This brings back the BEST memories of childhood! I was 9 years old in 1978 and my brother and I watched MNF while playing with our "SUPER TOE" NFL game... This is the Best MNF theme ever. SKOL VIKINGS.
This was the BEST MNF intro ever! What memories this brings back....Is there a download for this intro for cell phones? If so, please let me know where to get it. Thanks...
Funny how seemingly inconsequential music fires synapses and brings back fond memories. This ditty reminds me of junior high school homework. If I didn't finish it before 7:00 I might as well not bother because my mind would be occupied for the next 3 hours...
...what a great trio these guys were. All articulate, interesting, funny, and understated. Listen to the intelligence of Howard Cosell (RIP); the humorous, gentleness, and genuineness of Dandy Don (RIP), and the professionalism of Frank.
i remember this like life itself, my favorite all- time monday football opening, its has music, graphics and it is still powerful nearly 30 years later. A hell of a lot better than Hank Williams Jr's opening. I remember ths game considering I live in tampa.
Starting at 0:23 the lead guitar and horns, followed by the KILLER sequence of all of the NFL helmets gradually appearing with the matching music.....that stuff was freakin' awsome back then (still is).
Howard Cosell had actually found his hair piece in Mexico. It was made from the back hair of a choobakobra or whatever those damn thing are. He traded 3 pesos and a donkey show for it. The rest is history, like Custer and the indians; not the ones from India, they have dots on their foreheads not wigs.
My absolute favorite MNF intro...great horns and musical score. Sure, the graphics and effects are cheesy, but this was 30 yrs ago! Been waiting a long time to hear this again! Thanx for posting!
They used to travel all over years ago but the players got tired of plying the game at the end of the season. So they gave them all a free trip to play in Hawaii but still there are lot of players who don't play.
Most shocking quote from this video: "It's an important game to these players for another reason -- the proceeds go to the players' pension fund." (2:24) You would never hear that in this age of multi-million dollar athletes. Nowadays they have to hold the Pro Bowl in Hawaii just to get the players to show up.
Despite the fact that today's athletes make millions of dollars, the NFL players still earn a pension. If you play for at least 5 years, you're eligible for it.
Yes, I know there is still an NFL pension fund. That's not the point. The point is, Cosell was citing that as a reason why the players cared about the Pro Bowl. Obviously the pension money was important to them back then. But it's not any more -- at least not to the highly paid star players who go to the Pro Bowl.
Back then you had the same players on a team year after year and you got attached to them. Now, they have a couple of good years and they're off to another team. I rarely watch any more.
The NFL knows their league has become"watered down" so now they almost have to coax you into watching the games.The media hypes everyone up,but back then you knew you were watching quality players and a quality product.I find myself watching more and more old games and less and less of the season in front of me.This is good stuff.Kids you just don't understand why knowing these players are important.They paved the way for the prima donas we have today.I urge you to learn of NFL history.
I don't know what Howard was complaining about. I dug up the weather for that night and it was in the 60s for the entire game. Hardly chilly, even for Florida.
Classic! I attended the 79 pro bowl in Los Angeles at the Coliseum. Got lucky with seats on the 50 yard line courtesy of my cousin's company with season tickets to the Rams. After that, the pro bowl moved to Hawaii and has been there ever since.
I have been looking hard for this intro. Brings back memories of watching MNF with my late father when I was around 6-7 years old. Nice post my friend!
Man I am so partial to the old days. Nothing was sweeter than football during this time period. Free Agency, and now the talk of an 18 game season. That is crazy. Bring back the Oilers move the Colts back to Baltimore, the Rams back to L.A. but keep the Cardinals in Arizona.
Does anybody else remember when a guy hacked into the broadcast signal of MNF somehow and started calling Howard Cosell names like "ugly jew" on live t.v.? What year was that? Would love to see that on Youtube.
The problem was getting players to play in the Pro Bowl. That's why the NFL moved it to Hawaii; it's hard for the players to pass up a free trip there. But I remember those years....they'd rotate the game around the country. Funny to see players not wearing their "team helmets" too.
He was, I was just a kid when I heard Howard do the halftime highlights and I thought "who is this genius describing a football game like it was shakespeare"? he made watching a boring game more exciting, just listen to some of the drek that is out here today they could make the 2 best teams sound like Heidi!
I too would like to NFL broadcasts "as they happened" but, don't hold your breath. My theory is the NFL would rather show their sanitized, slickly produced homogonized film versions (just another way they control the "product") and I believe the league retains all rights to the game broadcasts not the networks. That's why you don't see acutal NFL broadcasts on ESPNC or anywhere else unlike NBA, MLB, NHL, Nascar, etc...
You mean they acutally aired the original broadcasts? Not the NFL films version? I wasn't aware since I'm a Time Warner Cable customer and they are still in that tug of war with NFLN.. I have to go to a sports bar to watch those end of season games NFLN runs..
Yep, the original broadcasts. Don't feel bad. I missed it too for we don't have NFL Network (which is now a Comcast premium channel)! The NFL Network went to court over Comcast because they didn't want it to be a premium channel (used to get it for free, not no more). Unfortunately, Comcast won the case and that ultimately sucks.
Where is Captain Midnight when we need him the most?
The NFL is still fighting with Time Warner here .. they even tried to get the state legislature involved, but no luck. The league wants NFLN right next to ESPN, but TWC wants us to have to pay extra. I would be happy with it on the digital tier along with SPEED and the soccer channel. But, you know the Cable Co's are still cranky becuase they didn't get a piece of the "Sunday Ticket" Pay per view action that's only on Direct TV.
How come the annual Pro Bowl moved from to Tampa to Hawaii? When did that happen? I know the '78 event was held in it's 2nd in Tampa, when was it held the first time?
I think Howard answered that question for you when he referred to a chilly January night in Florida. The players have never been fond of playing in meaningless game, where there's a risk of injury, but having the game in sunny Hawaii made it more attractive.. although, you still find many players skip it (and heck, Bill Parcells skipped it the year he was supposed to coach sending Bellicheck in his place)..considering player salaries these days, the money is not a big deal either.
02:17 I forgot that they used to wear pro-bowl helmets as opposed to their respective team helmets.
LT9856 9 months ago
This brings back the BEST memories of childhood! I was 9 years old in 1978 and my brother and I watched MNF while playing with our "SUPER TOE" NFL game... This is the Best MNF theme ever. SKOL VIKINGS.
fluxerflixer1 11 months ago
I remember watching this game!
ItalianQue 11 months ago
00:30
vonskull 11 months ago
How I wish they would bring this intro back and get rid of that inbred yokel Hank Williams Jr and his godawful song...
vanhouten64 1 year ago
@vanhouten64 Hank's song has never been the main theme.
dalekusa 11 months ago
@vanhouten64 They got rid the Hank Williams Jr song
pacmannick 4 months ago
Should of fucking kept MNF on ABC.
DarkReapersGrim 1 year ago 4
This was the BEST MNF intro ever! What memories this brings back....Is there a download for this intro for cell phones? If so, please let me know where to get it. Thanks...
greenlanternII 1 year ago
Funny how seemingly inconsequential music fires synapses and brings back fond memories. This ditty reminds me of junior high school homework. If I didn't finish it before 7:00 I might as well not bother because my mind would be occupied for the next 3 hours...
...what a great trio these guys were. All articulate, interesting, funny, and understated. Listen to the intelligence of Howard Cosell (RIP); the humorous, gentleness, and genuineness of Dandy Don (RIP), and the professionalism of Frank.
buck62sugar 1 year ago
i remember this like life itself, my favorite all- time monday football opening, its has music, graphics and it is still powerful nearly 30 years later. A hell of a lot better than Hank Williams Jr's opening. I remember ths game considering I live in tampa.
TheNewsoul2 1 year ago
Thank you Dandy Don! RIP
markofly76 1 year ago
@ selloutasaurus - yeah, memories of Dandy Don brought me here too. Seeing these clips sure brings back some surprisingly fond memories.
stogieguy7 1 year ago
saddened by the news of Dandy Don's passing. may he rest in peace.
selloutasaurus 1 year ago
The Pro Bowl could actually be watchable with Humble Howard and Dandy Don in the Booth.
jamdawg 1 year ago
RIP Dandy Don
generalbullmoose 1 year ago
This is so much better than the stupid bullshit introduction we have to listen to now! Country crap.
defBILLtones 1 year ago 2
Starting at 0:23 the lead guitar and horns, followed by the KILLER sequence of all of the NFL helmets gradually appearing with the matching music.....that stuff was freakin' awsome back then (still is).
CaptNemo100 1 year ago
Truly the Golden Age of the NFL.
crcracker1 1 year ago
Been looking for this theme music for a while. Great post. Thanks. This version is, IMHO, totally underrated.
sidirom 1 year ago
Howard Cosell had actually found his hair piece in Mexico. It was made from the back hair of a choobakobra or whatever those damn thing are. He traded 3 pesos and a donkey show for it. The rest is history, like Custer and the indians; not the ones from India, they have dots on their foreheads not wigs.
FuUberFu 1 year ago
nice AFC uniforms/helmets!
bayernballack 1 year ago
This makes me wanna break out the electric football game.
dolphinbuc 1 year ago
Aaaahhhhh, real football music. This is glory to my ears. When in the hell has all this gone. What's going on hear??!!!
Baltimorehop 1 year ago
Hoolihan's Stadium: The Big Sombrero, a.k.a., The Big Nacho.
FutureNewsAnchor 1 year ago
I live in St.pete which is near tampa! Wowo. Stadium is alot different!
0BleuFever0 1 year ago
this is howard cosell.
mehrdadtedayrom 2 years ago
Yes, this is the best intro song of all! It's the one I remember the most!
trbdeb7601 2 years ago
My absolute favorite MNF intro...great horns and musical score. Sure, the graphics and effects are cheesy, but this was 30 yrs ago! Been waiting a long time to hear this again! Thanx for posting!
6877 2 years ago 10
I echo those thanks...reminds me of the Luv Ya Blue days!
HoustonRules 1 year ago
@6877 It's not rough enough. Too pansy sounding for football.
gobacktoschoolmoron 1 year ago
@6877 All you had to hear was the first four bars
bum-bum-bum-bum
ClassicRocker61 1 year ago
They used to travel all over years ago but the players got tired of plying the game at the end of the season. So they gave them all a free trip to play in Hawaii but still there are lot of players who don't play.
TheFrogger15 2 years ago
Interesting Intro but a little dated.
FrsBigeasy 2 years ago
Well, what'd you expect? It was 1978. This was probably hot stuff for it's time.
dcbandnerd 2 years ago
Which isn't saying anything.
FrsBigeasy 2 years ago
You think? Quite the observation......
jpn7373 2 years ago
If you say so. I think I was just pointing out the obvious.
FrsBigeasy 2 years ago
Most shocking quote from this video: "It's an important game to these players for another reason -- the proceeds go to the players' pension fund." (2:24) You would never hear that in this age of multi-million dollar athletes. Nowadays they have to hold the Pro Bowl in Hawaii just to get the players to show up.
lionhart321 2 years ago 2
Despite the fact that today's athletes make millions of dollars, the NFL players still earn a pension. If you play for at least 5 years, you're eligible for it.
bworth69 2 years ago
Yes, I know there is still an NFL pension fund. That's not the point. The point is, Cosell was citing that as a reason why the players cared about the Pro Bowl. Obviously the pension money was important to them back then. But it's not any more -- at least not to the highly paid star players who go to the Pro Bowl.
lionhart321 2 years ago
Can't wait to see my Steelers in it again. Wooohoo! Let's go Polamalu!
beachie670 2 years ago
Wow! a Pro Bowl on Monday night? And I always thought it was played on the last Sunday in January! (A.B.C didn't telecast a Super Bowl until 1985).
vividwatch47 2 years ago
Back then you had the same players on a team year after year and you got attached to them. Now, they have a couple of good years and they're off to another team. I rarely watch any more.
quantumleap7219 2 years ago 9
The NFL knows their league has become"watered down" so now they almost have to coax you into watching the games.The media hypes everyone up,but back then you knew you were watching quality players and a quality product.I find myself watching more and more old games and less and less of the season in front of me.This is good stuff.Kids you just don't understand why knowing these players are important.They paved the way for the prima donas we have today.I urge you to learn of NFL history.
dolphinbuc 2 years ago 5
Wow this was when Schick had only 2 razors, now they're working with 5.
DarkReapersGrim 2 years ago
I was going to post the exact same comment!
birdmantd 2 years ago
Wow. Remember when football was a sport?
wienerphil 2 years ago 3
Yeah baby..nothing like the classics.
dolphinbuc 2 years ago 2
I don't know what Howard was complaining about. I dug up the weather for that night and it was in the 60s for the entire game. Hardly chilly, even for Florida.
untexan 2 years ago
i agree..60s at night are considered above normal here even in july...
in south florida 60s and 70s seem to be close to the normal daytime highs for january....
domirules28 2 years ago
Classic! I attended the 79 pro bowl in Los Angeles at the Coliseum. Got lucky with seats on the 50 yard line courtesy of my cousin's company with season tickets to the Rams. After that, the pro bowl moved to Hawaii and has been there ever since.
Thrive7 2 years ago
I have been looking hard for this intro. Brings back memories of watching MNF with my late father when I was around 6-7 years old. Nice post my friend!
grantjames333 2 years ago 2
I really wanted Muhammad Ali to pull off his tupae when he asked him was it real.
Dkels219 2 years ago
Look at the little monkey run.
pacmannick 2 years ago
Man I am so partial to the old days. Nothing was sweeter than football during this time period. Free Agency, and now the talk of an 18 game season. That is crazy. Bring back the Oilers move the Colts back to Baltimore, the Rams back to L.A. but keep the Cardinals in Arizona.
casasjohn2000 2 years ago 2
i'm with you on that...only reason they want to stretch the season is to gain ratings points during the feburary sweeps...
domirules28 2 years ago
I was looking for this theme music. Really hard to find these days!
54spiritedwill54 2 years ago 5
The NFL is purposing that the Super Bowl host may also host the Pro Bowl.
Rainman78588 3 years ago
Turn out the liiiiiiiiiights.....the party's oooooverrrrrr.
reno93535 3 years ago
I am Schick Shape!!! Go Howard!!!
henryqjr2001 3 years ago
Does anybody else remember when a guy hacked into the broadcast signal of MNF somehow and started calling Howard Cosell names like "ugly jew" on live t.v.? What year was that? Would love to see that on Youtube.
FiskPole 3 years ago
Used to be a time when the NFL Pro Bowl was made accessible to the fans. Now, it's just for the playas in Hawa'ai!
scifiradioguy 3 years ago
The problem was getting players to play in the Pro Bowl. That's why the NFL moved it to Hawaii; it's hard for the players to pass up a free trip there. But I remember those years....they'd rotate the game around the country. Funny to see players not wearing their "team helmets" too.
Reg197844 3 years ago
"Schick shape". Man, that slogan must have given Gifford (and other announcers) fits.
mdumas43073 3 years ago
Howard was AWESOME....even though we often hated him, he was still AWESOME....
tvgator1 3 years ago
he made you pay attention
SFFOOL76 3 years ago
Howard was great. His biggest problem was his ego. He thoughthe was bigger than the players he covered,
jdsoultrn 3 years ago
He was, I was just a kid when I heard Howard do the halftime highlights and I thought "who is this genius describing a football game like it was shakespeare"? he made watching a boring game more exciting, just listen to some of the drek that is out here today they could make the 2 best teams sound like Heidi!
daxeboy9 3 years ago
Directing is Chet's forte.
DiAnno13 3 years ago
Best intros for MNF were in the 1970's including this one.
crcracker1 3 years ago 3
It is time for either ESPN Classic Sports or the NFL Network to rebroadcast the classic ABC Monday Night Football games. It is long overdue.
Stratman78 3 years ago 3
I too would like to NFL broadcasts "as they happened" but, don't hold your breath. My theory is the NFL would rather show their sanitized, slickly produced homogonized film versions (just another way they control the "product") and I believe the league retains all rights to the game broadcasts not the networks. That's why you don't see acutal NFL broadcasts on ESPNC or anywhere else unlike NBA, MLB, NHL, Nascar, etc...
joebradio 3 years ago
But the NFL Network did broadcast all of the Super Bowls from III on (the first two are either erased, destroyed or lost). It's a start.
Stratman78 3 years ago
You mean they acutally aired the original broadcasts? Not the NFL films version? I wasn't aware since I'm a Time Warner Cable customer and they are still in that tug of war with NFLN.. I have to go to a sports bar to watch those end of season games NFLN runs..
joebradio 3 years ago
Yep, the original broadcasts. Don't feel bad. I missed it too for we don't have NFL Network (which is now a Comcast premium channel)! The NFL Network went to court over Comcast because they didn't want it to be a premium channel (used to get it for free, not no more). Unfortunately, Comcast won the case and that ultimately sucks.
Where is Captain Midnight when we need him the most?
Stratman78 3 years ago
The NFL is still fighting with Time Warner here .. they even tried to get the state legislature involved, but no luck. The league wants NFLN right next to ESPN, but TWC wants us to have to pay extra. I would be happy with it on the digital tier along with SPEED and the soccer channel. But, you know the Cable Co's are still cranky becuase they didn't get a piece of the "Sunday Ticket" Pay per view action that's only on Direct TV.
joebradio 3 years ago
this theme music was used again in 1983 til 1988.
videonut33 3 years ago
Actually, that was a soundalike theme from Score Productions IIRC...
TServo2049 3 years ago
In fact, Joe Sicurella actually SUED Score Productions for allegedly plagiarizing this theme.
TServo2049 3 years ago
How come the annual Pro Bowl moved from to Tampa to Hawaii? When did that happen? I know the '78 event was held in it's 2nd in Tampa, when was it held the first time?
dgendvil 4 years ago
Don't know as I have been thinking that too!
JPPT1974 4 years ago
It was always in a different City in Mainland USA until either 1980 or 81.
ItalianQue 3 years ago
I think Howard answered that question for you when he referred to a chilly January night in Florida. The players have never been fond of playing in meaningless game, where there's a risk of injury, but having the game in sunny Hawaii made it more attractive.. although, you still find many players skip it (and heck, Bill Parcells skipped it the year he was supposed to coach sending Bellicheck in his place)..considering player salaries these days, the money is not a big deal either.
joebradio 3 years ago
Thanks as I was looking for this theme music. Really hard to find these days!
JPPT1974 4 years ago