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Olbermann Returns to Sports
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Keith Olbermann has been named co-host of NBC’s “Football Night in America,” muscling his way onto the already-crowded (and proverbial) studio couch already shared by Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Jerome Bettis and Tiki Barber. It marks a return to regular TV sports work for the man generally credited with originating the now standard rollicking ESPN “Sports Center” format with co-host Dan Patrick from 1992-1997.
More recently, Olbermann has become well known as the co-host of the liberal-leaning “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” on MSNBC. The show’s popular nightly “Worst Person in the World” feature has spawned a book and an ongoing feud with perennial nominee Bill O’Reilly of Fox News. “Countdown’s” ratings have been climbing steadily, although they still trail time-slot opponent “The O’Reilly Factor.”
Olbermann recently signed a new four-year contract reportedly worth as much as $4 million a year, that would keep him doing “Countdown” and feature expanded duties with NBC News. The question now is, is $4 million enough incentive for Mr. Big Talk to look down at the field and declare some 350-pound lineman the “Worst Player in the World?”

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Comments
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By jc_atl
April 16, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
I like Keith O. Given his background in sports and good work at ESPN it should be a good fit.
By Anonymous 2
April 16, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
To call Olberman’s MSNBC program “liberal-leaning” is comparable to saying Karl Marx was a moderate. Way understates the obvious. And to imply that there are relative viewer numbers compared to Bill O’Reilly’s show is downright deception. Olberman’s audience numbers are not even the same “universe” with “The O’Reilly Factor”. O’Reilly is so far ahead that there is no comparison. Vejnoska, who was your journalism mentor, Cynthia “Obfuscate the Facts” Tucker?
By MS
April 16, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
I can hear the giant talking head now, complaining about how the NFL is now letting the terrorists win.
Great move by NBC. Mr. Oberman is a creative eloquent glib spokesman and deserves more on-air time.
By Marcus
April 16, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
I prefer my SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL politics-FREE.
Kiss My Conservative Black Rear End, Keith Olberman.
By Grampus
April 16, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
Interesting that Olbermann’s return from the wasteland of MSNBC is blogged under Entertainment instead of Sports. Is this a reflection of the relative worth of his political views or wishful thinking regarding his new career?
By Hubert Combs
April 16, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with Marcus!
By Elmo
April 16, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
It’s time to start pruning the Couch. Too many egos fighting for air time.
By joe
April 16, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
I find it funny “Grampus” doesn’t consider “sports” entertainment.
By JP
April 16, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
Anonymous, no matter how you prefer to slant the Olbermann show, this metro ATL resident finds it much more entertaining and far more refreshing than Bill-O’s condescending rants. You can HAVE Bill. I’m thankful that at least on TV, we have a choice. Now if we could just get someone to build an audience to oppose Rush or Hannity..
As for Keith’s role on NBC SPorts, we’ll have to see if his newfound fame and new contract affect how he reports football. During pregame, that’s all that matters.
By Georgiavol
April 16, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
KO is a self righteous jerk of the worst kind. I wonder if his pathetic envy of Rush Limbaugh will be as evident during the show as it is during his daily stink with Dan Patrick on ESPN Radio.
By jp
April 16, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Also - Anon2, And to imply that there are relative viewer numbers compared to Bill O’Reilly’s show is downright deception. Olberman’s audience numbers are not even the same “universe” with “The O’Reilly Factor”. O’Reilly is so far ahead that there is no comparison.
Why is it people who watch O’Reilly take such joy in his audience figures? Olbermann has increased by 50 or 60% in the last year, if I’m remembering correctly. To some of us, how that number compares to O’Reilly isn’t what’s important—Building an audience is.
O”reilly ‘s audience went down, by the way. Pride comes before a fall.
By Anti-Marcus
April 16, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
Why is it that so called conservatives always have to name call. I am so called left leaning and I don’t care who does the studio work so long as its about Football and not their hair, their ego, their politics or anything else.
By td
April 16, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
blah blah blah liberal blah blah blah terrorist blah blah blah
By Noelle
April 16, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
I find it amusing that anyone would tag Olbermann as “liberal-leaning.” He’s a conservative Libertarian. Just because he’s fed up with the debacle of the current administration and despises the screaming talking heads of O’Reilly’s type doesn’t make him liberal. Think of him as a more eloquent Neal Boortz with a hefty dose of common sense.
By MS
April 16, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
Noelle, you don’t understand. To this crowd, anyone to the right of S. Hannity is a liberal.
BTw, Obermann does a sports show on ESPN during the afternoon with Dan Patrick. This is hardly a return to sports.
By Da Kimmer Sux
April 16, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
To Anonymous 2:
Obviously you know nothing about demographics. Sheer numbers are not what advertisers seek (although it is important for obvious reasons).
Advertisers seek the all important 25-50 age group. O’ Reilly gets a bigger audience of much older Americans. It’s easier for old farts to get their minds around “Libs bad/Bush good” arguments as they take their nightly enemas at the old folks home.
But old folks don’t really have the spending power of the younger crowd.
Now go and have your Depend’s changed - you stink!
By Liberal Drive-by
April 16, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
The big difference between KO and that idiot Limpball is that KO knows sports. Limpball was a joke.
By CW
April 16, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Hey, anon2, the fact that they refered to KO’s show as “liberal-leaning” seems like a great leap forward to me. This is the paper of Tucker & Luckovich after all. And, Noelle, you’re cracking me up. Don’t ever change, mm-kay.
By Fulton
April 16, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
I don’t know which is KILLING this country more, the black vs. white thing or, the left vs. right nonsense. After all this time, you’d think we’d figure it out; We’re ALL in the same sinking boat. DAMN!! You can’t even enjoy SPORTS anymore without it becoming a political issue!!
By Akagi
April 16, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
First, 50% of zero is still zero and second anyone who thinks KO is a “conservative Libertarian,” must also think that Mao and Stalin were moderate reformers.
By Richard
April 16, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
AJC is exactly correct that MSNBC/Olbermann numbers are climbing. But, what they failed to mention that it is easy to increase viewers when your share is practically zero. Why don’t MNF just add Rosie O’Donnell instead of Olbermann that way she could add a masculine point of view instead of Keith’s.
By Noelle
April 16, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Very true, MS, but it was the AJC blogger who referred to him as liberal-leaning first. I’d expect it from the wingnuts!
By Sri
April 16, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
Keith “trails” O’Reilly?!!!
Plz don’t resort to such spin. O’Reilly’s ratings are way ahead of Keith’s…
By jeff
April 16, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Olbermann is a sniveling rat who apparently doesn’t belive in free speech, whether it be offensive or not.
By Gayle Abbott
April 16, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Perhaps with the additional air time, KO will make the inevitable slip like his former colleague Imus and then he can enjoy the same support of his co-workers that Imus got.
By Gayle Abbott
April 16, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Perhaps with the additional air time, KO will make the inevitable slip like his former colleague Imus and then he can enjoy the same support of his co-workers that Imus got.
By jase
April 16, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this
I am just thankful that NBC did not add Michael Irvin to the pre-game show.
By Chuck
April 16, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this
I dont watch FOX at all because it is WAYYYYYYYYY to RIGHT WING.
I enjoy Countdown Keith Olbermann because he at least lets people have it on both sides (Right and Left) when they get out of line.
Unlike FOX who likes to praise this crooked administration and tries to make all of us believe it is all in the name of security. Hogwash.
There is one scandal after another coming from the republican party and this administration.
How FOX can stick thier head in the sand and not see the reality of this is beyond me.
As far as Hannity- I personally think he is an idiot and he talks about how he tells the truth. PLEASE!! He would not know the truth if he ran into it.
It would not surprise me if BUSH is impeached before his term ends. This administration is too much like the NIXON way of life.
Only Downside to his impeachment is we would have a bigger fool at the top (Cheney)
I am sure that is why the DEMS won’t back impeachment. If they did, we will be in another war with IRAN within 45 days of him taking office.
God help us all!
By Wilbur
April 16, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
I farted.
By Chris
April 16, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
Keith Oberman is an egotistical jerk. He thinks every point of view he holds is inarguable and he mocks those who disagree. I turn off Dan Patrick in the afternoon every time Oberman comes on the air. I mean this guy actually wrote an autobiography just before he was canned by ESPN. He thinks people really care, what a joke!
By justbob
April 16, 2007 6:06 PM | Link to this
Wilbur, you were lucky. But I digress.
Noelle, you are indeed a hoot. Scary, but hilarious.
By fair & balanced
April 16, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this
Lots more people watch Bill-O than KO. So what. How many kazillion people watch American Idol? Lots more than 24, Law & Order, the Simpsons, Boston Legal, etc. Does that make it the best show on the tube? Hardly. The only negative to the story is that NBC is doing the NFL instead of MLB, the sport Costas & Olbermann were born to broadcast. Olbermann may be a lefty politcally, but at least his opinions are fact-based, as opposed to the fantasy alternate universe that Bill-o has constructed.
By Wayne
April 16, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
“I enjoy Countdown Keith Olbermann because he at least lets people have it on both sides (Right and Left) when they get out of line.”
Chuck: Name one time he gave it to the left…C’mon, I dare you…
By Sinforoso
April 16, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
Keith Olbermann is an opportunistic moron riding on the coat tails of Bill O’Reilly
By Brian
April 16, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this
The job of folks like Bill O, Sean Hannity and yes, Keith Olbermann, is to entertain and incite, not to inform and be accurate. They get paid to attract viewers. A secondary benefit would be the gradual lobotomy one receives from repeated viewings.
By lz
April 16, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
Great. Now Olberman can blame Bill O’reilly when the Jets lose or the Giants don’t cover. I wonder if he will be bringing in John Dean to give analysis on half time highlights?
By Mike
April 16, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe that I have to look at that idiot if I want to watch football on Thursday.
What a disgrace!
By Chuck
April 16, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
By Wayne
April 16, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
“I enjoy Countdown Keith Olbermann because he at least lets people have it on both sides (Right and Left) when they get out of line.”
Chuck: Name one time he gave it to the left…C’mon, I dare you…
Well Wayne, If you watched the show, there have been many instances KO had criticized, Clinton (Bill and Hillary), Sen Dodd, Senator Schumer and many others. You must be part of the expanded ratings KO is getting since you think you watch the show. If you dont like KO or COUNTDOWN. Don’t watch. Thats what I did with FOX. I DON’T WATCH THAT RIGHT WING CRAP!
By Ol' Diz
April 16, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
KO = TO. But are really talented with lots of upside yet their mouths always seem to get them in trouble and they find themselves with new employment.
By mark smith
April 16, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
I agree with Marcus except mine is white!! Keith O can’t carry Bill’s jock strap!
By mark smith
April 16, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
I agree with Marcus except mine is white!! Keith O can’t carry Bill’s jock strap!
By GG
April 16, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this
Not a fan….
By smartguy
April 16, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this
Can Olberman coach basketball? The Hawks defintely need a new coach.
By david
April 17, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
Hilarious! This “mark smith” clown was just on the Braves blog telling everyone how horrible it is to honor Jackie Robinson. So many people who call themselves conservatives are really just thinly disguised RACISTS!
By MS
April 17, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Keith Oberman is an egotistical jerk. He thinks every point of view he holds is inarguable and he mocks those who disagree. - Chris
Even if what you said was true, are you telling me that Bill-o doesn’t? Is there a bigger egotistical jerk on the planet than the luffa-loving, self-proclaimed winner of 2 Polks (later proven to be a lie), giant talking head?
In point of fact, Mr. O’Reilly makes things up as he goes along to support his outrageous right-wing claims. The fact that there are people like you who actually believe them is sad.
I feel sorry for you.
By mountain jim
April 17, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Way to go KO.
You haters just keep clinging to the sinking ship that Bush and you wingnuts are riding on down to the depths of incompetance in governing thru worship of authoritarian ‘leaders’ with no plan and no clue about anything other than politicing justice and every other government function.
He may be arrogant, but KO has more sense and more intelligence than BillO will ever muster up on the Faux Noise channel.
By Mountain Mike
April 17, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Mountain Jim’s a typical left wing no nothing. He uses a lot of words but says nothing.
To say that KO is arrogant and egotistical is an understatement. He plain think his s%^& doesn’t stink. Bill O’Reilly is far superior to KO
I know one football show I wont be watching.