"Turn out the Lights. The Party is Over" : A tribute to Don Meredith

The 'Monday Night Football' team
Frank Gifford, Howard Cossell, & Don Meredith

" TURN OUT THE LIGHTS. THE PARTY IS OVER"!!

A Tribute to Don Meredith

Those words will forever be remembered as Don Meredith regularly exclaimed when he felt a Monday Night Football game was decided. Legendary Don Meredith would first become known for his exceptional NFL Dallas Cowboys quarter back performance (1960 - 1968) however he will forever be remembered for his catchy phrases and impact on Monday Night Football (1970-74 & 1977-83).

After his nine seasons with the Cowboys, 3 of which he was named to the Pro Bowl, Don Meredith would be selected by Roone Arledge's to work for the new NFL broadcasting show called "Monday Night Football". Meredith provided color commentary on the ABC program and was part of the program's original three-man broadcasting team. Together Gifford, Cossell, and Meredith created one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series ever, and one of the highest-rated, particularly among male viewers.

The MNF team created a stage for thousands to watch where witty Cossell would provide a play-by-play and Meredith would fill in the gaps with commentary. Meredith's role as NFL's first ever color commentator was the difference between a sport's game and a sport's production on television. MNF became a must-see program versus just another football game. Whereas before fans would just watch their respective teams, MNF became the game to watch every week. What made "Dandy Don" so special was that he was also a former NFL star. He knew the game and had experienced it from the other side; the playing field. Automatically his opinion's were accepted because viewers respected him for is athletic ability and positive history within the league.

The dynamic combination of a brilliant sports program plus an experienced color commentator forever changed the history of the National Football League. In 1970 when MNF aired, those individuals changed the idea of what a professional football game should be experienced like. To them a football game was not just a game. It was an opportunity to re-create the entertainment that once was written during the Golden Age of Sports. They now had the chance to speak opinions, paint pictures, and create ideas that writers used to be recognized for in the 1930's.

Before there was Pardon the Interruption and before there even was ESPN, there was Monday Night Football. The leading innovator on sports telecommunication. Thanks to MNF, people began to see the entertainment value of sports through the television. Not everyone had to get to the ball park to partake in the experience. Thanks to MNF, watching the game on the television became an experience.

Hat's off to a memorable history. In honor of Don Meredith let me respectively say, "Turn out the lights. The party is over". Thanks for being the first of many to glorify the game and increase viewership through that fancy box called the television. :)