ESPN's KORNHEISER Gives Assessment Of MNF Performace

(From Sports Business Daily)

ESPN MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (MNF) analyst
TONY KORNHEISER in his WASHINGTON POST column today assesses his debut performance in the booth this week.

"I was pretty pleased that I hadn't made a fool of myself.
Of course, it's a long season and that will still happen.
Many times. But at least I got out of Game 1 without cursing or slandering anyone or getting into a kerfuffle with fellow analyst JOE THEISMANN or identifying Vikings Quarterback
BRAD JOHNSON as LYNDON JOHNSON or telling sideline reporter SUZY KOLBER on the air, 'I want to kiss you.'"

ESPN's MICHAEL WILBON during PTI yesterday told Kornheiser, "You were alright. I give you a solid C+."

Kornheiser -- "C+? Hey, you try broadcasting a game with Theismann's hand on your thigh."

Kornheiser later added, "It's hard to know when to come in.
You only get a couple of seconds to say anything. I was just pretty happy that I didn't throw up in the booth and I didn't sweat through my suit."

Wilbon later noted THE WASHINGTON POST's PAUL FARHI wrote a negative review of Kornheiser yesterday.

Wilbon -- "The weasel killed you."

Kornheiser responded -- "I'm ok with that. I think people should write what they want."

Despite those remarks, Kornheiser said earlier on ESPN RADIO, "I apparently got ripped in my own newspaper,
THE WASHINGTON POST, by a two-bit weasel slug named PAUL FARHI, who I would gladly run over with a MACK TRUCK given the opportunity. I understand I'm a public figure and I'm subject to review; I thought my own newspaper would be kinder and I wouldn't be backstabbed by this guy."

In Toronto, WILLIAM HOUSTON writes ESPN's MNF telecast "is an improvement over the old ABC shows and it's a livelier production than NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, which is new, but already seems long in the tooth."

Kornheiser is "knowledgeable and showed he's not afraid to mix it up with Theismann, who is underrated."

In Charlotte, LANGSTON WERTZ writes Kornheiser "was a hit on MNF. He played the EVERYMAN well, asking
Joe Theismann to explain silent snap counts."

In Orlando, JERRY GREENE writes Kornheiser "was OK but I found it hard to visualize any kind of chemistry between him and Joe."

In California, RANDY YOUNGMAN writes Theismann "talks too much," announcer MIKE TIRICO "likes to hear himself talk," and Kornheiser "is obnoxious" and "out of place in a broadcast booth."

Youngman -- "Is it too late to bring back DENNIS MILLER?"