FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-168 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (September 21, 2022) – In Issue 2022-168 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we celebrate the Monday Night Lights even though Dandy Don closed out the game with “Turn out the lights, the party’s over” when it was clear the fate had been sealed for that week’s losing team.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Today (Wednesday, September 21,) is the anniversary of the premiere of Monday Night Football, televised by ABC in 1970.

Howard Cosell provided the commentary while Keith Jackson announced the play-by-play as the hometown Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets 32-21.

Frank Gifford joined Cosell and Don Meredith the next year, and Gifford went on to be the longest-lasting broadcast member, a Monday night staple until 1998.

Football luminaries came and went as part of the team – Joe Namath, Alex Karras, Boomer Esiason – but ABC scored a touchdown with the duo of Al Michaels and John Madden.

Currently ESPN airs the MNF, which is now considered the “showcase” game of the week.

The team with most appearances Monday night is the Dallas Cowboys, so here is Mitchell’s map of Texas from 1876.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.