. Ratings would friggin skyrocket!!!

"There's a large front moving in from the north..." - h***, I'd watch the weather religiously... what channel?

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

We need this woman. Ratings would friggin skyrocket!!!

Methinks I'm in love...okay, maybe just lust!!!

 

[YosemiteSam]

We presume that Chris Berman will express his own regrets by sending Michelle and Suzy a bottle of Chardonnay that is cheaper than it tastes.

I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer Chardonnay's that are cheaper than they taste. More value at less cost is always a good deal in my book. What I hate is spending a bit extra and getting garbage in return.

Supply and demand can easly make bad wines expensive and good wines cheap. Of course that can make great wines in short supply break the bank!

 

[Teague31]

kornheiser doesn't like kolber? sounds like he made a play for her and got rebuffed with extreme prejudice.

 

[DCfaninDC]

The problem is not the reporters or analysts as much as it is the the games they pick for MNF. They had the Saints and Atlanta one night thinking it is going to be as good as the one they had in NO.

The same thing is going to happen this year. They will pick games based on this years performance not taking into account that team can actually improve.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Kolber is still kinda HOT..

Yeah... if like that sorta thing... a woman with the face of a rat.... didnt someone say she prefers muff instead of stuff?

 

[coogrfan]

The problem is not the reporters or analysts as much as it is the the games they pick for MNF. They had the Saints and Atlanta one night thinking it is going to be as good as the one they had in NO.

The same thing is going to happen this year. They will pick games based on this years performance not taking into account that team can actually improve.

I disagree. The problem lies in the fact that ESPN seems to think that it's still the 70's. They are trying to continue ABC's approach of making MNF a "show" in the hopes of attracting casual viewers. It stopped working for ABC a long time ago, why do they think it will work any better for a cable sports network?

Enough with the 3 man booth, b-list celebrities, etc., etc.. They should just treat MNF like they do any other football broadcast.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I disagree. The problem lies in the fact that ESPN seems to think that it's still the 70's. They are trying to continue ABC's approach of making MNF a "show" in the hopes of attracting casual viewers. It stopped working for ABC a long time ago, why do they think it will work any better for a cable sports network?

Enough with the 3 man booth, b-list celebrities, etc., etc.. They should just treat MNF like they do any other football broadcast.

Well if they really want to ***** it out then they should have Brittney or Paris as the sideline reporters and get Ryan Seacrest and Carson Daily and whoever else to go into the booth.... that will make the like everything else..... its about EVERYTHING.... no niche or originality

 

[DCfaninDC]

I disagree. The problem lies in the fact that ESPN seems to think that it's still the 70's. They are trying to continue ABC's approach of making MNF a "show" in the hopes of attracting casual viewers. It stopped working for ABC a long time ago, why do they think it will work any better for a cable sports network?

Enough with the 3 man booth, b-list celebrities, etc., etc.. They should just treat MNF like they do any other football broadcast.

Maybe, but I still think that the main problem is the game sellection.

I could not force myself to watch Saints @ Falcons, or Dolphins @ Steelers, or the Bills who have not been doing well for years to host the Patriots.

I have to admit though, I can't stand all the extra garbage they try to shov down my throat. That stupid "Field Pass" thing or the teams at 20 BS that is so repetitive and boring. I especially hate that dude Scott, the lazy eye one. After his "rap" incident, he lost all credibility as far as I am concerned.

 

[vta]

Am I the only one not so bored with the product that I'm not distracted by the goofs in the booth?

I honestly couldn't tell you who was in the booth this year, except for Madden and Michaels, or where Kolber and Tafoya were (Sunday or Monday?)

I'm paying attention to the game and the rest is background noise.

 

[coogrfan]

Maybe, but I still think that the main problem is the game sellection.

I could not force myself to watch Saints @ Falcons, or Dolphins @ Steelers, or the Bills who have not been doing well for years to host the Patriots.

I have to admit though, I can't stand all the extra garbage they try to shov down my throat. That stupid "Field Pass" thing or the teams at 20 BS that is so repetitive and boring. I especially hate that dude Scott, the lazy eye one. After his "rap" incident, he lost all credibility as far as I am concerned.

The problem with blaming game selection is that there isn't much ESPN can do about it. MNF is no longer the league's showcase game, that distinction now belongs to NBC's sunday night package. That means that NBC gets first dibs on the best games.

With the schedules made months in advance ESPN has no way to know whether or not a matchup that looks good in April will still be appealing come November. The league isn't likely to extend it's flex scheduling policy to monday games, because of the tremendous disruption it would cause for teams, fans, etc..

The only thing ESPN can control for certain is the look and feel of the broadcasts themselves. They've chosen to attempt to recreate the "jock vs non-jock" chemistry that ABC had during the Meredith-Cosell era. All they've done is to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kornheiser-Jaws ain't Cosell-Meredith.