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Al Michaels removed from NFL playoff coverage by NBC, surprising him. No one has called more Super Bowls

M

Mikey Radio

NBC removes Al Michaels from NFL playoff coverage​

sports.yahoo.com

NBC removes Al Michaels from NFL playoff coverage, per report

Former "Sunday Night Football" commentator Al Michaels is out at NBC.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
NBC is reportedly parting ways with legendary broadcaster Al Michaels ahead of the NFL playoffs.
The 79-year-old was unaware that his role was in jeopardy last month, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported Tuesday.
Michaels reportedly said he believed that he was still going to call a postseason contest on NBC, but did not know who else would be working.
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Michaels is heralded as one of the greatest play-by-play announcers in American sports history. After working for ABC from 1976-2006, he joined NBC as the voice of “Sunday Night Football.”
He lost his Sunday role to Mike Tirico in 2022. NBC gave Michaels an emeritus title after replacing him.
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When the playoffs begin Jan. 13, NBC will roll out two broadcasting teams for its four games. Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will work three games. College football broadcasters Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge will call the other.
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His absence from the playoffs will mark the end of a storied run, as no one has called more Super Bowls on television than he has. Michaels and Pat Summerall are tied with 11 assignments to the NFL’s biggest game.
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Curious. I thought he had already left, and that's why he went to Amazon for TNF.

Perhaps this role was just to fulfill the terms of his contract.
 
Mikey Radio said:

NBC removes Al Michaels from NFL playoff coverage​

His absence from the playoffs will mark the end of a storied run, as no one has called more Super Bowls on television than he has. Michaels and Pat Summerall are tied with 11 assignments to the NFL’s biggest game.
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Interesting how they keep on referring to Super Bowie as even if he was still doing playoffs on NBc the Super Bowl is on CBS this year.
 
he's 79, he's not getting younger, NBC pretty much is forcing him to retire, now Amazon Prime Video needs to get someone younger to call their Thursday Night games.
 
Will_H_69_9 said:
he's 79, he's not getting younger, NBC pretty much is forcing him to retire, now Amazon Prime Video needs to get someone younger to call their Thursday Night games.
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Like many older announcers, he's lost a little off his fastball. It's unfortunate that legends like Michaels have to be nudged toward the exits, but a strong voice is not all that's needed to remain in the sportscasting spotlight. Today's sportscaster have to handle a lot of statistical info and terminology that wasn't even around 30 years ago, not to mention staying current on ever-shifting rosters in 30-team (or more) leagues. They also have to constantly shill for their employers and the advertisers far more they used to, interview non-sports celebrities in the booth, tell sappy human interest stories about inspirational athletes, update sports or pop culture references so they don't sound like dad or granddad. No wordplay based on Beatles or Supremes lyrics, no references to lesser-known sports stars of bygone decades, etc. There's also self-monitoring to do: avoiding any words or idioms that may whip up social-media outrage. It's all a very different business than it was back in 1980.
 
CTListener said:
Like many older announcers, he's lost a little off his fastball. It's unfortunate that legends like Michaels have to be nudged toward the exits, but a strong voice is not all that's needed to remain in the sportscasting spotlight. Today's sportscaster have to handle a lot of statistical info and terminology that wasn't even around 30 years ago, not to mention staying current on ever-shifting rosters in 30-team (or more) leagues. They also have to constantly shill for their employers and the advertisers far more they used to, interview non-sports celebrities in the booth, tell sappy human interest stories about inspirational athletes, update sports or pop culture references so they don't sound like dad or granddad. No wordplay based on Beatles or Supremes lyrics, no references to lesser-known sports stars of bygone decades, etc. There's also self-monitoring to do: avoiding any words or idioms that may whip up social-media outrage. It's all a very different business than it was back in 1980.
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Didn't ESPN sort of do this to Chris Berman? His observations and references were obscure to anyone under 40. I recall they took him off Sports Center NFL highlights before he was ready to go.

The days of Pat Summerall, Frank Gifford, Verne Lundquist, John Madden, Don Criqui and others are sadly over. Michaels has aged out in the networks view. It's all about Fan Duel, Draft Kings and Taylor Swift now.
Quality doesn't matter. I find Troy Aikman and Chris Collingsworth to be unlistenable. They are simply very poor broadcasters.
Yeah, Get off my lawn...😑
 
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tbolt909 said:
Didn't ESPN sort of do this to Chris Berman? His observations and references were obscure to anyone under 40. I recall they took him off Sports Center NFL highlights before he was ready to go.

The days of Pat Summerall, Frank Gifford, Verne Lundquist, John Madden, Don Criqui and others are sadly over. Michaels has aged out in the networks view. It's all about Fan Duel, Draft Kings and Taylor Swift now.
Quality doesn't matter. I find Troy Aikman and Chris Collingsworth to be unlistenable. They are simply very poor broadcasters.
Yeah, Get off my lawn...😑
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Aikman and Collingsworth are ex-players, who rarely measure up to broadcasting pros in play-by-play skills. Gifford and Summerall did, but their smooth professionalism was a bonus. Their primary purpose was to provide a former NFL player's perspective on NFL football. You should be comparing Michaels and the other greats you mention to current network play-by-play men like Mike Tirico and Ian Eagle, or the even younger voices who are replacing the old guard on NFL radio, or on the local TV and radio networks of the other big league sports. In fact, Tirico and Eagle are in their fifties, which means they'll be facing the same pressures that Berman and Michaels faced in another 15 years or so, depending on their health and mental sharpness.
 
Greg Goodfellow said:
Doesn’t Ian Eagle have a son following in his father’s footsteps?
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Noah. Yes he works for NBC and was mentioned in the article linked in the OP.

When the playoffs begin Jan. 13, NBC will roll out two broadcasting teams for its four games. Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will work three games. College football broadcasters Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge will call the other. Eagle, 27, will also be featured on Nickelodeon’s "SpongeBob SquarePants" telecast of the Super Bowl.
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"Al Michaels Removed From NBC NFL Playoff Coverage, Surprising Even Him"
Fixed your headline.

No idea why people like long headlines with too much detail
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
"Al Michaels Removed From NBC NFL Playoff Coverage, Surprising Even Him"
Fixed your headline.
No idea why people like long headlines with too much detail
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Probably because, like many others, I post items and comments I think will be of interest to others here and don't get too caught up in the small stuff that often don't matter..Unlike yourself who's often overly critical and condescending toward others on this site, while being overly sensitive and defensive when one dares joke about things you've posted.
 
CTListener said:
Like many older announcers, he's lost a little off his fastball.
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Sad but true. Last time I heard Al Michaels call an NFL contest, it was obvious he'd slowed a bit.
I recall there was one announcer for an NHL hockey team up north I used to follow. He was beloved for years by the fans in that city and when he was pulled off TV by the RSN there, many revolted and were vocal about it. The following season he transferred to that team's radio network. A few years ago I was listening to SiriusXM and they were carrying a game he was calling. As a long-time fan from his younger days it was a bit sad to listen - it was obvious he'd slowed and lost much of the energy and excitement he once had for the game, and wasn't as quick on his toes. He probably should've bowed out gracefully and gone out more or less on top when the RSN gave him the hint.

tbolt909 said:
The days of Pat Summerall, Frank Gifford, Verne Lundquist, John Madden, Don Criqui and others are sadly over. Michaels has aged out in the networks view. It's all about Fan Duel, Draft Kings and Taylor Swift now.
Quality doesn't matter. I find Troy Aikman and Chris Collingsworth to be unlistenable. They are simply very poor broadcasters.
Yeah, Get off my lawn...😑
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True. That said, I'll miss hearing him just like I miss hearing some of the others. Something about walking into a sports bar, ordering a beer and some wings and hearing a familiar voice like theirs in the background. Somehow makes it feel that all is right with the world, lol.
 
Tom Brookshire and Pat Summerall were a very good broadcast team. Madden later was paired with Summerall. Dick Enberg was another quality football announcer. The game is different now and I would say not better. The Replay system and the officiating process is absurd. In the 70s, they just played and didn't dwell on every play. Now you have to wait for a flag on almost every big play...
 
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