Al Michaels Expresses His Plans On Retiring: ‘I’m doing next year’

Al Michaels is without a doubt among the greatest sportscasters of all time. It is impossible to count how many important athletic events he has called, and the list keeps getting longer.

For over 56 years, Michaels has been performing this. The day is slowly but definitely drawing near for him to put up the headset at 78 years old.

Al Michaels Expresses His Plans On Retiring: ‘I’m doing next year’

Michaels discussed his latest performance and if he intends to hang up the mike in the near future with Andrew Marchand of The New York Post.

In a recent interview, Michaels answered questions regarding his near future from Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. Regarding at least next year, the 78-year-old was clear. When the time comes, he also doesn’t want any kind of particular farewell.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing next year. There’s no question about that in my mind. Look when I’m done. It’s the way John Madden was done. Two words and a contraction: ‘It’s time.’ I don’t need any parade or that nonsense.

Michaels agreed to a three-year deal with Amazon to call the Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video. His contract, which supposedly pays him between $500,000 and $1 million every game, expires next season. Despite the fact that the upcoming season is the last one left on his contract, Michaels told Marchand he had no intention of doing a retirement tour and refused to call it his last year in the game.

“Look, when I’m done, it’s the way John Madden was done,” Michaels said. “Two words and a contraction: ‘It’s time.’ I don’t need any parade or that nonsense.”

“I don’t think I’m a lot different than I have been through the years,” Michaels told Marchand. “And if people you know want to say that ‘Al doesn’t sound as excited,’ hold on a second, folks. I’m doing the same game I’ve always done.”

The voice of “Thursday Night Football” on Amazon Prime Video, Michaels, is perhaps the best NFL TV play-by-player of all time. He threw fastballs at 97 mph at his heyday. He was still in the low 90s on the black throughout his latter years at NBC, which included an almost Tom Brady-like performance in the Super Bowl a little over a year and a half ago.

I told him that I felt like he was sometimes throwing an 85. He lacks the characteristic inflexion that punctuates a play on Thursdays, as seen by his lack of enthusiasm after Will Levis’s impressive acrobatics to escape being sacked during the Titans’ thrilling victory against the Steelers last week.

The week before, just as time was running short, Michaels took all the thrill out of a blocked field goal and a Hail Mary throw. And Michaels has already disclosed this information. Fans have observed his declining zeal ever since he began labelling a selection of games that he had previously called “crap.”

Michaels’ performance over the previous two seasons has caused much social media stress, but the well-known play-by-play announcer won’t give in to cries for retirement. In the end, that’s a positive thing.

 

 

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