The move for Chris Berman to step down as the host of ESPN's NFL shows after this year's Super Bowl in many ways is an "end to a sports television era," according to a front-page piece by Jeff Jacobs of the HARTFORD COURANT. Berman on Thursday said, "I'm OK with this today. I'm good with it." Berman's new multiyear deal will see him stay at the net in a reduced role, and he said, "I'm not soured, nor would I ever sour on the job. Of course, I'll miss (the weekly NFL rush), but I'll still be here" (HARTFORD COURANT, 1/6). In Miami, Barry Jackson noted Berman characterized his changing role "as a joint decision" between he and ESPN. Berman: "Part of me is sad. When you first hear it, you wonder. But as it played out, I am really at peace with it. We started talking quietly that at the end of this coming season, maybe it’s time for me to do (this). They never came and said you’re too old." He added, "Am I going to miss it? Yes. Because I still enjoy doing it and I still think I’m pretty good at it. ... I'm leaving but I'm staying. I'm still going to do quite a bit of football" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/6). Berman appeared on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" Friday morning, with co-host Mike Greenberg saying Berman "absolutely influenced multiple generations of young sports broadcasters.” Berman said of his early days at the net, "I was a product of an opportunity that was unique, and when you’re on at 2:30 in the morning, you might as well throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks. Things like nicknames or ‘Back, Back’ or ‘He could go all the way’ -- these things stuck. I wasn’t trying to be Lewis and Clark, we were just trying to get a foothold so we weren’t blown away by the wind. ... It was primitive but it was fun. You were doing sports” ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 1/6).
BOOM MIC: In Boston, Chad Finn writes Berman's "enthusiastic style -- which included frequent nicknames for players and the inclusion of song lyrics in his commentary -- was fresh and innovative in its early years." He "became one of the most recognizable and popular personalities during ESPN’s ascent from a small cable network to a media superpower" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/6). SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy noted for a new generation of NFL fans, Berman and former "NFL Primetime" co-host Tom Jackson "brought the league and its stars alive the way Howard Cosell did on the halftime highlights" on ABC's "MNF" broadcasts (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 1/5). YAHOO SPORTS' Jay Busbee wrote Berman's "whoops, yelps, and cornball nicknames were an essential part of every broadcast" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/5). In Albany, Pete Dougherty writes Berman "has been a constant ... for those of us who remember the infancy of ESPN." He has his "share of critics, a horde that grew as the ESPN audience became younger." But Dougherty writes, "It would be hard to find a more genuine person in sports broadcasting. His on-air demeanor isn't any different than what you see away from the cameras" (Albany TIMES-UNION, 1/6).
EVERYBODY LOVES CHRIS: Many on-air and Twitter tributes to Berman came from current ESPN personalities. Trey Wingo, who has been rumored as a candidate to replace Berman in some of his roles, said, "The fantastic growth of this company can be directly attributed to Boomer. ... You simply cannot tell the history of ESPN without a heaping, helping, rumbling, stumbling, bumbling slice of Chris Berman” ("NFL Live," ESPN, 1/5). Bill Polian said Berman is the “face and voice of cable sports television." Polian: "There was no one like him before he came along, there’s been no one like him since, and he really made his mark and made cable TV a major player because of his talent” (“NFL Insiders,” ESPN, 1/5). Field Yates said, “No Sunday night during an NFL season was complete until ‘Sunday NFL Primetime’ ran on your television.” He added an NFL highlight called by Berman "is unlike any other highlight, perhaps in any sport” ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 1/6).Rob King: “The admiration and affection I have for Chris Berman can't appropriately be expressed in 140 characters. No way. Boom, you're a treasure.” Stephen A. Smith: "What an Honor it is to call this man a colleague. Thanks for all you've done for us at ESPN Buddy!" Britt McHenry: "Berman was welcoming from Day 1. Encouraging when locker room stories weren't easy or popular Will miss saying 'Morning Boom' #TheBest." Jeremy Schaap: “I've always loved working with Chris Berman. Warm and larger than life--a rare exacta.” Kevin Negandhi: "Boomer and TJ on Primetime was so ahead of its time. They changed how highlight shows were done."
FROM AROUND THE DIAL: Keith Olbermann wrote on Twitter, "I've worked with them all in sports and news and for all his foibles I've never met anybody less affected or less affected by success. Still generous to his juniors, never condescending, subtly teaching, always worked his ass off, loved being him. … I hope your innovation and joy in your craft is celebrated forever.” NFL Network's Scott Hanson: "Big respect to #chrisberman - remarkable run! Helped shape entire industry. NFL Prime Time = must watch for me during formative yrs." Campus Insiders' Bonnie Bernstein: “Legend & always wonderful to me” (TWITTER.com, 1/5). NFL Network’s Rich Eisen said, “I just want to say thank you, Chris, for doing it the way you did it and showing folks like me who grew up watching ESPN, dreaming of being on ESPN essentially because of the way Chris Berman brought fun and pop culture references, in his own way with nicknames, to sports” (“The Rich Eisen Show,” Audience Network, 1/5).
CONVERSATION STARTER: Staff writer John Ourand, who broke the story on Berman’s new role, talked to him Thursday from Bristol. Click here for our exclusive conversation.
