It’s been an interesting year for Al Michaels.long-standing voice of monday night football afterwards sunday night football Became Prime Video’s first voice thursday night football This past NFL season. Amazon was thrilled he got the chance to become an NFL broadcast partner, but it’s safe to say that this season’s games haven’t been must-see TV. Michaels bore the brunt and was forced to call out some of the biggest stinks and yawns of the year.
The 78-year-old certainly hasn’t been shy about sharing the many football and disdain he’s had to witness. It wasn’t as clear cut as the showdown of the day (to put it kindly). The snoozer in this game, which the Colts won 12-9 at Field Goal Fest, caused Michaels to call it a “farce” and ponder aloud.
Al Michaels: “Games are sometimes… very bad, but mostly good. You know what I mean?”
Kirk Herbstreit: “No! I don’t feel that way here yet!”
This was followed by a -5 yard Colts pass, then another Matt Ryan interception. ?? #TNF pic.twitter.com/PBROC4yF3G
— Terrible Announcement (@awfulannounce) October 7, 2022
Michaels appeared on Richard Deitch’s Sports Media podcast earlier this week and was pretty candid about what it’s like to call a schedule full of so many boring NFL games.
“I’ve been watching sports since I was six years old, so in terms of my life and career, I think I feel what audiences feel,” Michaels said. “Denver vs. Indianapolis in Week 4 was a terrible game. There is no other way to describe it. Is it possible that it’s actually a good game when it’s bad for you?” He had never heard it from his partner and said “No!”
Al added that he personally didn’t think he was being more critical this season than he was in years past, noting that MNF and SNF didn’t have to stink either.
“A lot of people said, ‘Al is bored, Al’s mad he’s doing this.’ It’s not. Monday night, Sunday night, I I’ve done this, maybe not to that extent, but I’m a fan, so I try to respond to the fans,” Michaels said.
That may be true, but Amazon’s suit probably wasn’t too thrilled to hear the lead announcer call out a prize NFL game for Snoozefest. It states that it has received only positive feedback and support. He also used a very funny metaphor to describe what it’s like to try and get people excited with bad football.
“From the people at Amazon, nothing but support,” said Michaels. “I think they understood what this was all about. We make the most of it. That’s what you’re asking me to do.I don’t give away used cars…. It’s like a game that was a bad game in the past and it’s kind of gone a little bit down the road.But this game is horribly bad What should I have done at that point and I left.
[The Athletic, Sports Media Podcast]
