5 Ways To Improve ESPN's Monday Night Football Broadcast

As a youngster, football was something our whole family watched. Whether it was Saturday or Sunday, my daddy had his football “schedule” for the weekend and well, we all abided by it. But watching football on Monday night was a privilege. Chores were done. Homework was complete. We were bathed and in pajamas in record time.

Watching football at night with my daddy was a treat.

ABC\'s NFL Monday Night Football is not only the longest-running and most successful primetime sports series in television history, but it has also become a way of life. On any given Monday evening, more than 50 million Americans -- at home, in bars, in restaurants and dorms -- adjust their social and business schedules to view the telecast.

Monday Night Football first burst onto the airways on September 21, 1970 as the Cleveland Browns played host to the New York Jets, but that was not the beginning of the concept. The National Football League earlier had begun to explore the possibilities of primetime football, initially with CBS and NBC. However, not wishing to disrupt their primetime entertainment schedule of the "Doris Day Show" and "Laugh-In," respectively, they declined the NFL\'s offer.

When ABC finally received the proposal, the imaginative Roone Arledge, then president of ABC Sports for the network and currently chairman of ABC News, seized the opportunity and was able to win over his more skeptical colleagues. Thus Monday Night Football was born.

Once he finalized the contract, Arledge had to convince a primetime audience that Monday Night Football was more than a game. It had become a pulsating show, combining outspoken journalism with abundant dashes of entertainment. His first decision was to create a visual and technical tour de force. While most Sunday games at the time were using four or five cameras, ABC would employ nine, including one sideline and two hand-held cameras.

Arledge created the broadcast team of Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Don Meredith, Monday Night Football\'s first broadcast team. When play-by-play man Jackson became the voice of ABC\'s College Football after Monday Night Football\'s inaugural season, Frank Gifford assumed the role and was a mainstay on MNF telecasts for 28 years.

Over the years, the MNF steam has slowed. Dennis Miller, Tony Kornheiser and other “gimmick” announcers have ruined the flow and ruined the style. Maybe sensibilities and changing demographics have weighed on the concept, but it just does not have the pizazz it did when I was growing up some 30-plus years ago, but in its 44^th season could be better if it was tweaked a bit.

Here are some general ideas for improvement.

THREE FEMALE BROADCAST BOOTH

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could watch three pretty women on the television set who know a little something about football? We make such a big deal about sex appeal and “hot” sideline reporters, it would be an ideal change of pace to see someone like Alex Flanagan or Jenn Brown or Jillian Barberie leading the charge. There is nothing sexier than a woman talking a little football.

BRING IN MARK SCHLERETH TO THE BOOTH

“Stink” is great as a commentator. I like it when former players get on network television or the four letter network and not only explain the nuances of the game, but add a little insight to situations as they used to be involved in them. One of the great things a Michael Irvin or Ray Lewis does is make you feel like you are there, Schlereth is great at telling a story.

ADD JAWS BACK TO THE BOOTH

I was pissed off when ESPN reassigned Ron Jaworski and he was taken off the Monday Night lineup. His insight is some of the best we have ever seen. I know Jon Gruden is the “quarterback” guru, but “Jaws” is a former NFL quarterback who knows a thing or two about playing the game. I have always thought Ron Jaworski would be an awesome quarterback coach. His knowledge is indispensable.

PREGAME WITH TERRELL OWENS

He’s not doing anything and he is certainly entertaining. Everyone loves watching the train wreck in living color. Owens has been on Dancing with the Stars, had his own reality show and when the going got tough, he had a slew of reporters at his home when he decided he wanted to hold out at one point. Who knows – maybe he could add something to the football world.

A GAME CALLED BY FRANK CALIENDO

The man of 1,000 voices could impersonate Chris Berman or Mike Tirico or Chris Collinsworth and show us all a good time. There are times when comedy is the best medicine and when the ship appears to be sinking – as it is at times on MNF – Caliendo is the great elixir.