Rating the Amazon Prime announcers for Vikings-Rams
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will have the call of a game that also will be aired by FOX9.
Having covered the sports TV-radio beat for the Star Tribune for eight years, I found there was plenty of interest in that side of the business.
We tune into games to watch the action, but the viewing experience either can be enhanced or taken away from by those describing what is going on.
Thus, each week I’m planning to do a brief analysis of who will be in the booth to call Vikings’ game and whether the assignment is a good or bad one.
Network and broadcast team: Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit. Kaylee Hartung will be the sideline reporter. Important note: If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can watch this game on FOX9 in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.
Rating the duo: 5 on a scale of 1-10.
Why that rating? Michaels, who will turn 80 on Nov. 12, is one of the most recognizable voices to ever call NFL games. He did play-by-play of ABC’s “Monday Night Football” from 1996 to 2005 before moving to NBC in 2006 to do Sunday night games. Michaels held that role through 2021 before being replaced by Mike Tirico.
Michaels was hired by Amazon Prime in 2022 when the Thursday night package made the move to streaming. It gave the new kid on the block, Amazon Prime, a recognizable name, but not necessarily someone who fans still consider an elite announcer. Although Michaels has made many legendary calls, he’s received justified criticism for making the exciting seem routine in recent years.