Chris Berman leaves NFL post at ESPN, will remain with network

[KingEleven]

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Chris Berman’s time hosting NFL shows at ESPN is done.

</figcaption></figure>[FONT=&quot]Chris Berman, the bombastic, gravelly voice of football for generations of NFL fans, will be departing ESPN’s NFL programming after the conclusion of this year’s postseason.

Berman, whose whoops, yelps, and cornball nicknames were an essential part of every broadcast, will remain with the network in other capacities.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“I’m thrilled that this ride will continue, albeit differently,” Berman said in a statement announcing the move, which had been rumored for many months. “Today’s announcement allows me to fulfill perhaps my final professional goal–knowing that I will finish with the team I came in with.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Berman started at ESPN just a month after the network began operations in 1979. He’s hosted “NFL Countdown” for 31 seasons, and participated in “SportsCenter” in various roles for 38 years.

He’s also worked the ESPYS and hosted events ranging from the Home Run Derby to the U.S. Open. That’s an awful lot of “Back! Back! Back’s! and “Jose ‘Can You See’ Canseco’s.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Like every other element of ESPN–or, indeed, sports in general, Berman was polarizing, with some viewers appreciating the humor he brought to broadcasts, and others preferring, well … let’s just say preferring other broadcaster options.

(For those in the former camp, ESPN is airing a tribute to Berman, “He Did Go All The Way,” on Feb. 2.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Berman will continue to contribute to ESPN in a smaller capacity, though he will not be hosting NFL shows, the NFL draft, or the Home Run Derby.

No replacements have been named.[/FONT]

 

[KingEleven]

Love him or hate him, he is an icon in that business

 

[JohnnyMac]

A run-of-the-mill carnival barker, just in the right place at the right time in 1979.

 

[KingEleven]

A run-of-the-mill carnival barker, just in the right place at the right time in 1979.

don't disagree with that

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

A man who loved coming to work....you can't do better than that....

I enjoyed his stuff over the years....

 

[JoeFalls]

the guy would be a great next door neighbor.

 

[Willie99]

I love the Boomer

isn't this old news? I thought this was decided a while back

 

[SunDodger]

How many Howard Cosell lines did he steal?

Always hated his dumb nicknames.

At some point, ESPN's NFL highlight show turned to shit.

 

[thecentaur]

the guy would be a great next door neighbor.

Not if you have any daughters or some alcohol sitting around not locked up

 

[mountain]

He was good back in the day, say around Bert "be home" Blyleven and Von "Purple" Hayes days.

Got old after that

 

[slapshot]

A run-of-the-mill carnival barker, just in the right place at the right time in 1979.

Yeah

 

[thecentaur]

"Carnival barker"

Never heard that term

 

[Willie99]

He was good back in the day, say around Bert "be home" Blyleven and Von "Purple" Hayes days.

Got old after that

sportscenter used to be a must watch, not only for Boomer but for a lot of the early faces on ESPN

he was entertaining, he molded ESPN, he kept them in Connecticut and he received large offers from the competition

SVP is OK, but I can't watch 85% of their non sports programming anymore

 

[WorldNumberOne]

ESPN became unwatchable when they started thinking their anchors were as important as the game. Now we get to watch the Chris Berman jerk off tour for the next few weeks as he departs..

Only show I truly enjoy on ESPN is Baseball Tonight.. NBA Countdown isn't bad, because Michelle Beadle is hot...

 

[KingEleven]

ESPN became unwatchable when they started thinking their anchors were as important as the game. Now we get to watch the Chris Berman jerk off tour for the next few weeks as he departs..

Only show I truly enjoy on ESPN is Baseball Tonight.. NBA Countdown isn't bad, because Michelle Beadle is hot...

for baseball, switch over to MLB network, you will NOT be sorry

 

[Call_Me_Marquee]

They don't make em like Boom anymore, a true legend in sports media. Can't believe he won't be doing the HR Derby anymore either

 

[Knightrofins]

Loved him as a kid. However, i cannot take his schtick over these past few years. Home Run Derby is annoying. Yet he doesnt bug me when he does football highlites.

However, he is killing it on his picks this season on his 2 min drill

 

[WorldNumberOne]

for baseball, switch over to MLB network, you will NOT be sorry

I watch both.. Good stuff over at MLB too...

 

[REDEYE]

Some of Berman's stuff has got old over the years, but the overall product has been pretty darn good over the years.. Primetime was much watch for a lot of years..he's a pretty good studio host

 

[Acebb]

Samantha Ponder, Suzy Kolber will replace Chris Berman on ESPN's Sunday and Monday NFL shows


On Thursday, ESPN confirmed earlier reports that Samantha Ponder would be the new host of “Sunday NFL Countdown,” replacing longtime host Chris Berman.

Additionally, Suzy Kolber, who has been co-hosting “Monday Night Countdown” with Berman for the last couple of years, will now be the lone host of that show as well as the “Monday Night Football” halftime and postgame shows.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of the ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ family,” Ponder said in a statement. “There is no such thing as replacing Chris Berman, but the chance to build on his incredible legacy while simultaneously taking new risks to serve NFL fans is the opportunity of a lifetime.”