Monday Night Football

[MrGoldenseal75]

I love the nods by Dandy, Frank and Howard!! ROLL TAPE!

[ab9957]

when ESPN owns all of football you won't have any choices, and you'll never see

the bottom half of the TV screen again.

[MsKeith1969]

hello frank gifford, i'm EVERYONE!!! no, seriously, i wish i could have been an adult back in 1973 instead of 3 years old!

[NoGuff]

Groovy.

[muzikjedi]

Love the funky hammond organ sound....my dad would go nuts getting his beer and munchies ready as he rushed to his checkered yellow and green sofa chair during this intro

[StFidjnr]

@ 0:15 take tape.

[jrb664]

Dandy Don-"turn out the lights, the party's over"

[depaolajr]

The 70's & the NFL...Classic!

[ebf1957]

For the life of me when MNF celebrated their 40th season why didn't ESPN use this theme?

[Green18600]

Good Question!! ESPN -- in their infinite wisdom -- has been interested in spending their money on hyped-up themes that have been bordering on the impractical. Times have changed since 1974 ... especially when money has been the almighty issue into drawing revenues for the networks. One final thought: I would prefer listening to ESPN Reporter Suzy Kolber on ESPN's "Monday Night Football." Good Day!!

[ebf1957]

@Green18600

Also it would've been cool to see Tirico, Gruden, and Jaworski wear the gold ABC Sports Blazers in tribute.

[snoopydog48us]

Classic  I miss this opening and the half time shows

[KaraLarson26]

Is it just me or does the guy that says "stand by all cameras" at 0:04 and "make tape" at 0:17 look a little like the actor Roy Scheider(Sheriff Martin Brody) of the movie Jaws fame?

[dolphinbuc]

Pure and simple,this is the time I loved to be alive.Real football and real football announcers.I'd like to personally thank ESPN for ruining sports and creating a flock of asinine sports fans to follow.This is why I'd rather watch Pittsburgh 54-44 win over San Diego than watching these so called talented players of today.Give me Larry Csonka any day.

[44skins]

@dolphinbuc I feel exactly like you do about the jerks at ESPN! They are total idiots who have created a entire culture of idiots who worship sports and sports announcers! These guys like Buccigross(spelling??) and the rest at ESPN are a perfect example! They all think they are so "the man!" PLEASE!!!! What a joke!!

[tvengr4047]

2 Inch Quad format videotape, worked with that a fair amount.

[swami1]

Directed by Chet Forte, gambling addict.

[pannoni1]

I have the 45 to this song! (By Bob's Band!)

[Knugabug]

They had to prop up Meredith by the 3rd quarter, he had 4 Irish Mists by then. Pat Summerall was gone on Jim Beam by then too.

[gemini19662007]

Those were the good old days of MNF.

[soulgirl66]

"Good evening everyone...I'm Howard Cosell."

I'll remember that voice for the rest of my days. I remember watching this with my dad (yeah...I'm a Daddy's Girl :D) ....that's what got me hooked on sports.

Thanks for posting...great memories

[vividwatch47]

Thix was same music that A.B.C. used for M.N.F. since its premiere, right? Because the opening title opened with a montage before seguing into a series of neon lights (not unlike that of the A.B.C. Sunday Night Movie, 1967-71)?

[SolarisBreeze57]

Back then as 13 yr old, it was a cool opening theme to me before I embraced the action on field by the football stars of the times.

[Kwame1959]

I used to like this opening to MNF, but not as much as I liked NBC's opening sequence for their Sunday games, which I thought was a lot more dramatic as far as showing what the game was about

[dolphinbuc]

Damn I remember this as a kid.I used to pull out my football cards during MNF back then and find the guys that were playing that night.

[mdumas43073]

I believe that's old Tiger Stadium in Detroit at the beginning.

[thephoenixforever]

Lol. The intro eventually looks like one is high on mushrooms listening to Charlie Brown. Watch it again, but this time imagine you are waiting for the high to hit you once the countdown hits 1, LMAO.

[1560438]

This one is a keeper! Best intro of Mon. Night Football

[54spiritedwill54]

Absolutely fantastic. thanks for the memories.

[Weaponsuser]

i remember this so well, the thrilling days of time long gone. too bad, used to love football, now i think i sucks ,with all the over paid knuckleheads, and showboats. and turning the NFL into a things for kids and the wife. needs to be a mans game.. no stupid britney sprears at half time...god it sucks some much now!

[wardmjwrd]

Psychedelic...beats the overpumped, drawn- out, hyped up pop music video theme of today...it was just about the football, nothing more and nothing less.

[VikutaaChyaaruzu]

Apparently, the animation sequences were way ahead of their time, no?

[travis122imdb]

this intro is some groovy shyt. too bad Monday Night Football is gay now since ABC decided to become the vagina channel

[VikutaaChyaaruzu]

The only shows I like to watch on ABC (in my area, at least) are "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!". I think my dad has old "Monday Night Football" reruns somewhere on VHS tapes in his room, considering he's a sports junkie. XD

[vividwatch47]

Why don't you borrow some of them and post excerpts on You Tube?

[VikutaaChyaaruzu]

Once I manage to get a TV tuner card and the aforementioned tapes, I may get the games posted not only on YouTube, but also for digital archiving for future viewing, since the VHS tapes may not last long afterwards. (o.o)'

[gibby100]

hey it's finally on without the ending being cut off!!

[westftballstar31]

whoooooa man, I'm totally freaking out man

[ryanskapa]

is the ending cut off?

[usisguy]

This a million better than "are you ready for some football" garbage.

[ChristianKidsShowFan]

Montana bombed in the pregame show for NBC in 1995 and has stayed away from TV since.

If Terry Bradshaw could return to being somewhat serious, he'd be a good choice. But as he's been for the last decade, no.

[muzikjedi]

Been thinking about this theme song for years. I remember listening to it as a child! This is great! Thank you so much!!!

[MrAlQ]

SO much better than the "Are You Ready For Some Football" nonsense! But, hey, I'm an old guy. Whaddya want?

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

Tony Kornheiser needs to be pink-slipped. I think Aikman or Montana would be better.

[ryanskapa]

President of the United States and color commentator for Monday Night Football have to be the two toughest jobs in the world.

For president, we need Ron Paul.

For MNF, we need Bill Murray.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

I did NOT mention stock car racing. See my recent post that explains what I was talking about. You might want to read posts thoroughly before you jump to conclusions and leave angry comments.

[rdeco73]

is this drugs?

[ajberryjr]

this is a classic -- puts Hank Jr. to shame!

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

P.S. I was not talking about NASCAR, ABC did not carry NASCAR races in the 1960's. I was talking about the European Formula One racing they carried as part of their Wide World of Sports broadcasts, which also included other sports like boxing. Jackie Stewart was one of their Formula One announcers, he's from Scotland(?). And Chris Economacki was also on those same Formula One segments. And notice I DID mention football.

I was talking about ABC's best announcers for their sports broadcasts.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

What do you think of Fox football announcers and NBC's Football Night in America announcers?

I like how NBC's got Madden onboard, and how Fox has Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

It's cool that this tape has been preserved. Most 'quad' tapes have been 'wiped' (erased for reuse) or weren't always preserved well.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

Monday Night Football is cool. I remember this open. I wish someone who knows their TV equipment could tell me, what's that 'quad' VTR that is in the open...looks like the Ampex VR2000.

[WhyToob]

I'm surprised to find your question regarding the quadruplex VTR shown in this open. I thought I would know the answer, but I'm not certain. For 3 yrs in the late 80s, I worked in a video archive, often operating a VR2000B. To me, something about this VTR looks different from the 2000B I recall, but many were modified. I keep looking for the "A scope" that was to the right of the take-up reel, that would assure a 2000. I think this might be a VR1200. Cool question regardless & cool post. Thanks!

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

It probably is a VR1200 because it's smaller than the VR2000, and obviously this VTR was in an ABC Sports truck. Not sure that a VR2000 would be in a mobile unit because they usually use more than one VTR, and a mobile truck can be pretty cramped quarters.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

I wonder what ABC could have used to produce the animated graphics seen in this open. Pretty colorful and nice looking for 1973.

[1more4theroad]

I read how they did it in an earlier post. It might still be there. I kind of understood it but not being in the business, some of it was over my head. Definitely a time capsule that captures 1973! :)

[747400fan]

Google 'scanimation' that's how this was done.

[dcbandnerd]

What I like about televised sports then as opposed to now is the fact that the commentators then didn't really TRY to make themselves bigger than the game, which eventually happened with Gifford, Meredith, and Cosell. It just kind of naturally happened because they had personality. Now, it seems like commentators are trying to make up for their lack of personality by over compensating. I REALLY wish I was alive for the "golden era" of ABC Sports.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

I was a kid during that 'golden era', ABC introduced many different sports to American audiences, including Formula One racing, with Jackie Stewart as one of the announcers. ABC had the man who I consider one of the best US racing announcers of all time, Chris Economacki. And ABC's Olympic coverage was top-notch. Of course, Monday Night Football had better announcers back then. But I can't see Gifford and Meridith doing it without Howard Cosell, who has passed on.

[747400fan]

dcbandnerd, Do you mean the Roone Arledge era, with Wide World Of Sports, ABC's Olympic coverage back then, and the above version of Monday Night Football?

[charliestube1]

REAL GROOVY BABY!

[terjer01]

Awesome!!! The best MNF booth ever: Dandy Don, Cosell & Giff. (Michaels & Madden: a close 2nd) That was a 3-man team! Unlike Kornheiser & Theismann who reportedly were at odds even behind the scenes. There was a lot of brotherly love between Meredith & Cosell despite some of their famous on-air disputes, and Gifford being the glue.

[majormannfred]

Rarely watch MNF anymore..check out the ratings..been in a nose dive for the last ten years or so.

[chickenvideo]

sounds like music to a really bad porn

[pumamber05]

I really believe that it was Monday Night Football that pushed Football past Baseball as the most popular sport in The U.S.A!

[emrrbv]

love him or hate him, howard cosell got people to watch. they were interested at what he was gonna say next just because he was such a colorful character---i cant think of any other reason. so u could say that he was probab the greatest insurance, razor blade & car salemsan of his time--poss ever, that is until m.jordan came along yrs later. i miss him as i am sure does mohammad ali.

[texasrandy123]

To bad the younger generation will never realize the importance of MNF. It was before 24/7 sports was available and was about the only highlights you got to see from Sunday's games.

[thegman1996]

"look at that monkey go!"

[tranurse]

howard wasn't racist. he called everybody a monkey, even his grandchildren. now was it a stupid thing to say, oh yeah. but howard was not racist.

[terjer01]

I think Mike Adamle, yep, THE Mike Adamle was the first monkey reference in MNF History

[inventorr77]

@terjer01 Mike Adamle of the KC Chiefs? What exactly did Howard say?

[ejb4501]

Love the psychedelic/Peter Max influence. Man, MNF was really something back then, and Howard, Frank & Dandy Don were great!

[ybrix101]

i love the fact the hank williams jr is not on this! now it's all about the "rock stars" and hype. i'll take this one anyday!

[ejb4501]

Agreed. Ah, simpler times...I do miss 'em.

[dmine45]

Thanks for posting this... not only do we see the old guys from MNF, but we see the old technology of the day. Open reel video tape, analog instant replay machine, etc. Technology has really advanced in the last 35 years. Glad someone had a video of this! Was it a home video or something from ABC's video archives?

[jakely8]

that girl is crazy!!

[crcracker1]

Monday Night Football was never the after ABC dumped Howard Cosell from the broadcasting team.

[dolina64]

Football was never the same after Howard Cosell left it.

[jackson32]

Well I wouldn't say that, I just think he was a one of a kind. His talent was to turn a game on a football field, into somthing larger than life.

DOWN GOES FRAZIER!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zoomer30]

hehe this intro ranked very high with people on an LSD trip ;-)

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

I am not 'tripping on LSD'. I'm a football fan who remembers Monday Night Football's original broadcasts and broadcast team fondly. Opens back in 1972 did NOT rely on 'flashy' computer graphics 'wizardry'. The networks had basic graphics and animation back in 1973. And what they were able to do with what they had was top-notch for its time.

I wonder if you think the same thing about the 1960's era NBC Peacock.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

This is a Scanimation open, computers were involved, pretty good for what they used back then.

[kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE]

And I still wonder why a certain person ASSUMED I was talking about a type of racing they obviously hate, when I was REALLY talking about the announcers ABC Sports had for the different sports events, THEY DID NOT DO MUCH STOCK CAR RACING! Jeez, they covered more European style open-wheel stuff back in the 60's and 70's. But where ABC was the best was with the above-mentioned Monday Night Football and Olympic Coverage thanks to ROONE ARLEDGE!

[AK47Music]

I was seven years old when this theme came out and my father and I watched MNF weekly, and DO remember this theme very well, thanks for putting it up. As for the Track itself, "Score!" by Bob's Band (Charles Fox), I found a vintage 1972 7" sincle of it (Atco 45-6876) on eBay last night for $15.00!. The full version is 2:09 long, and now I am the proud ownser of it. I just wish it would have ccme out on CD (preferably remastered, this more than 35 years later.

[Stratman78]

And you ARE going to give me that record, right? Thanks! You are a pal!

[schef99]

great memories, Howard, Don and Frank were the only ones for me, Miller made a mockery of it, glad he got fired. Howards half time has never been surpassed, or his opening "gab" every week.

[jackson32]

I totally agree about Dennis Miller. Having a comedy routine on throughout a football game had to one of the worst ideas ever.

Howard Cosell was an unforgettable sportscaster. He was a creature of that decade known as ..................

.................. THE SUPER SEVENTIES ...............

And now for something completely different .............

[greenwavetigers]

Thanks so much for posting. I needed this.

[cassmidway]

Absolutely fantastic. thanks for the memories.

[bootsiebanty]

heygabe THANKS!!  Man I've been looking for

MNF intros from this era for a long time!

[solidyahoo]

Don't forget Chet Forte who was the director of Monday Night football, as you can hear in the back ground that is his voice and him in the video on the far right.

[vividwatch47]

R.I.P. Chet Forte.

[jhh044]

Proof newer isn't better and I couldn't stand Howard Cosell,but I miss him R.I.P.

[001bf]

Yes. It's like everything else in sports TV: over-produced, cross-marketed BS.

Less is more.

[cassmidway]

I graduated from H.S. in 1973 and this video brings back many very nice memories. Thank you.

[PlayersEdge]

The good ole days, This current Tony Kornheiser sucks dick, I think Cosell is rolling in his grave at todays hosts

[hbland]

RIGHT ON!!!  I AGREE-----that SOB badmouthed my town!!!!

[twistedmetalvideo]

he does & JAWS is lame also, Theisman spoke his mind about bullshit that the NFL is trying to pull & they sacked him, then banned Kimmel for even mentioning it.

[georgebush231]

whoaaa psychadelic football mannn

[robertmastroianni]

This is when MNF was at its best! "Are You Ready For SOme Football?" is crap. I have yet to see a MNF game since they went to ESPN.

[fmagalhaes1521]

Amen. You have hit the nail on the head on this one.

[jhudsfo]

that was far out...lets light the lava lamps and get the fondue going...are you ready for some football?? groovy baby

[yankeesteve67]

out of site man!!!! grovy, Howard is like so hip!!

[magbast9]

Groovy, baby! Howard's toupe, Dapper Dandy Don's threads and the Giff's 'burns.

[kmeluso]

This week in football

[FreonTy]

Classic MNF opening! I thouht I was trippin whil looking at the graphics....

[thelatebrianjones]

Isn't that Chet Forte as director in this video? Says Andy Sedaris as director for "MNF" in credits

Can also see Don Ohlmeyer- the guy who fired Norm Macdonald in this open as well

[alanlt56]

This was at the height of MNF popularity with the best intro music ever.

[m1049]

I love this theme... Anyone have the original 1970 version that had a guitar riff along with the synthesizer?

[calzephyr56]

Thats the one I'm looking for, the 1970 version with the guitar added. Much better!!

[Badgerinmaine]

Wow, I hadn't seen that in years. It reminds me of the theme to "Wonder Woman" from that era.

[vividwatch47]

No surprisingly, it was cocomposed by Charles Fox (I think) (see Stratman78's comments).

[jamiethelanky]

What was the graphics guy smoking and where can I get some?

[SmellyCat99]

Anyone know what happened to the NBC NFL 1970s opening that was taken down from youtube? Now says "removed due to copyright infringement". Bummer!

[kohoutek]

Nice use of early computer graphics as well, ek se. The scanimate computer was indeed a gem.

[Camel22221]

Great theme. I have the one from 1978 and 1979 which is similar but even better. I'll download when I get a chance.

[pbennett13]

Does anyone have the opening from the 1976 - 1981 seasons? I liked that music the best. If so, please post it!

[DesiluTrek]

this was when the show was hitting its peak as a phenomenon, when a MNF game was like a playoff every week and cosell was abc's biggest star.

[nova1mike]

Definately sounds like music for porn movies of that era!

[pzaremba]

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! Thank you so much, whoever you are. I have been looking for this for years.

[heygabe]

It wern't doing me no good sitting on my harddrive. :)

[calzephyr56]

This is actually the second MNF theme, a variation on the original theme which ran from 1970 to 1973. The original was similar but better. They changed the music slightly for this them in 1973. Could someone post the original 1970 version?

[torgman]

A clip on?! Jesus, cound't anyone teach Dandy Don how to tie a bow tie?

[capsgm2002]

Andy Sidaris directed MNF?!?! He's more known for B-Movies with busty women.

[vividwatch47]

He started out as a director on "A.B.C. Wide World Of Sports" and other televised sporting events before he directed films.

[DiAnno13]

This is from the season where Oscar Madison called Howard Cosell "Needlenose" and made his on-air slip about "betting $100 and laying seven points on the Bengals".

[iLO80]

I miss the early 90s version opening. The one with the two helmets coming down and crashing. Awesome. I think they got rid of the transition-to-commercial song in today's MNF.

[ChryslerTNCFan]

That had a "groovy" "psychedelic-disco" tune! Love dancing to it!

[nicefellow31]

Loved it.  I remember theme. Since I was 6 at the time, I was only allowed to watch the game thru the 1st half. After the highlights it was bedtime for me.

[TServo2049]

The fanfare sounds a bit like the theme to Wonder Woman. (Of course, both were composed by Charles Fox.)

[digital2500]

In my opinion, ABC never should have gotten rid of this music for Monday Night Football!!

[curtisjoseph27]

stuck in the 70s huh?

[digital2500]

It's better than hearing Hank Williams!

[curtisjoseph27]

Not really. I'll take Hank and his rowdy friends anyday over this disco bullshit.

[torgman]

That wasn't disco

[blank77]

Naw,i'll take this version.Do I have to bring up Amy Grant's "MNF" theme (one of many singers that one season) being better than the 70's version?

I rest my case!

[WVECSpirit]

When was that?

[Stratman78]

I'll drink to that! This is the greatest musical version that ABC had for Monday Night Football (even though I was born too late to remember this). To everyone, the song was called "Score!" by Bob's Band (Charles Fox) & it was an actual single that came out in 1972. Unfortunately, it's not released on any CD Music Themes.

[ClassicTVLover]

I actually heard this theme ('70 version without the all the edits or the extra drums heard on the end of the '73 version) on an oldies webstream called CapitalRadio dot us. I emailed the station and they responded with info that they actually have two original copies of the original Atlantic Records promo singles. The operatoer, Bill, digitally restored by it for airplay ... and yes, it's in S*T*E*R*E*O too. It was a fun listen!