ESPN Opens "MNF" Telecast With Barry Sanders-Voiced Segment

ESPN's "MNF" telecast last night opened with an intro featuring Pro Football HOFer Barry Sanders in the spot that for the last 22 years had been occupied by Hank Williams Jr.'s musical intro. ESPN "showed clips of Detroit scenes – kind of reminiscent of Chrysler's Super Bowl commercial, without the Eminem soundtrack – and the Lions," while Sanders provided a voice-over. Sanders' vocal track featured the lines, "Right now for the Lions, life is good. But like this town, they won't rest. They'll work, they'll sweat, they'll fight" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/11).
 
WWJ-CBS’ Tony Ortiz wrote, “The Barry Sanders/MNF opening gave me chills. Very well done by ESPN.” ESPN Radio 1050 N.Y.’s Bonnie Bernstein wrote, “@BarrySanders narrating ESPN's open for #MNF: Simple. Powerful. Classy. #HankWho.” SI’s Richard Deitsch wrote, “Attention, Jay Rothman and Norby Williamson. Everyone is saying this. RT @judybattista Much better opening, MNF.”