Michaels’ new book great read
AlMichaels’ autobiography should have been titled “I’ve Done It All.” Instead, the award-winning sports broadcaster has settled on “You Can’tMake This Up” (WilliamMorrow), a somewhat awkward title, perhaps done in an effort to convince potential readers that this 288-page memoir (plus pictures) is more than a dull ego trip for the 70year-old sports personality.
Sure, Michaels’ ego is on display. Why wouldn’t it be?
Michaels has done it all— covering most major championships, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
And he’s appeared on more live, overthe-air network television sports events than anyone else in TV history.
Two events are permanently etched in most sports memories:
• Michaels’ famous call at the 1980Winter Olympics (“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”), when the U.S. hockey team upset the heavily favored Soviet Union en route to winning the gold medal.
• His Emmy-nominated ABCNews coverage Oct. 17, 1989, after an earthquake shook the San Francisco area at the start of the thirdWorld Series game between the Giants and the Oakland A’s. After being knocked off the air, Michaels moved to the sports truck and fed live reports to ABC’s Ted Koppel inWashington.
Michaels’ book, written with L. Jon Wertheim, is filled with facts, memories and humor about noted events, along with anecdotes of his relationships with controversial figures, including Howard Cosell and O.J. Simpson.
And recollections of Michaels’ years growing up are anything but dull.
Broncos fans will find several references of interest, including memories of the Broncos-Chiefs game at Mile High Stadium on Oct. 17, 1994, when JoeMontana won a 31-28 duel against John Elway.
Michaels writes about “Monday Night Football” companion Dan Dierdorf summing up the game: “Lord, you can take me now. I’ve seen it all.”
Michaels also vividly recalls walking through Stapleton International Airport the next morning when the game was the only topic of conversation.
Michaels gives credit to Broncos owner Pat Bowlen for alerting him to NBC having an opportunity to land “Sunday Night Football’’— currently the most-watched program in prime time, which has brought Michaels to the zenith of his career.
Michaels’ fast-paced memoir includes his relationship with Peyton and Eli Manning— on the golf course rather than at a football stadium.
In the summer of 2012, Michaels, friend Skip Benson and the Manning brothers were involved in a “friendly yet competitive” golf match, which Michaels recalls with humor.
Sports, particularly on television, have been big part of American society for a long time. In case you have forgotten, Al Michaels has been around to report a good share of it.
Radio report.
As noted previously, Sandy Clough onMonday begins a solo flight weekdays from noon-3 p.m. on 104.3 FM The Fan.
Missing from the program is Scott Hastings, who will return to another time period in January, and Drew Goodman, who will rejoin the Denver station but not as a regular sports talk host.
Program director Nate Lundy plans several programming changes after Jan. 1.
And there is a 20th anniversary to be celebrated March 8— the day (in 1995) when The Fan made its radio debut on 950 AM. The program hosts at the time, Tom Green and DougMoe, interviewed their first guest: John Elway.