Maybe, finally, a decent MNF game !
I will post my winners here soon.
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Maybe, finally, a decent MNF game !
I will post my winners here soon.
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Some critics turned thumbs down after Hank Williams Jr. began opening Monday Night Football telecasts in 1989 with his rowdy musical question: "Are you ready for some football?"
A St. Petersburg Times article asked, "What's with this Hank Williams Jr. opening each and every show with a bunch of apparently semi-soused yahoos yelping in the background?"
... ... ...
The idea clicked.
The network went to Williams' manager. Toms says the manager responded, "Hank's an American. He likes the NFL."
Williams was on board.
Adds Toms, "Little did we know Hank Williams Jr. is one of the all-time NFL fans."
Greenberg says he viewed it only as a summer thing. He felt people would tire of it. Then former ABC Sports president Dennis Swanson heard it.
"Swanson looked at me and said, 'I don't care what you think. You put it on the air, and you keep it there. It's got a good hook,' " Greenberg says.
Toms handled making the video and taping the lyrics.
So who wrote the line, "Are you ready for some football?"
Greenberg, who wrote some initial lyrics, says he's "99.9%" sure he did.
Williams' recollection? "I have no idea," he says.
Toms says, "We all collaborated on the song in many ways."
But he says he or Williams came up with the "Are you ready ..." line.
"I honestly don't know if it was me or Hank because we had faxes going back and forth every day with rewritten lines. It could have been Hank. It could have been me. For that matter, it could have come up while we were tracking (taping) the piece, and that might have been the way Hank sang it."
Adds Toms: "At one point Dennis Swanson said, 'Hell, I wrote the line.' I think he was kidding."
Temporary halt
In 1990 Williams won a TV Emmy for his efforts, the first of four Emmys the theme has brought him.
However, ABC dropped Williams for the '93 season and began each show with different performers, including Kiss, Jon Bon Jovi and Def Leppard.
But ABC brought Williams back for the final Monday Night game that season and a playoff game.
"It (the rotation) was very much a success," Greenberg says. "But at the end of the year, Dennis (Swanson) said, 'You know what? Nice campaign, but I miss Hank. Let's bring him back.' "
Of course, nothing is forever, especially on Monday nights.
"Hank and I have pretty much worked on this on a season-to-season basis," Toms says.
" 'Does Hank still want to do it? Do we still want to open up with Hank.' ... But so far it almost has become an anthem that as long as we keep it fresh, it seems to have a lot of legs."
Williams will attend Monday night's game at New England and perform live at halftime. He's a football fan, and he's made friends in the NFL. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre is among them. "We talk on the phone when the game is over about hunting," he says.
Says Williams: "It seems like sports and music go together. The jocks want to sing, and the singers want to jock. ... And thank God it never works out that way."
A month ago Gibson Musical Instruments gave Williams a custom-made guitar covered in official NFL football leather (bound with official laces).
So, Hank, are you ready for some football?
"Shoot yeah!" he says. "Let me put it that way: I don't do soccer."Comment -
What I want to know... WTF was ESPN thinking using Pink to open Sunday Night Football ?
I fucking cringe when I see her opening act.Comment -
I've loving the steam on Indy
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can u just give your opinion on the game...Comment -
I'm a drama queen. LOLComment -
Originally posted by BuddyBear
Leaning Under 1st half & Cincy +3.5 for gameComment -
who's that guy in your avitar Sam?Comment -
Tom Hanks as Captain John H. Miller shootin' at the tank before he diesComment -
hey it's nearly empty in here, when's everyone coming?Comment -
They're waiting on me to officially release my bets so they can fadeOriginally posted by Checkerboard
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I was wondering when the line would finally go to 3.5.Comment -
I got some at Matchbook -106Originally posted by gummoComment -
Waiting to get Un28Comment -
Ditka likes Cincy.
Coach Ditka On:
His underdog pick of the week. Last week, Da Coach went with the Saints (+7) over the Cowboys. New Orleans won by 25. Ditka's Dog of the Week is now 10-2-1. This week, he likes the Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) over the Indianapolis Colts.Comment -
*** OFFICIAL *** Sammy Says
Cin +3.5
Un28 1st Half
Good LuckComment -
Shhhh . . . national anthem.Comment -
WHOOOAAAAAA !!
Late $$ pounding IndyComment -
LOL Manning = "Buttercup" LOL
Old dude just called Peyton a Punk
.Comment -
All lines moving Indy's way!Comment -
I liked the under, but missed out on it. I will try to catch some in the live betting.Comment -
why the hell did cincy call timeout - stupid shitComment -
I got under 54.5 +109 in live betting. So Im on the under, lets get alot of punts.
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Originally posted by Sam Odom
See
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wow what a game changer dont call TO and your probally score now you give indy good field position LOLComment -
Stupid stupid stupidComment -
just think after marvin called the TO he had to be kicking himself thinking WTF did i just doOriginally posted by Sam OdomComment -
Could've been way worse for Under bettors - could easily be 7-7 about nowComment -
running over the colts but noooooooooo, time to throw nowComment -
I will settle for a 10 point 1st period. This thing could of started faster then it did. So that result will be cool with me.Comment -
3-3 end 1st
Waiting for the bomb to blow thoComment -
You and me both. You have to think the surge of scoring will come soon. I just hope I can survive it. I want to see that clock running at all times.Originally posted by Sam Odom
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looks like it's about ready too samOriginally posted by Sam OdomComment -
hold to a FG here would be a dreamComment -
Reality check... LOL
Need another 6min cincy driveComment
