Jets in a Monday Night Tilt Exactly 45 Years After Playing in the First One

Exactly 45 years ago tonight, the first Monday night game of the ABC “package” was played in which the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets (31-21). Tonight the Jets are in the Monday night game visiting the Indianapolis Colts.

In that 1970 season the then Baltimore Colts won the first AFC/NFC Super Bowl. It was the Jets’ stunning victory vs the Colts in the third Super Bowl that eventually led to this monolith’s (the NFL) incredible power.

Last week the Jets opened their season with a win vs the Cleveland Browns. The original Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. The Colts moved in the middle of the night from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

In that first Monday night game, players such as Gary Collins, Bill Nelsen, Homer Jones of the Browns and Joe Namath and Matt Snell of the Jets stood out.

The announcers were Keith Jackson, a year before Frank Gifford, deemed handsome, replaced him as play by play announcer, Howard Cosell and Don Meredith.

Tonight as the first Monday night season without Mr. Gifford on earth continues, we are “sent” somewhere below that, enduring mistake prone Mike Tirico, non stop talking Jon Gruden and yet another of the completely unnecessary sideline “reporters.”

Boy was Andy Rooney ever right, in my not so humble opinion, regarding his assertion we do not need sideline reporters. In case you are wondering that means any and the fact most are women, is not the reason I do not want those “reporters.”

Click below for an interview in which Andy Rooney gives some of his views.

Curmudgeon Andy Rooney on Female Sideline Reporters [Video]

Above is Keith Jackson the first ABC Package Monday Night Football Play by Play Announcer