ABC's current plan for the revamped "MNF" calls for a
"return to the three-announcer format," with Bill Parcells
and 49ers QB Steve Young as "the men ABC hopes" to join Al
Michaels, according to sources of CBS SportsLine.com's Len
Pasquarelli. One source: "It's their dream team and they
will go hard to make it happen" (SportsLine.com, 3/9). But
FSN's Keith Olbermann notes Boomer Esiason's comments about
the unrest at ABC and warns Young: "If Boomer's right,
Steve, it sounds like it might be safer for you on the
field" ("Fox Sports News," 3/9). CNN/SI's Peter King,
noting the Parcells/Young speculation: "ABC says it wants to
create a happening on TV, the way the Monday night game was
a generation ago, yet they're after two guys who respect the
game so much they'll never rip the people in it, the way
Howard Cosell and Don Meredith did so often" ("Sports
Tonight," CNN/SI, 3/9). In St. Petersburg, Ernest Hooper
suggests ABC hire "an outsider who wouldn't be an apologist
for the players but who would have enough knowledge of and
respect for the game to be informative." Hooper noted that
the "magic" of "MNF" has "eroded for a number of reasons,"
including the fact that "the proliferation of nightly sports
highlight shows has taken away much of the broadcast's
status as a national showcase" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/10).
In Riverside (CA), Evan Tuchinsky writes the "best call" for
ABC is to hire Jimmy Johnson and Young: "Johnson is fiery
and opinionated, Young articulate and thoughtful" (Riverside
PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 3/10).
OHLMEYER FEELS IT MAY FIT...: In DC, Leonard Shapiro
notes that new "MNF" Exec Producer Don Ohlmeyer wants to
bring a "sense of unpredictability, a sense of danger" back
to "MNF." Shapiro: "Could he possibly be considering his
old pal O.J. Simpson, a man he still defends and an 'MNF'
alum? Maybe it's Hall of Famer Jim Brown." Shapiro, on
speculation that has Parcells and Johnson as possible
replacements: "Let's hope not. We're talking about two
disingenuous men, both of whom have had a history of
promoting their own agendas." Shapiro writes that talk
radio "might provide candidates, though some are clearly
flawed. You hope and pray Jim Rome is not on the list."
Shapiro notes that WFAN's Mike Francesa's "cozy relationship
with people he covers is a minus," but adds that Francesa
"is a lightning rod of controversy and clearly knows the
game." Shapiro writes that former CBS announcer Sean
McDonough "could do a basic, no-frills, play-by-play.
Michaels would be the main opinion guy ... and Steve Young
would handle the football stuff" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/10).
In N.Y., Mark Kriegel notes Ohlmeyer's return: "Guess that
means he'll be hiring back his old pal O.J." (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 3/10). In L.A., Tom Hoffarth wrote on ABC's Katz
bringing back Ohlmeyer to rejuvenate the "MNF" franchise:
"Katz' scheme isn't to go in a new direction but to dig up
an old one; build it not with lightweight fiber but old mud
and clay" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/9).
