Richard Pryor hosted Saturday Night Live in its flagship season of 1975. The interesting thing about that broadcast is that it wasn't actually live. Pryor's comedy was so cutting edge and profane at the time that NBC used a delay, as they were uncertain what he might say next.
ESPN may want to consider borrowing that delay this season as Monday Night Football has announced the addition of Jon Gruden to its broadcast booth. Gruden will replace Tony Kornheiser who no longer wanted to deal with the constant traveling. Gruden joins Brian Billick, Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher as Super Bowl winning coaches who have traded their headsets for earpieces. They are all likely candidates to eventually return to the sidelines.
Gruden is a rare breed though. After he replaced the beloved Tony Dungy as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach in 2002, former Buc Derrick Brooks was asked to describe the difference between the two men. Without hesitation, Brooks replied "Coach Gruden curses a lot."
Gruden's presence in the MNF booth could give new meaning to the term "color commentary." Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of profanity.
This article appears in May 20-26, 2009.