The CRAZIEST BROADCAST in AFC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY | 1989 AFC Championship

During the 1989 AFC Championship between the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos, NBC had what could've been an absolute disaster of a broadcast. Because in the middle of the game, with no time to prepare whatsoever, they had to take Bob Costas and Ralph Wiley off of the air due to the two of them getting sick, meaning that they had to find replacements on the fly. And the replacements that they found were... rather bizarre and unconventional choices. This is the story behind NBC Sports and their coverage of the 1989 AFC Championship
Videos Mentioned:
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Jim Donovan: • The STRANGEST NFL Anno...
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[@anthony0358]

Excellent video. My memories of those games were due to the location, the Denver game started at 3pm and then the 49ers game started at 630pm. That was very unique scheduling in that era when the playoff game started at 1230pm. Now its the standard schedule. since January 2003

[@richsheer4905]

Actually 11:30 a.m. in Denver (1:30 ET). The SF game was pushed back to 5 p.m. ET to accommodate.

[@patrickstogsdill74]

2 to 3 year sbeofr ei was born but it seemed like the Broncos were a solid studded team as well a s49ers and Cowboys in the 8ps and 90s

[@mgb4692]

This was the starting point for the current 3:00/6:30 setup, being the first to feature two western teams. It's happened twice since, although it's yet to have west coast/PST teams hosting both games. The closest that ever came to happening: Three years later the NFL started talks with CBS/NBC to move Championship Sunday back in the event the Chargers beat Miami and hosted the Bills in the AFCCG. Two years after that the Chargers could have hosted the Browns.

[@Xontar02]

Jim Donavan is the current (2022) radio PBP guy for the Browns.

[@johnwiesner9590]

That was the last time the Browns played in a conference title game. They only have two playoff wins since that game. Besides them, the only teams to not make a conference title game this millennium are the Dolphins, Cowboys, Commanders, Lions, and Texans (who joined the league in 2002).

[@marcus813]

The current Browns entity (neé 1999) hasn't even gotten past the 2nd round in its two playoff appearances. It really has been a long time since NFL fans in Cleveland have seen their club play for a shot at the Super Bowl. I don't know how Browns fans endure this kind of drought!

[@johnwiesner9590]

@@marcus813 When the Lions won their last playoff game in 1991, there were only 28 teams in the NFL. The Bengals went 30 consecutive years without winning a playoff game, and now have won 5 over the last two years, and could make it to 7 if they win the Super Bowl.

[@matthewdaley746]

@marcus813 It gets, better, the old Browns, also, won, the whole frigging thing, twice, in that span, that's, hide the sharp objects, kind of depressing.

[@matthewdaley746]

Bizarre assortment we have.

[@matthewdaley746]

@johnwiesner9590 They're, probably, rooting, for, the Eagles, historically, they seem to, truly, have a terrible problem, with, teams from California, absolutely.

[@mst3kanita]

And we all thought his eye incident in Sochi was the only time bob called out sick. 😹

[@mistermattmoose]

oh, how i miss dick enberg. i would watch games that were of no interests to me, but because of him and merlin olson, i would be rooting like a nut for someone by the middle of the first quarter. their expertise, smoothness and professionalism were unmatched. best announcing team ever. like having 2 best friends describe everything. costas and donovan have long records of excellence as well. donovan still does top notch radio work for the browns.

[@johnwiesner9590]

Sure miss Enberg and Summerall announcing NFL games. Far better than what we have today. I think the best announcing crew right now is Ian Eagle and Charles Davis, the #2 team on CBS.

[@matthewdaley746]

Perfectionism his whole career.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@johnwiesner9590 Pat Summerall's titanic depression.

[@robertkeefer1552]

The late Dick Enberg was a terrific announcer for the San Diego Padres for many years. He is missed.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@robertkeefer1552 Absolutely, missed, every, event.

[@gregcrane4953]

Enberg was a total pro.

[@Sick_Boy_Rick74]

Oh my goodness!!! That helicopter view of Mile High from 1990 brings me way back! I am born and raised here in Denver and this city has grown at a ridiculous rate. How I miss those days…

[@afridgetoofar1818]

Denver is now too big for it’s own good. It’s lost its charm & is now uppity

[@markofly76]

It was an 11:30AM Mountain Time Kickoff. 10:30AM where I live. The NFC Championship game started at 2:00PM Pacific that day. Had the Steelers upset the Broncos the Sunday before in the Divisional Playoff instead of blowing a huge lead, the kickoff times would be the traditional 9:30AM Pacific and 1:00PM Pacific, respectively. It would change to the current kickoff times in the 2002 postseason.

[@2themoon863]

Having watched that game, it was weird having it end at the time a home game normally started, just after 2pm Mountain time; normally, with a Sunday day home game in Denver, the first half was in sunlight and the second half was under the lights back then

[@d0nKsTaH]

Take a shot everytime he sings.... "Howeeevuuuuur" :D

[@Rambam1776]

I had just gotten out of navy boot camp and was attending my A school as a Broncos fan when we made it to this super bowl. I had no illusions. I didn't expect 55-10, but I knew we were going to lose. 500 guys wanted to bet me, including all the officers, when they found out I was the only Denver Broncos fan on the base. Playing the 49ers was like French kissing a buzzsaw. The Cleveland fans are lucky they didn't go.

[@joshuaecht]

Would it have been even worse?

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

@@joshuaecht yes. 59 - 7

[@salvadorvela8146]

I really love your content. Today, I have subscribed. Thank you.

[@FootballRob2010]

Terrific blow by blow look back at this weird situation. This was when I just started watching the NFL so I don't even remember this happening. Well done 👍

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

The oft forgotten third AFC Title game between these two.

[@dmendez77]

Thanks for some interesting information. However - and please take this as constructive criticism - the narration is brutally overlong. And no actual video of the replacements in action?

[@tommyparkerparker]

In 1982 the first year when CBS started doing NCAA basketball games March Madness during one of the 2nd round tournament games between Idaho and Iowa at Pullman Washington, CBS pxp announcer Fred White was working with ex player and coach Irv Brown as analyst. A few minutes into the game, Fred White came down with laryngitis and was unable to continue to call the game or games had 2 games that day at the same venue. So Irv Brown moved over to do pxp having never done so. Former coach of Washington St. George Raveling who happened to be at the game as a spectator came down from his seat when asked to fill in as color analyst.

[@danielanderson4726]

If i remember CBS switched everyone to that game delaying 60 Minutes since the game went to overtime. After CBS went to 60 Minutes, Brown and Raveling called the second game in Pullman for ESPN.

[@MrKevinEaddy]

Great Content

[@MountainMan.]

Dick Enberg was awesome. I loved his broadcasting. One of his signatures was after a big play he would say where they played college ball. "The Raiders now third and seven from the 46. And the handoff goes to Jackson, and he turns the corner and there goes Bo Jackson!...... finding daylight down the sidelines for a gain of twenty seven! Oh my! The third year running back from Auburn has the Raiders with a first and ten in Chargers territory!"

[@sdmcnulty22]

Oh My!

[@Grandizer8989]

The greatest last minute fill in was when John Madden had to do play by play for 2-3 plays while Pat Summeral had a coughing fit off-air in the booth. Sadly, unless someone has it on VHS, we’ll never get to see it.

[@TheChristianNomad]

Enberg was such a good talker that in one week back in the early 2000s he did a college football game, then a golf voiceover and finished up as a commentator on a tennis match featuring two young female players that he'd never seen before having only print outs of their previous matches to go off. Yet he commentated like he actually knew who they were and their careers and simply relied on the color commentator for details. And it sounded perfect. Hah

[@tommyparkerparker]

I remember this. Dick Enberg was a real pro to handle pre game, halftime and call the game. Luckily Jim Donovan was there to interview the Browns locker room on the post game show. I often wonder if the networks usually have a play by play or color analyst even though not working the game but on standby especially a national game at the stadium and or venue if in the event something like this unfortunately would happen.

[@CTubeMan]

I know the NFL has backup/standby officials in the playoffs.

[@TMC1982Part2]

I vaguely remember reading that CBS had Ian Eagle as a stand-by for a major event like a Super Bowl if Jim Nantz say, got suddenly got sick or lost his voice.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

@@TMC1982Part2 for the last couple of Super Bowls CBS had Eagle would work on air for a few segments during the pregame show, as that's how CBS fills their 4 hours. Fox used to use Buck & Aikman for that kind of time (remember the New York/New Jersey one where the Fox NFL Sunday crew began the show in times square?), I wonder if they'll do the same thing with Burkhardt & Olson this year.

[@tommyparkerparker]

Game 2 of the 1992 American League Championship Series between the Oakland A’s and the Toronto Blue Jays on CBS Dick Stockton and Jim Kaat called the game. Later in the game, analyst Kaat came down with laryngitis. Johnny Bench who was doing color analyst on CBS Radio of the game, came over to TV and filled in for Kaat for the rest of the game.

[@davidlivingston2754]

Dick Enberg was a game show host in the 1960s and 1970s, so he had hosting experience, just not NFL studio. Good thing Jim Donovan was there

[@CTubeMan]

Sports Challenge!

[@altfactor]

I believe Dick Enberg was pregame/halftime/postgame host for NBC's coverage of Super Bowl XIII, with Curt Gowdy doing play-by-play with Merlin Olsen (who I believe was Gowdy's partner in the booth in 1978) and John Brodie (who was Enberg's broadcast partner in 1978) serving as co-analysts.

[@americangiant1003]

Good info Alt. By the way I assume was Bryant Gumbel already by the 1978 season, the full time Pre game Studio Host for NBC? And why was Bryant pulled off the leading host position for SB 13 if he was the lead anchor for the entire season prior?

[@TMC1982Part2]

@@americangiant1003 I don't have all of the information in front of me, but I want to say that by 1978, Dick Enberg was for all intents and purposes, the lead NFL play-by-play announcer for NBC or at the very least, NBC was clearly grooming him to be the heir apparent to Curt Gowdy. I believe that Curt Gowdy at the time, had a clause in his contract that said that he had first dibs at calling that year's Super Bowl. But NBC still wanted Dick Enberg to have a visible role in their Super Bowl coverage, given that he was essentially, going to replace Gowdy as NBC Sports' top announcer going forward.

[@tommyparkerparker]

@@TMC1982Part2 Yes that’s right. Gowdy was near his end contract at NBC. The following year, Gowdy. went to CBS and teamed with Hank Steam on NFL telecasts. Happy

[@PGar58]

Fourth in line! I’m sorry….WHAT?!? Also Bob Costas does not age.

[@matthewdaley746]

Speaking of things of vague age, Tom Brady got his, OC, fired, but, made up, for, it, by, dropping, F-Bombs, when asked about retirement, (on his own program), at least, the NFL grew a pair, and, fined him, for, trying to break an opposing player's legs, (though, I suspect that only happened, because, Tampa Bay, lost).

[@PGar58]

All that was missing was #TB12 saying “Get off my lawn!” Go Pats.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@PGar58 Good point, though, it's, likely, not, his lawn, anymore, I feel sorry, for, the new guy, things, are, going to be a total dumpster fire, very, soon, there's no question.

[@tedcasttv6253]

Thanks for reminding me of this painful loss to the Broncos again!!!!

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Cool Segment. I don’t remember this at-all. I must be getting old, because I’m sure I watched this game. 😂

[@adiuntesserande6893]

This is the television equivalent of calling in the Emergency Back-up Goalie in the second period and winning the game!

[@LIE11Bldg7]

"The invisible catch" another laser from elway to Vance Johnson 4:15

[@justinganz1173]

As a broadcaster in college this was an amazing video to watcn

[@BigJonkulous]

Jim Donovan is the best

[@Jason_Maier]

On one Monday Night Football game, Howard Cosell had to leave because he got drunk and puked on Don Meredith's boots.

[@namenotavailable7365]

Sorry, I was expecting a bigger disaster. We're talking a football game. We've even had NFL games w/o announcers.

[@zekelucente9702]

Dick Enberg was and still is a legend. I grew up listening to him broadcast for the California Angels and as the years went on and his fame grew I always felt that hometown connection. The interview that he did with Vin Scully while broadcasting for the Padres which would the last season of both of their careers is amazing.

[@00ga-booga]

Not surprised in the least. Dick Enberg was a true professional and a heck of a man. Costas is too, and you just know it had to be serious for him to bow out.

[@effend446]

Didn't NBC have OJ Simpson during this time? All they had to do was have OJ do the pre-game and post-game host duties on top of his sideline and locker room interviews. He would've killed it.

[@vincesmith2499]

He would have literally killed it.

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

OJ would be searching for the person who killed it

[@sfrank8687]

Who writes your material it's soooo funny

[@raytaylor6412]

NBC Sports has had at least two other situations where they had to change announcers at the last minute. First, Ralph Sheehan had to take over for Bill Weber for play-by-play for a NASCAR race after Weber was detained by police following an incident in bar the previous night. Second, Dave Strader had to take over from Mike Emrick when Doc came down with the flu before a Winter Classic NHL game.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

And with the Premier League, they had to have Steve Bower call a North London derby between Arsenal & Spurs due to Arlo White getting sick the night before.

[@Jared40]

Bill Weber was the worst announcer in NASCAR how he took over Alan Bestwick is beyond me

[@TMC1982Part2]

NBC during the 1989 National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, recruited Bob Costas to do play-by-play for Game 2 at Wrigley Field after Vin Scully had come down with laryngitis. Thankfully, it was an off-day during the American League Championship Series (Oakland vs. Toronto), so NBC flew Costas to Chicago to work that night's game and then flew him to Toronto to resume his duties calling the ALCS the following night.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

@@Jared40 it's because Alan Bestwick left for ESPN/ABC after the 2004 season to call college football along with being the voice of the Indy 500, something that event lacked ever since Paul Page left. They had Marty Reid call the Indy 500 in 2006 & 2007 which was a disaster. Bestwick finally got his chance in 2008 & was there until 2018 when ABC lost the Indy 500 to NBC for 2019. Bestwick also replaced Marty Reid for ESPN's NASCAR coverage in 2010 because Marty Reid couldn't handle calling both Cup Series & Xfinity Series races on the same weekend.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

Was that incident about Weber in Connecticut? I heard he caused some sort of incident in a hotel room up there one time and got taken off the air. I think that's when he was at TNT.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

This is very similar to when later that year during the World Cup Final between Germany & Argentina TNT (yes TNT covered the World Cup that year in one of the worst covered World Cups in US history due to them sticking commercials in the middle of the game) had to replace their lead announcer Randy Hahn (who is currently the lead voice for the SJ Sharks in the NHL) with Bob Neal due to Hahn being unable to get a train from Turin (where the semifinal between England & Germany was played & he called) in the northern part of the country to Rome (where the Final was) in time for the match. This was because train service throughout Italy had been halted due to railroad workers going on strike. Neal was about to fly out and head back to the US when he got the news 4 hours before the game & had to quickly get caught up on the two teams. Luckily Brian Moore who was calling the game for the UK's ITV was there to help him. Also when it comes to Jim Donovan, he also called World Cup games for ESPN in 1994 including the Germany-South Korea match where Steffan Effenberg infamously flipped off his country's fans in frustration after getting subbed off & was sent home afterwards.

[@mgb4692]

Yep, TNT was branching out into other places (NFL, World Cup, Goodwill Games) in '90 and it showed. Definite far cry from Shaq/Ernie/Kenny/Chuck we know today, or even Monday Nitro a few years later for that matter.

[@vincesmith2499]

@@mgb4692 TNT was just right for the laughable Goodwill Games that nobody other than Ted Turner cared about.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

@@vincesmith2499 you are right about the Goodwill Games. No one took them seriously apart from Ted Turner which is why many of the top athletes mainly from track & field refused to take part. This was especially the case in 1994 when the Goodwill Games took place 2 weeks before the IAAF World Cup in London which is a much more lucrative & prestigious event than the Goodwill Games ever were.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

1) Costas would come back and do something similar about a year later during the NBA All Star game when he'd host the pregame show then go down (a few feet) and do play by play for the whole game filling in for Marv Albert who was tending his mother's funeral. Studio analyst Pat Riley (his only year at the peacock) would however host the halftime show by himself (and did pretty good at it too). 2) Donovan was like the number 7 play by play caller for NBC's NFL coverage back then, worked with Jimmy Cefelo that season so it was a lucky coincidence. Another possible coincidence was that Charlie Jones had a house in Colorado (if I remember) but I think that mayve been in the mountains so a drive (not to mention possible snow) mayve hindered that chance or he simply couldn't have been home (I think he had another house in Southern California -where he passed), plus Jones was a tad less known for studio hosting (but couldve done it in a pinch) than Enberg has displayed (would host an "NFL Live" version the following season while Costas hosted NBA in Europe for a weekend) and I highly doubt Enberg would've gave up doing play by play for a conference championship game for only doing the hosting desk (by letting Jones do the pbp). BTW, I vaguely remember seeing Donovan with that "logoless" blazer on too.

[@matthewdaley746]

OT, but, it's, totally, a, really, good thing that Marv Albert's mother had, already, died several years, earlier, than, well, you know.

[@hrtvfan2870]

Couple of additional comments 1. I had read some about this shakeup but was unaware that Bob Costas was that sick. 2. With Jim Donovan at least, WKYC was still an NBC owned-and-operated station at the time (though mainly the network farm team, changing personnel frequently and moving promising talent elsewhere, most notably in WKYC's case Al Roker); though not for much longer, as NBC sold majority control to Multimedia later in the year (NBC no longer has any ownership of WKYC, now fully owned by Tegna) 3. This would be Ralph Wiley's last show before giving way to Boston Globe writer Will McDonough (available following CBS blowing up the NFL Today and deciding to start from scratch)

[@tommyparkerparker]

Charlie Jones at that time was NBC’s #2 NFL pxp teaming with Enberg’s former partner Merlin Olsen who was demoted that season in favor of Bill Walsh. Jones lived in San Diego suburb La Jolla at that time.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

@@hrtvfan2870 Fred Roggin (who ironically will leave the local Los Angelas NBC station tomorrow after 40+ years there) was right behind Donovan on the pxp depth chart (would work like 2 games for NBCthat year and Im thinking if that's the year he worked with Lyle Alzado or was in 1990?). A last resort option for NBC could have been to just (at the last minute) do the pregame show from the studio in New York where you'd have the likes of Len Berman (who has done the studio before & did the sports on the Today Show around that time) or one other of the on air guys/gals living there; Marv Albert? Where was Gayle Gardner? In fact, after this year networks would do pregame shows for conference championship game from their respective studios as opposed to on-site. NBC kept Costas in the studio for the following years one due to the Gulf War.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

@@tommyparkerparker I thought he had a second home in the Colorado mountains (I believe Verne Lundquist for sure did). Anyways would make sense for Jones to chill in the nice weather of So. Cal but his white hair wouldve fit right in with the snow up there.

[@BrendonChase2012]

Dick Enberg was a class act.

[@jab1289]

JG9, I have a draft topic for you: In 1991, the Falcons wanted to trade their second, fourth, and seventh round picks to Dallas for the 20th overall pick, but Dallas traded with the Lions instead. If that happened, Favre is a NY Jet, not a Falcon (or Packer).

[@matthewdaley746]

Aundray Bruce, was, Drafted, First Overall, by them, and, had a, fairly, solid career, unfortunately, the media labeled him a bust, because, his, career, totally, wasn't, befitting of his top Draft Position.

[@PGar58]

And, had Farve been a Jet, I do not believe he would have become the legend he became. Same way I don’t think Tom Brady wins six Lombardis anywhere else. Although as good as Farve was, he only went to two Super Bowls in his career and won one, all before he turned 28.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@PGar58 Yeah, and, because, of his idiot coach, we have to watch, The, Helicopter Play, for, eternity, OTOH, it's, because, of that, very, same Game, that, The, Vince Lombardi Trophy, now, goes through a receiving line, before, iit reaches the podium.

[@CTubeMan]

And Favre would likely be traded by the Jets after that season. Not only that, the Jets might have gotten rid of the man who actually lobbied for them to draft Favre, Ron Wolf.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@CTubeMan Jets, horrifically, miserably, unlucky.

[@jesusortizmerodio3193]

Just a question. If there is no surviving evidence of how the broadcast actually was, why do you comment on it in detail like if you'd seen it? It doesn't make sense to me.

[@MarsJenkar]

No surviving _footage_ , not no surviving _evidence_ . He's using other sources from around the time of when this happened, like newspaper articles.

[@jesusortizmerodio3193]

@@MarsJenkar which he didn't mention or show BTW.

[@MarsJenkar]

@@jesusortizmerodio3193 He showed plenty of articles during the course of the video.

[@dsk333]

yeah kosar threw for 40 pct completion , but what wasnt said is kosar had a thumb injury on his throwing hand leading up to this game , there was some contraption he had to stabilize it and played anyhow, many doubted he would play, i know this because im clevelander who actually watched this game live .

[@Crunkboy415]

And Denver went on to win that gane only to be trounced by the 49ers in the Superbowl 55-10 🤣

[@williamanthony9090]

Denver lost all three Superbowls they got to by way of Cleveland.

[@mlautner03]

I feel like these vids could be half the length. Kinda impressive you can stretch talking about someone being sick over 3-4 minutes though. ha

[@TommyLewJDfacesTH2]

Is he rushing? Or dragging!?

[@mlautner03]

@@TommyLewJDfacesTH2 dragggggging

[@Fluffster93]

I was 6 when the Browns returned in 1999. I’ve only known Jim Donovan as the radio man for the Browns in my lifetime. It’s neat to see him come up like this! I didn’t know any of his background at all

[@orbyfan]

There was a famous incident during the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs, when Hockey Night in Canada was telecasting the game from Montreal between the Canadiens and Boston Bruins. CBC had Chris Cuthbert in Washington to send back occasional reports from the game between the Capitals and the New Jersey Devils. Early in the game in Montreal, a power failure knocked that telecast off the air, so the network switched to the game in Washington. Cuthbert, all by himself, ended up calling almost the entire game--play-by-play, and between periods.

[@pullt]

Losing a pregame guy these days would be a nightmare. How could you adjust from a six man to a five man setup smoothly?

[@Eddie-zk2qi]

I like your videos for the most part but I have one complaint. You open your videos giving several minutes of context. Then you say something to the effect of "before I tell you what happened we need some context". It drives me insane. Just a suggestion but perhaps you could work on your wording a bit.

[@johnstaiert]

Great video! The aerial shot amazed me. The area around the old Mile High Stadium looks so barren and different. It's unrecognizable now.

[@juanparty]

is the new stadium in the same place than Mile high?

[@joshuarayborn]

Rich Karlis still missed that field goal in 86 AFC championship.

[@zachcantrell4416]

Joe Buck actually did something similar throughout the 2006 season when FOX NFL Sunday couldn't pick a host after JB went to CBS. They did a half season with Buck hosting pregame from the spot of the game he called a la College Gameday. You should do a video on that because I remember it being all sorts of chaotic.

[@matthewdaley746]

Explains his emotion aversion.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

Why didn't they just go with Curt Menefee from the word "go?"

[@PGar58]

Actually, someone did. Bill Simmons asked why would Fox want to pile on Buck’s already heavy workload when they had a guy like Curt Menafee in the bullpen, and having Buck host the pregame probably wouldn’t make a difference in the ratings? Anyway, Fox did that the next year, and Menafee is still there. That said the idea of an “NFL Noon Kickoff” was intriguing and both networks have done their own twist on it (ie Fox Salute to Service Veterans Day) but as a full time thing, at NFL stadiums I don’t think it would work, especially later in the year.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@drewzuhosky6826Very, likely, economics, factored.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@PGar58 OT, but, Bill Simmons is, The, Poster Child, for, insufferable fanbases, I went to, College, in Boston, and, nearly, a third of the people, there, despised him, that, simply, tells you everything you need to know.

[@redmustangredmustang]

I mean during a college football game this season on FOX Gus Johnson got sick during the game and they put in Joel Klatt as play by play and Brady Quinnn as the color guy.

[@tommyparkerparker]

On college football on ABC in 1985? Keith Jackson fell I’ll during a game and Tim Brandt who was doing sidelines came up to the booth at halftime and called the rest of the game. Also same in the 1980 Cotton Bowl in Dallas on CBS when Lindsey Nelson had laryngitis and CBS NFL pxp Frank Glieber who was a sideline reporter for that year’s Cotton Bowl and was a Dallas resident, came up to the booth in the 2nd quarter and called the rest of the game.

[@duanedavis27]

I hope Joe Buck never has to do double duty as was used in the example. Or single duty anytime for that matter.

[@z1g]

Wow, I had no idea any of this occurred. I flew back home to Denver from Seattle that day and due to some issue at Stapleton airport we were stuck on the tarmac for almost the entire game and listened to it on the radio.

[@sdmcnulty22]

There was always an issue at Stapleton

[@LIE11Bldg7]

This is a freaking Twilight zone episode 😆

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

Game was played on January 14, 1990 (Sun.)

[@johnmanier7968]

I wonder if the altitude was a factor in both Costas and Wiley falling ill.

[@steveprestegard5151]

Watch the 1980 Cotton Bowl on CBS. Pinch-announcer during the game.

[@jimlevinthal3880]

or could have been dubbed "the flu game" lol

[@notoriouseagle1074]

They should've let Enberg stay in the booth. Al Micheals did the MNF halftime show's in the early 2000's.

[@americangiant1003]

Yup. Mr. Micheals did the MNF halftime after Frank Gifford and later Chris Berman was the hosts before Al left for NBC's Sunday Night Football. And MNF was switched to ESPN.

[@stevengrvp]

The days of football

[@luisreyes1963]

The days of when the Browns were a good team. 😢

[@stevengrvp]

@@luisreyes1963 trust me I get it I'm a jet fan

[@dbadefense1990]

Perhaps Bob Costas got hella sick because he realized NBC didn’t have Major League Baseball anymore to cushion him after this particular AFCCG.

[@matthewdaley746]

Considering, how, the World Series went, with, the new network, 1991, aside, it, actually, turned out to be a good thing, truly.

[@PGar58]

CBS doing MLB damn near killed the sport. First, worst broadcast pairing by far. It never worked. MLB actually REFUSED to give CBS games. Then Brent Musburger (who was supposed to call the A game) gets fired before the contract begins, making Jack Buck lead announcer. Too gravely and old school. Plus I hated the CBS early 1990s package. Too clunky and ugly, even for the time. (The package they debuted at the 1992 Winter Olympics was a huge upgrade) It did get better: Sean McDonough as the A announcer was as good as it got at that time. Also a huge upgrade. His call of Sid Bream is iconic and was CBS’s best MLB moment, followed by Joe Carter. Then came The Baseball Network, which DRAMATICALLY reduced revenues to teams, heightened the discrepancies between large and small markets and was just a terrible idea. It led directly to the cancellation of the 1994 season. And the fact that when I got married on 4-22-95, the season had not yet started. (I still am; none of the other people I know who got married in 95 - and there were a lot - still are). Fortunately FOX wanted to build the network and gave MLB enough cash. They’ve done an excellent job with it. When JG7 drops this would be a good idea for a video, I think.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

@@matthewdaley746 They'd get the NBA, so it worked out well for Bob, until the lockout of 1998-99. Because of the lack of sports properties at NBC's disposal as the 1990's closed, Costas was forced into anchoring red carpet arrivals at the 1998 Primetime Emmy Awards.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@PGar58 To be fair, Toronto's, Mini-Dynasty, was, another, huge sticking point, OTOH, considering, The, Expansion Draft, the Canadian economy, and, the city's natural undesirability, meant, that, Juan Guzman, and, Todd Stottlemyre, were, the, only, starting pitchers that, were, on, both, teams, it's, rather, a, minor-miracle, they, prevailed, even if they turned right back into a pumpkin, afterwards.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@drewzuhosky6826 The only problem, with, that, was, Michael Jordan, simply, didn't let anybody else, (legitimately), win, that team, was, so, much, like, the, Tom Brady-Patriots, terrific, to remember, insufferable, to experience.

[@threerings1345]

I hope Dick Enberg at least got paid time-and-a-half for the day.

[@axer3515]

This was common when I was young. There would only be one guy in the booth until the guy came up from the field.

[@pullt]

Elway was the Tom Brady of being Peyton Manning before Peyton Manning

[@Jared40]

Another fact bout this game is I believe it started 11 am local time in Denver I live in Colorado and remember the game starting early cause late game was on CBS

[@Bruce12867]

If I'm not mistaken, the 1977 AFC Championship Game also had a late morning (Mountain Time) kickoff.

[@Jared40]

@@Bruce12867 I wasn't born yet since I was born in 1979 but I think you are right cause Dallas played in late game

[@mgb4692]

@@Jared40 Yeah the Cowboys got the later start despite hosting the Vikings, think it was just a Dallas thing cause they played in the same slot against the Rams (in LA) the next year.

[@vincesmith2499]

11:30 local time. So one hour later than the usual early game start time.

[@vincesmith2499]

@@Bruce12867 It had a noon MST kickoff. It's strange that they had to change start times since Dallas could have hosted the early game.

[@gbonkers666]

Jim Donovan rocks!

[@Nitero_]

That was really interesting. Thanks! new subscriber.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

Similar actions occurred during the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final. Rob Stone, then FOX Sports and FS1's usual pregame anchor on MLS coverage, was in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. Normally, when Stone would have been unavailable for MLS coverage on FOX, Jenny Taft would serve as backup pregame host. On this night, Taft was also in Indianapolis covering the Big Ten Championship as the sideline reporter. So, lead play-by-play man John Strong anchored the pregame and halftime that evening from the broadcast booth at Providence Park, with Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas serving as analysts. Strong and Holden called the match as normal.

[@PGar58]

I think in general networks bench strength and the versatility of their announcers is a lot stronger. Great examples here.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

@@PGar58 Strong anchored the pregame coverage before and the postgame coverage after that match. During the COVID-19 shortened 2020 MLS season, John Strong anchored a few pregames from the studio (MLS' COVID safeguards prevented the networks from calling games at the match grounds, resulting in FOX not using Katie Witham as the sideline reporter and pregame anchor. She'd only be able to work one more game for the network post-restart that season, the 2020 MLS Cup Final, since that game took place in Columbus, where she maintains a permanent residence. Witham had been scheduled to return several times in 2021, including the postseason, but could not because of her maternity leave.) He'd also anchor the pregame from the studio from time to time in 2022. FOX was almost exclusively calling MLS games offsite due to budget cuts last season.

[@danielanderson4726]

@@drewzuhosky6826 I wonder if Fox has Strong available in case of a COVID outbreak causing KB or Joe Davis to miss a telecast. Although i'd say they'd use Tim Brando or Jason Benetti in that case. As far as CBS, if Jim Nantz were not able to do a game, maybe that's where Ian Eagle or Kevin Harlan would come in.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

Strong is still with FOX. He wasn't selected for MLS Season Pass given his status as a FOX employee and FOX retained linear TV rights to MLS through 2027. John Strong has been used on other assignments outside of soccer, like the Westminster Dog Show's agility competition and B1G college football. @@danielanderson4726

[@drewzuhosky6826]

@@danielanderson4726 John Strong has been used *almost strictly* for MLS and/or international soccer coverage, with little variation. Aside from a one-off appearance as a play-by-play man on Big Ten football during the final week of regular season play in 2019 and hosting duties on FS1's coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, he's been used on soccer coverage exclusively.

[@ASMRPeople]

I'm sure a tape trader out there has the pre & post game show. Heck I might even have it I'd have to check my dvd. As I'm sure you have experienced the NFL is very protective of there IP, so there are less redundant copies of nfl games on YT compared to college.

[@clintmatthews3500]

A play by play guy pulling double duty is pretty common for local/regional operations.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

The Michael Young Game

[@sonofsarek]

I got sick during the game too while watching at home. The flu was horrible that year.

[@ATCguy1973]

No QB stat line from our host:(

[@tonywaters9072]

Good video. But the first 2:45 was pointless.

[@TommyLewJDfacesTH2]

Yeasssssss. The almost sing song chatter

[@geoffreyhooker9005]

The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft a-gley

[@OSUalum41]

I like your content, but you drag it out way too much. This video would be excellent at 7-8 minutes. At 15 minutes it's just redundant. There's no need to keep repeating points you've already made. Take it from someone with 25 years of media experience, editing is your best friend.

[@coreylevine8095]

Curt Gowdy also did the Pregame and Play by Play but some them were tape delay

[@PGar58]

Hey, anyone remember there was a game in 1968 where it was tied with a minute to play and they cut the game short to show some kiddie movie and….. Uh, never mind.

[@americangiant1003]

Yup. Curt Gowdy did the Pre game (taped Sunday morning a couple of hours prior)for Super Bowls 3 and 5 as well as play-play. However the Super Bowl was not as big as it was now circa 1969-'71 era.

[@coreylevine8095]

@@americangiant1003 Yes i think he did also Super Bowl VII

[@mgb4692]

Also the game where Marc Trestman was fired on the plane home🤣

[@lzv6990]

Wait, this is true?

[@mgb4692]

@@lzv6990 Yep, Lane Kiffin only he was a long way away from the airport

[@DrSeuss-nv9hw]

Oh my!

[@CTubeMan]

This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about how Enberg worked a Browns game solo in 1981 against the Jets.

[@tommyparkerparker]

This wasn’t the first time a network announcer was under the weather during the NFL conference championship games. Two years prior in the 1987 NFC championship game between the Vikings and the Redskins, Pat Summerall had the flu but he still called the whole game. He called the play and the promos but John Madden as usual filled in the blanks. If Summerall was not able to have continued, Brent Musburger who was onsite at RFK Stadium hosting the NFL Today would have likely stepped in and did play by play the rest of the game with Madden and may have done halftime he or Irv Cross and Brent would have done postgame.

[@DolFan316]

3:52 *NOOOOOO!!! NOT TRACY WOLFSON!!!* I would gladly do anything in my power to help her get well...

[@Brand-ju4jm]

wished i would have watched that game but I was 11 and didnt start watching football till the following year. i was probably playing super mario bros

[@mrmoose6619]

Good on NBC finding replacements and powering through. Though you can see why I HATE the Denver Broncos...

[@B1FFCO]

Over on (jump cut) JaguarGator8😂

[@romelovesdan]

Browns fans got sick again too! Those 3 CLE DEN matchups did not go favorably...Probably still sting!

[@327Erich]

Browns fan here. They absolutely still sting, although most of today's fans are too young to remember them.

[@romelovesdan]

@@327Erich I was rooting hard for your boys and was optimistic they could win those first two AFC Championships. I too, still(!) feel a sick feeling in my stomach when I see clips or watch a certain particular game of my favorite team trying to find a path to a different result to this day...years after the fact.

[@Das_Vert]

@@327Erich I’m one of those browns fans too young to remember them. I’m so jealous of you old head browns fans that actually saw some excitement for the browns in their lifetime.

[@327Erich]

@Vert It was certainly fun, although the heartbreak of getting that close, especially in "86, stung more than the 0-16 shitshow in 2017. We had a first round bye and home field throughout, lead by a TD late, and had our stout defense give up The Drive, then an OT FG (old sudden death rules), and just like that we had to start all over again next year....and the pisser was that I missed an afternoon of sledding with my friends (it snowed quite a bit the previous night) to have my heart ripped out, lol.

[@juanparty]

Art Modell best owner ever

[@joshuaecht]

I will always wonder how the Browns would have done against the 49ers, Giants and Skins in the '80s SBs.

[@Mario-cv5el]

Tracy Wolfson can you say Woof Woof!!!

[@DolFan316]

One of those women that when you find out she's married makes you want to cry.

[@_BigTimer85]

Or maybe Costas got sick because he is a sanctimonious you-know-what

[@SweatpantsJoeGames]

They should have just had OJ do everything

[@marcus813]

I missed both this telecast and CBS' NFC Championship game because my grandparents, cousins and I were on our way to rural Alabama to see some of our relatives, so I didn't know about this. NBC was fortunate that Jim Donovan was at Mile High Stadium because I'm not sure who else would've replace Wiley at the 11th hour.

[@mikefromusa6902]

When you have a certain talent set and swagger about it, it can be used on the fly. Utmost professionals.

[@nickcastaneda203]

i would get tired of so much Joe Buck

[@majorbobbage3356]

Isnt "the strangest AFC championship game" broadcast oddly specific?

[@jonjohnson1978.]

Good lord do you drag it out......if this was 5 minutes shorter I'd deem it superb but, halfway through i wanted you to get to the point......i shall check out more as the topic is very interesting

[@stump1897]

Sweet 4:3 aspect ratio action…..

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

This was lllrd A.F.C. Championship Game duel bet. Browns/Broncos in 4 seasons (dating back to 1986-1987 season when visiting Broncos in Clev. Ohio beat host Browns, 23-20 in "walk-off" fashion in llst OT on PK Richie Karlis' game-ending FG earning Broncs berth in Super Bowl, XXI)

[@brianarbenz1329]

Or call this game "The Immaculate Infection."

[@theshawshankinception1220]

What is a conference championship game? (Texans fan here)

[@vincesmith2499]

AFC Championship, NFC Championship. Last round before the Super Bowl.

[@shackdaddy7106]

I don’t know if this is true or not. But I read that one time Howard Cosell, who had a little too much to drink, got sick and threw up in the booth during the Monday night football game. I’m thinking it was in the early 80s. Maybe somebody else knows the detail about that. Or the JAGMAN could look that up and do a video about it.

[@johnmanier7968]

It was November 23, 1970-the first season of MNF on ABC-at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

[@TMC1982Part2]

Howard Cosell also got drunk in the booth when he was working the 1984 American League Championship Series between Detroit and Kansas City. Al Michaels talks about it his his book about how he and Jim Palmer were at their wits end trying to navigate around Cosell, in particular Game 2, which lasted for 11 innings. Cosell kept obnoxiously rambling about one of the teams needing to employ a bunting strategy for which Michaels and Palmer tried to politely tell Cosell was a dumb idea. And you can subtly tell that Michaels and Palmer were betting more and more frustrated and pissed over Cosell ruining the broadcast.