Monday Night Football

Monday Night Football is a television broadcast of one of the premier National Football League games of the week. It airs live on the ABC television network in the United States on Monday nights during the NFL season, and is one of the most popular shows on American television, particularly among men. Monday Night Football (often informally abbreviated as MNF) is currently the second-longest-running prime time show on American television, after CBS's 60 Minutes.

1980s

One of the most memorable moments in Monday Night Football history occurred on December 8, 1980. During a game between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, Howard Cosell broke the news of famed Beatle John Lennon's murderhttp://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=oldies&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.995themountain.com%2Fguides%2Faahtml%2Fjohnaudio.html.

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December 8 - 1980 - Miami Dolphins - New England Patriots - Beatle - John Lennon

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Howard Cosell also drew criticism during one Monday Night Football telecast in September 1983, for refering to Alvin Garrett, an African American wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, as a "little monkey." Cosell left Monday Night Football shortly before the start of the 1984 NFL season, claiming that the NFL had "become a stagnant bore." In Cosell's book, I Never Played the Game, he devoted an entire chapter ("Monkey Business") to that particlar episode. Cosell claimed that it was an innocent ad-lib, and he stated that he even called his grandchildren "little monkeys" when he played with them.

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September 1983 - Alvin Garrett - African American - Washington Redskins - 1984

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In Monday Night Footballs first year without Howard Cosell, Don Meredith teamed with Frank Gifford and O. J. Simpson. Don Meredith's jokes arguably seemed bland because there was no Cosell there to balance him out. Meredith was subsequently exposed that season as a poor analyst because there was no Cosell to set him up. So after the 1984 season, ABC dumped Don Meredith. Joe Namath joined O. J. Simpson and Frank Gifford in the booth for the 1985 season of Monday Night Football, but Namath in particular, never seemed to be comfortable, or particularly talented, in this role.

Related Topics:
O. J. Simpson - Joe Namath - 1985

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The most watched episode occurred on December 2, 1985, as the previously unbeaten Chicago Bears were defeated at Miami by the Dolphins, who had not lost to an NFC team at home since 1976. The show gained a Nielsen rating of 29.6 with a 46 share. The highest scoring game in Monday Night Football history was a Green Bay Packers/Washington Redskins game from 1983. Green Bay won the game 48-47 with both teams combining for 95 points. The biggest blowout in Monday Night Football history was a 1986 Miami Dolphins/New York Jets game with Miami winning 45-3.

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December 2 - 1985 - Chicago Bears - 1976 - Nielsen rating - Green Bay Packers - Washington Redskins - 1983 - 1986 - New York Jets

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One of the most infamous and horrific moments in Monday Night Football history occurred on during a game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants on November 20, 1985, at RFK Stadium. Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann's career would end when Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor reached from behind to drag down Theismann and fell heavily on The Quarterback?s leg in the process. On the play, Theismann suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his lower right leghttp://washingtontimes.com/sports/20031110-122902-9456r.htm.

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New York Giants - November 20 - 1985 - RFK Stadium - Joe Theismann - Lawrence Taylor

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In 1986, Al Michaels, who had previously anchored ABC's pre-game coverage of Super Bowl XIX, took over for Frank Gifford as the play-by-play announcer. Gifford was bumped to the color commentator spot for one season before him and Michaels were joined by Dan Dierdorf. The trio of Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, and Frank Gifford lasted until the 1997 season, when Gifford was replaced amid an extra-marital affair.

Related Topics:
1986 - Al Michaels - Super Bowl XIX - Dan Dierdorf - 1997

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After two decades of rotating soley between CBS and NBC, the Super Bowl began to be included with ABC's Monday Night Football contract. ABC was awarded the rights to Super Bowl XIX and Super Bowl XXII. The regular Monday Night Football announcing team would anchor the telecast.

Related Topics:
CBS - NBC - Super Bowl - Super Bowl XIX - Super Bowl XXII

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