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Steve Young compliments Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger in gush-fest
Monday, February 2nd 2009, 8:55 PM
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Defense finally bowled over as Cards fold on final drive
Smith: Big Ben clocks his XL demons
Super six-pack for Steelers in Tampa
Arizona forgets Cardinal rule against Steelers
Are you ready for some football?
Tomlin, can you hear Bam now?
Can't go wrong with Steelers-Cards or Giants-Patriots
Fitz left stunned as Cards end up on receiving end
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In the long run, Harrison will be rembered for record
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Lupica: It's ending of Super heroes
What happens after a quarterback, who just led his team on a Super Bowl-winning drive, is "interviewed" by a quarterback-turned-broadcaster who has a Supe MVP on his resume?
In the case of this particular tea party, featuring Ben Roethlisberger and Steve Young, the atmosphere was cozy. Surprisingly Chris Berman, on ESPN, wasn't feeling it. Perhaps he was more concerned with doing his job properly.
You had to stay up late to catch this one. Happened after Pittsburgh's chilling 27-23 win over Arizona. Young, Berman and Tom Jackson were on the "NFL Primetime" set located on the field in Tampa. The three guys were doing their thing when, all of a sudden, Roethlisberger emerged.
He shook Berman's hand. The anchor, thinking quickly and wanting more time with the big fella, asked Roethlisberger to stay for an interview. Jackson took off his headset and handed it to the QB (a technician - getting airtime - brought in another set of ears for Jax).
Then the Steve Young Show started. Young has been a consistent performer since he arrived at Bristol Clown Community College. The former Niners QB can be edgy. That's good. His game includes strong opinions that can offend (just ask Phil Simms) and pointed questions.
Yet, in the case of Big Ben, Young melted. He went wax. The man was totally star-struck. Hey, no one expected any tough questions out of this session. How about a question. Instead, Young didn't know whether to pitch platitudes or simply gush. He began paying tribute before Roethlisberger appeared on the set.
Young, the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, was even quoting Dr. Seuss to describe Roethlisberger's performance. Young's decision to bogart the "interview" produced an interesting dynamic. The look on Berman's face, as Young controlled the show, portrayed a man realizing the session was getting out of hand.
If that's what Berman was indeed thinking, he was right. When was a specific question going to be asked about the final drive?
Finally, Berman - thank goodness - cut the Gush Fest short and popped a question leading Young to fawn even more. "I didn't have the Joe Montana-John Candy (the line Montana used in the huddle before Frisco's final Supe XXIII drive vs. Cincy)," Roethlisberger said.
"There's a man who knows the history of the game right there," Young oozed. "How do you sense the moment?"
Berman did not allow Big Ben to answer the question. Not about to be out-brown-nosed, Berman went back, back, back into his book of tush kissing.
"But you know what? You don't need to be Joe Montana-John Candy," Berman said. "(On that last drive) you were John Wayne."
Fortunately, it was time for Roethlisberger to leave. There was no time for Young to plant another kiss, er question.
TOUGH SELL: If the economy continues in free fall, it could be curtains for those multiple hour Super Bowl pregame shows. Is that the sound of applause?
Anyway, NBC didn't come anywhere close to selling all of the five hours it allotted for Sunday's exercise in excess. So it's doubtful that CBS, which will televise the next Super Bowl, is going to commit to similar hours when the suits know how tough an advertising sell they are dealing with.
Any cutback in pregame hours won't be met with protests. Unless, of course, it's from all voices hired for the occasion who won't pick up an extra paycheck. ... Joe Torre is back in town selling books. Is anyone getting tired of this story yet? Or all the promos about all the interviews St. Joe will be doing this week? Torre spit back Larry King's Twinkies Friday night. And the Dodgers manager likely will leave here unscathed, too. Torre already knows what questions to expect and how to answer them. ... Sirius/XM's Chris (Mad Dog) Russo got real tough on King, ripping him to shreds for his CNN Torre spot. Let's see if Russo gets down with Torre when he enters the midtown kennel tomorrow. Take this to the bank: Doggie won't exactly be using Torre as his personal fire hydrant, especially after the manager pets him a few times.
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Steve Young compliments Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger in gush-fest
Monday, February 2nd 2009, 8:55 PM
Raissman: Madden, Michaels see whole picture
Defense finally bowled over as Cards fold on final drive
Smith: Big Ben clocks his XL demons
Super six-pack for Steelers in Tampa
Arizona forgets Cardinal rule against Steelers
Are you ready for some football?
Tomlin, can you hear Bam now?
Can't go wrong with Steelers-Cards or Giants-Patriots
Fitz left stunned as Cards end up on receiving end
Myers: Kurt-ains for Warner in latest disappointment
In the long run, Harrison will be rembered for record
For this MVP, it's good to be Holmes
Lupica: It's ending of Super heroes
What happens after a quarterback, who just led his team on a Super Bowl-winning drive, is "interviewed" by a quarterback-turned-broadcaster who has a Supe MVP on his resume?
In the case of this particular tea party, featuring Ben Roethlisberger and Steve Young, the atmosphere was cozy. Surprisingly Chris Berman, on ESPN, wasn't feeling it. Perhaps he was more concerned with doing his job properly.
You had to stay up late to catch this one. Happened after Pittsburgh's chilling 27-23 win over Arizona. Young, Berman and Tom Jackson were on the "NFL Primetime" set located on the field in Tampa. The three guys were doing their thing when, all of a sudden, Roethlisberger emerged.
He shook Berman's hand. The anchor, thinking quickly and wanting more time with the big fella, asked Roethlisberger to stay for an interview. Jackson took off his headset and handed it to the QB (a technician - getting airtime - brought in another set of ears for Jax).
Then the Steve Young Show started. Young has been a consistent performer since he arrived at Bristol Clown Community College. The former Niners QB can be edgy. That's good. His game includes strong opinions that can offend (just ask Phil Simms) and pointed questions.
Yet, in the case of Big Ben, Young melted. He went wax. The man was totally star-struck. Hey, no one expected any tough questions out of this session. How about a question. Instead, Young didn't know whether to pitch platitudes or simply gush. He began paying tribute before Roethlisberger appeared on the set.
Young, the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, was even quoting Dr. Seuss to describe Roethlisberger's performance. Young's decision to bogart the "interview" produced an interesting dynamic. The look on Berman's face, as Young controlled the show, portrayed a man realizing the session was getting out of hand.
If that's what Berman was indeed thinking, he was right. When was a specific question going to be asked about the final drive?
Finally, Berman - thank goodness - cut the Gush Fest short and popped a question leading Young to fawn even more. "I didn't have the Joe Montana-John Candy (the line Montana used in the huddle before Frisco's final Supe XXIII drive vs. Cincy)," Roethlisberger said.
"There's a man who knows the history of the game right there," Young oozed. "How do you sense the moment?"
Berman did not allow Big Ben to answer the question. Not about to be out-brown-nosed, Berman went back, back, back into his book of tush kissing.
"But you know what? You don't need to be Joe Montana-John Candy," Berman said. "(On that last drive) you were John Wayne."
Fortunately, it was time for Roethlisberger to leave. There was no time for Young to plant another kiss, er question.
TOUGH SELL: If the economy continues in free fall, it could be curtains for those multiple hour Super Bowl pregame shows. Is that the sound of applause?
Anyway, NBC didn't come anywhere close to selling all of the five hours it allotted for Sunday's exercise in excess. So it's doubtful that CBS, which will televise the next Super Bowl, is going to commit to similar hours when the suits know how tough an advertising sell they are dealing with.
Any cutback in pregame hours won't be met with protests. Unless, of course, it's from all voices hired for the occasion who won't pick up an extra paycheck. ... Joe Torre is back in town selling books. Is anyone getting tired of this story yet? Or all the promos about all the interviews St. Joe will be doing this week? Torre spit back Larry King's Twinkies Friday night. And the Dodgers manager likely will leave here unscathed, too. Torre already knows what questions to expect and how to answer them. ... Sirius/XM's Chris (Mad Dog) Russo got real tough on King, ripping him to shreds for his CNN Torre spot. Let's see if Russo gets down with Torre when he enters the midtown kennel tomorrow. Take this to the bank: Doggie won't exactly be using Torre as his personal fire hydrant, especially after the manager pets him a few times.
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