Al Michaels' inappropriate anti-Kerry comment

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Anyone who periodically or regularly or infrequently watches football knows that turning down (OK, off) the sound when Madden and Michaels call a game is nothing short of necessary.

But last night? Last night was the Patriots, I'm a New Englander, it was the opening game of the NFL season, etc. - and this time we got a bit of the unexpected.

Allow me to set the stage. Within two minutes of late 4th quarter game time, the plays went like this:

Patriots fumble
Colts recover
Colts fumble
Patriots recover

Madden: "Now that right there, that's what I call a flip-flop."

Michaels: "Well, we're in the right state for that."

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

It's called color commentary, and it was a topical joke.

― Huk-L, Friday, 10 September 2004 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Keep in mind that this is the same program that wanted to put Rush Limbaugh in the booth.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Ugh. I'm so tired of the fuckin' "flip-flop" tag, when Bush is the Dark Sith Lord of Flip-Flopping.

Fuck Republicans. Really.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

As someone from Massachusetts: It's not funny.

Secondly Al Michaels does play-by-play, not color commentary.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

TS: Political Comments from Sports Broadcasters vs Political Comments from Pop Stars?

― Huk-L, Friday, 10 September 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I got these arms and legs they flip flop flip flop

(while Kerry was asking for it by pretending he didn't go along with a lot of that post-9/11 Bush bullshit, I am annoyed that people who probably don't even get WHY the term is being thrown around are just using it cuz its fun to say "flip flop")

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

t/s: "flip-flop" vs. flop

― dean? (deangulberry), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

OH come on, you joyless tart! that comment is pretty witty.

― mcd (mcd), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Flip-flops are also sometimes called thongs.

― Huk-L, Friday, 10 September 2004 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Keep in mind that this is the same program that wanted to put Rush Limbaugh in the booth.

Don't get me started on my pet theory that found, lo and behold, the Patriots win the SB in improbable fashion in the wake of 9/11. Was it a great game? Sure. Did I lose my sh*t when they won? Sure. Is it a heavy-handed coincidence?

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

he's really not a political guy

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Al's a total nouveaux-riche wannabe, but I'm not so sure he whether he votes Republican or not. I think he was probably just pissed that the game was a push.

― Reed Moore (diamond), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Witty? No, I'd call it contrived. Additionally, as to whether I want my pop tarts or sports broadcasters making political points - is neither an option?

Let me put it another way: Shut up and sing or give me the play-by-play.

Shocker: For some people (I'm afraid I may not be alone in this...), sports is escape.

So f*ck no, when I'm watching mindless football I needn't be reminded that Al Michaels is a card-carrying asshat.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post w/ gabbneb

ok so yeah maybe he does vote GOP

― Reed Moore (diamond), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the political content of that joke lies in the tone and inflection, so I can't really comment on it much, not having heard it. It seems fairly innocuous though.

― dean? (deangulberry), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:23 (twenty-one years ago)

If you can't see tits during football, you shouldn't have to listen to dicks.

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

jesus christ, nader. yr a nutjob. if the bush admin hired mike martz, MAYBE yr theory would have some weight.

and wtf, democrats? are you as joyless and sad-sacky as the gop claims or what?

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

PS, Gabbneb - nice find!

Name, Occupation, Employer
Mr. Alan Michaels
Broadcaster
A.B.C. Sports

Contribution
George W. Bush
$2,000

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

oh come on LENO could have thought that one up, yancey. stop acting like we're ignoring some roffltacular thing here.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Tone and inflection were pretty low-key and off-the-cuff. The game was brilliant, by the way, although I got the distinct impression that neither broadcaster was quite up to game speed.

― briania (briania), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

since he donated $2K to Dubya, I would've expected him to say something worse.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

how am i acting like that, anthony? i'm saying that yall = PUSSIES for bitching about this. i can understand not wanting to hear yr (and my) guy get subtly slammed in that context, but if this is where our righteous ire is going, we're in trouble. i think yall have been reading the nation too much.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm saying the comment was inappropriate, is all - please note the title of thread.

Maybe if the "flip-flopping" were true, factually true, not subjectively spun and repeated until it became true, I'd jump on the woe is me DNC bandwagon, but it's not - it's all spin, all the time and during my football - yes, MY football game - it's inappropriate.

I didn't invite Michaels into my home for spiteful comments. I wanted football and instead I get more of the contrived RNC party line crapola.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:30 (twenty-one years ago)

until air america starts broadcasting sporting events, i think yr s.o.l., nader. did you realize that many of the players you root for might actually be -- GASP! -- REPUBLICANS?!?! turn it off turn it off!!!

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, it took you two whole comments to challenge our manhood (assuming we're all men).

Not at all a RNC dirty at all.

Good on ya.

You fucking twat.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I think its perfectly valid to groan about evidence that "flip flop" is a phrase that's going to reach mass cultural saturation over the next two months. Next time you encounter a non-verbose Bush supporter I'm guessing they'll drop the phrase within two sentences. It's fun to say. Flip flop.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think it's as silly as those "OMG Kerry's not a REAL Red Sox fan because he beefed Manny's name" comments. Plus c'mon during that Sunday Night Baseball broadcast John Miller was TOTALLY kissing his ass, so if Al wants to get a tiny shot at him (without mentioning his name - so I bet that 70% of football fans watching last night missed it), it's fine with me.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

You know what I find the most problematic about the Republican platform? They're all hands off my gun and money, but when it comes to politics? Let's see if I can't compromise the liberty of your body (abortion) or your freedom of religion (let's see if can't start one more Crusade), need I go on?

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

(without mentioning his name - so I bet that 70% of football fans watching last night missed it)

this is true

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost - no, you needn't go on, most ILXors are perfectly aware how creepy the Republican agenda is.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

What I can't stand is that their platform seems to based on quips.

xxpost

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

totally agreed, anthony. and the same could be said for every dem candidate for the last 20 years (it's the gop's standard fall-back plan). if al michaels could swing an election then sure, i'd be prank calling don ohlmeyer right now. but he can't. he's a good announcer that no one gives a shit about and not much else.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

And in re: Mike Martz in the Bush administration? I believe he still has a job, genius. And making a helluva lot more than he would as public official.

It's a pet theory. I'm not writing a f*cking book about it.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

You know what? You're right. It's not like Al Michaels started a chant of "four more years" or questioned Kerry's bravery in combat. Come to think of it, it was appropriate.

My bad.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

haha nader you are a caricature in this thread. my martz comment was simply that he blew that game for the rams, thus if the pats winning was a gop snow job then bushco must've been behind his hiring. you are being waaaaaaaay too serious about this.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

This is what you're spending time bitching about? That Al Michaels made a little jokey comment in a football game? Gimme a break.

― mcd (mcd), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

and by the way, nader, i am 100% democrat

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

for what it's worth, mike martz may need a job soon

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

During a nationally-televised football in Massachusetts? Yes. I'm bitching about it.

But I guess if Boomer starts doing lines on camera during a nationally televised Texans' game and says, "Well, when in Rome..." - then I've got nothing to bitch about.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Personally, I find Al Michael's comment 1,000 times more relevant than the last 10 songs that your iPod played, but you know, maybe that's just me.

― dean? (deangulberry), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

* Michaels'

― dean? (deangulberry), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

That's nice, I'm 100% independent.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard that Al Michaels brings his own silverware with him wherever he goes.

― Reed Moore (diamond), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

yance otm esp. re: martz

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm 100% freak nastie

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

heh why would the GOP set up a TAXACHUSETTS team to win in '01? Even back then it was patently obv. that Kerry was gonna run, not to mention surprise candidates later (isn't crazy Wes Clark a Pats fan?).

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i hope your all 100% into getting an assault rifle on monday.

― zappi (joni), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

In the context of football, or any major sport, where I'll bet the vast majority of the players/coaches are gonna vote for Bush, it's no surprise.

also:

http://i.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/dr_z/01/12/insider/p1_martz_ap.jpg

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/040226/n_ebert_passion_040226.275w.jpg

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 9 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

nabisco you woulda hated cosell

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

either that or his right eyebrow came loose and he's holding it in place.

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

haha not nearly as bad as Cosell re: "look at that little monkey run!"

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:59 (twenty-one years ago)

come on, people are at least as stupid as we always like to imagine, no?

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:59 (twenty-one years ago)

mike martz and dick cheney are neck and neck in the "smuggest white man" race.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

whether or not his remark was appropriate, and regardless of the magnitude of its inappropriateness, you don't win by playing defense. you win by responding with offense.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

ncaa basketball tournament round table, circa 1988:

dick schapp: and how about seton hall?

howard cosell: IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SETON HALL BASKETBALL, YOU MUST TALK ABOUT THE FIGHTING NATION OF ISRAEL. STILL FIGHTING AFTER FORTY-FIVE YEARS! [turns to lesley visser] AND YOU, MY DEAR, ARE A TREASURE.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

actually gabbneb you win with defense in football, but i take yr point

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

from the "awkward announcer moments" thread on ILB:

Bob Brenly during a spring training, Cubs vs. Giants, him and Thom Brenneman.
THOM: Some man in the crowd just yelled out "I love you!" to Will Clark.
BOB: Well, the Giants are in San Francisco.
lengthy pause
THOM: Popped it up.

Harry Caray during a Cubs-Dodgers game. Nomo on the hill.

HARRY: There are a lot of people with slanty eyes in the crowd today.
leeeeeengthy pause
STEVE STONE: (awkward change of subject)

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:03 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost - then why do the Bears always suck, blount?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

true fact: 30% of match game episodes feature howard cosell as the punchline (runnerup: gerald ford - 18%)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

o like the bears d is all that stence cmon

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Urlacher, dude! He's the second coming (of what I have no idea).

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

blount otm. case in point: the kansas city chiefs.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

HONOR TEH FIRE

http://images.nfl.com/photos/img6923397.jpg

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Butkus, they say, but the Bears weren't all that hot then either right?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, Batman, riddle me this:

The Patriots, the worst-to-first team of "destiny," rattles off a lop-sided win against Pittsburgh and an improbable "tuck rule" win against the Raydizz - on its way to the first post-9/11 Super Bowl, during which the "greatest show on turf," loses on turf, when up-until-that-game coaching "genius" Martz makes gaffe after gaffe.

I realize that politics and corporate America are wholly and entirely mutually exclusive. I just found it an interesting coincidence in light of the aforementioned.

But do I have any basis in fact? No more than the RNC has of John Kerry being a thong.

It was just something that made me smirk when I thought about it.

I'm sorry, was I the one going off the deep end? Or was it the fellows taking me seriously?

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

not this year they won't (re: chiefs)

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

get the pentagon truck bomb in there, nader, and i'm with ya

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

dude, TAXACHUSETTS.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

cheif's d is supposedly upgraded. we'll see.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean wouldn't the Rams winning be revenge for Ashcroft losing to a dead guy (even more then being made AG)?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah cowher not coming thru in the playoffs that's real improbable nader

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

plus space alien Kurt Warner is totally GOP-worthy Xian right material!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

hahahaha did STEELTOWN USA losing happen after the tariffs?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

cinniblount, one word, "tuck rule"

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

two words: "al davis"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

THREE WORDS: touche.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

the more i think about nader's theory, the more it makes sense:

tom brady = rumored gop-lover, michigan alum (SWING STATE!!!), pretty boy
kurt warner = christian (religious right firmly in hand), wife's haircut suggests possible lesbian

antowain smith = houston alum (already hometown favoritism), former buffalo bill (how bush got tim russert to softball him in that oval office interview)
marshall faulk = san diego state alum (fuck cali), double running-receiving threat (ie FLIP-FLOPPER)

ram = pagan icon
patriot = USA! USA!

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Stence, you made me go all momentarily misty with the Easterbrook shout-out. Speaking of "inappropriate."

― briania (briania), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I have nothing to "be with," Yancy - nothing to offer here, just idle speculation that sometimes - just sometimes - it appears the fix is in.

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

easterbrook is at nfl.com now, don't forget. his season preview columns were grebt!

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

man i was hoping slate would bring him back, still in mourning over that

xpost - k-yay: is he doing tmq or some variation still?

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

A fix in professional sports, now that is crazy talk.

(*pops another Levitra*)

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

The intervening years have certainly proven that Martz is a bit of a dumbass, and Belichick is a genius.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

tmq, same as it always was. and yeah, slate was totally the best forum for him. nfl.com link

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah Easterbrook, wow. So smart and yet sooooo stupid.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I had no idea TMQ was back. I don't really pay attention until after the World Series.

― briania (briania), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm up for suggestions that Dubya got Saudi-owned War Emblem to win the Kentucky Derby. Then again, the Prince claimed on the post-race that he was "more popular than George Bush" and died of a heart attack six months later...

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

that's pretty minor when it comes to Ahmed bin Salman conspiracy theories

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Then how the hell did the Yankees lose to the desert team in the 2001 World Series?

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

placating McCain, duh.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

whose wife prolly has the beer distributorship lockdown on Bank One Ballpark!?!???

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Did someone say all sports were fixed?

Maybe I'll have another look up-thread...

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

For as much sh*t I gave and received for running up my freak flag - what's wrong with bringing attention to this?

Isn't it a sad state of affairs that "flip-flop" has become an acceptable (vs. inappropriate) part of the (sports?!?!) vernacular?

― nader (nader), Friday, 10 September 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to listen to Tony Kornheiser's radio show on ESPN. Whenever Michaels was on, he invariably managed to talk about how his taxes were too high, and give little anti-Dem jabs.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Friday, 10 September 2004 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Did Karl Rove Plan Leak of Alleged Forged Documents to 60 Minutes?

In 1999, St. Martin's Press published a critical biography of Bush titled "Fortunate Son". The book quoted an unnamed "high-ranking advisor to Bush," who revealed Bush's 1972 drug bust. The source told author J.H. Hatfield, Bush "was ordered by a Texas judge to perform community service in exchange for expunging his record showing illicit drug use."

Hatfield later revealed that his source was none other than Karl Rove. That might seem ridiculous, considering Rove's lifelong loyalty to the Bushes and the fact that he now has an office adjacent to Bush's in the White House. But leaking the story to Hatfield essentially discredited the story and sent it into the annals of conspiracy theory. Soon after the book was published and just as St. Martin's was preparing a high profile launching of the book, the "Dallas Morning News" ran a story revealing that Hatfield was a felon who had served time in jail. In response, St. Martin's pulled the book.

Wow. Almost sounds as crazy as the deeply-pocketed NFL clearing a path for the Patriots in the wake of 9/11.

Almost.

― nader (nader), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Did y'all see Condi Rice cold kicking it in Carolina on Monday?

― Reed Moore (diamond), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

He went to a football game? Good for him! I knew the shoulder pads in his blazers meant more than met the eye.

― nader (nader), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't get it.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

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