Posted on Sun, Feb. 05, 2006
ON TV
Michaels not broadcasting anything about his plans beyond Super Bowl
BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
There's intrigue, mystery and uncertainty about today's Super Bowl.
And that's just in the broadcast booth.
As ABC prepares to televise its final NFL game for at least six years, the overriding media story has been the future of Al Michaels, who has been as evasive as a politician in his public comments.
Last July, Michaels decided to accept ESPN's eight-year, $32 million bid to work Monday Night Football games instead of NBC's $3 million-a-year offer to call Sunday night games. But after signing the ESPN contract, Michaels has had a change of heart and wants to join NBC, according to published reports and several industry officials.
The only question is whether ESPN management will give him permission to escape his contract. Many in the industry expect Michaels to end up at NBC, but Disney officials and Michaels aren't speculating -- certainly not before today's game.
On a conference call last week, it was more telling what Michaels did not say than what he did say. He did not say he expects, or prefers, to be at ESPN next season. He did not dispute rumors of his interest in NBC.
''I'm under contract for next season at ESPN,'' Michaels said. ``It's a measure of respect that I don't want to become any sort of an issue. I'm not going to be a party [to] anything remotely distractive to our crew. I may sound like the state department here. I can't respond to rumors, because that would become a distraction. There's a lot of stuff out there.''
Michaels then went on to heap lavish praise on ABC's John Madden, producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff. Each of those three will move to NBC, and Michaels appears eager to join them. At NBC, Michaels would be able to work two Super Bowls over the next six years, plus a wild-card playoff game each season. At ESPN, he would not do any playoff games.
'When John and I first started, there were some people who [said], `How's that going to work?' '' Michaels said. ``I think the last four years speak for themselves. I've never enjoyed working with anyone more than John. It has been phenomenal. We came up with a perfect combination with the two of us.''
Said Madden: ``I've been here four years. They've been four of the most enjoyable years I've ever had in football.''
Whether Michaels sticks with Madden next season or not, one thing is definite: ABC's 36-year association with the NFL ends tonight.
''I hope we can wrap it up with a perfect telecast and double overtime,'' Michaels said.
• On the game, Michaels said, ``I didn't think I would live long enough to see a No. 6 seed in the Super Bowl and be the favorite over the No. 1 seed. I find that to be astonishing.''
Said Madden: ``Pittsburgh has changed from a running team to a passing team. It will be interesting to me to see how Seattle plays that. Seattle is a better team than they're given credit for. At one time, they had bad defense. They dropped a lot of balls. This Seattle defense is a good defense.''
• ABC/ESPN executive Norby Williamson, on the logic of televising simultaneous pregame shows on ABC (2:30-6 p.m.) and ESPN (11 a.m.-5 p.m.): ``The [ESPN] audience is not going to be anywhere close. It's not going to hurt the ABC pregame show. We're really going to go deep with X's and O's [on ESPN]. For an ABC audience, there are different levels of fans that are coming there.''
ON TV
Michaels not broadcasting anything about his plans beyond Super Bowl
BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
There's intrigue, mystery and uncertainty about today's Super Bowl.
And that's just in the broadcast booth.
As ABC prepares to televise its final NFL game for at least six years, the overriding media story has been the future of Al Michaels, who has been as evasive as a politician in his public comments.
Last July, Michaels decided to accept ESPN's eight-year, $32 million bid to work Monday Night Football games instead of NBC's $3 million-a-year offer to call Sunday night games. But after signing the ESPN contract, Michaels has had a change of heart and wants to join NBC, according to published reports and several industry officials.
The only question is whether ESPN management will give him permission to escape his contract. Many in the industry expect Michaels to end up at NBC, but Disney officials and Michaels aren't speculating -- certainly not before today's game.
On a conference call last week, it was more telling what Michaels did not say than what he did say. He did not say he expects, or prefers, to be at ESPN next season. He did not dispute rumors of his interest in NBC.
''I'm under contract for next season at ESPN,'' Michaels said. ``It's a measure of respect that I don't want to become any sort of an issue. I'm not going to be a party [to] anything remotely distractive to our crew. I may sound like the state department here. I can't respond to rumors, because that would become a distraction. There's a lot of stuff out there.''
Michaels then went on to heap lavish praise on ABC's John Madden, producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff. Each of those three will move to NBC, and Michaels appears eager to join them. At NBC, Michaels would be able to work two Super Bowls over the next six years, plus a wild-card playoff game each season. At ESPN, he would not do any playoff games.
'When John and I first started, there were some people who [said], `How's that going to work?' '' Michaels said. ``I think the last four years speak for themselves. I've never enjoyed working with anyone more than John. It has been phenomenal. We came up with a perfect combination with the two of us.''
Said Madden: ``I've been here four years. They've been four of the most enjoyable years I've ever had in football.''
Whether Michaels sticks with Madden next season or not, one thing is definite: ABC's 36-year association with the NFL ends tonight.
''I hope we can wrap it up with a perfect telecast and double overtime,'' Michaels said.
• On the game, Michaels said, ``I didn't think I would live long enough to see a No. 6 seed in the Super Bowl and be the favorite over the No. 1 seed. I find that to be astonishing.''
Said Madden: ``Pittsburgh has changed from a running team to a passing team. It will be interesting to me to see how Seattle plays that. Seattle is a better team than they're given credit for. At one time, they had bad defense. They dropped a lot of balls. This Seattle defense is a good defense.''
• ABC/ESPN executive Norby Williamson, on the logic of televising simultaneous pregame shows on ABC (2:30-6 p.m.) and ESPN (11 a.m.-5 p.m.): ``The [ESPN] audience is not going to be anywhere close. It's not going to hurt the ABC pregame show. We're really going to go deep with X's and O's [on ESPN]. For an ABC audience, there are different levels of fans that are coming there.''
