Ian Eagle addresses criticisms of Al Michaels

CBS Sports activities and Westwood One Radio Sports activities NFL play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle is the most recent noteworthy particular person to handle criticisms lobbed towards legendary broadcaster Al Michaels concerning how Michaels calls “Thursday Night time Soccer” video games for Amazon Prime Video. 

“His method, his model and his command of the printed, you place that on the high of the record,” Eagle stated about Michaels throughout the newest version of the “SI Media With Jimmy Traina” podcast, as shared by Brendon Kleen of Terrible Asserting. “So far as the place we’re on this planet, everyone is allowed to have an opinion, everyone is allowed to share that opinion. There are actually extra avenues to share that than ever earlier than. On this job, I’ve discovered that it’s a part of the deal. You possibly can’t management it. You possibly can deal with it in any means you so select, however you possibly can’t management it.” 

Michaels, who turned 79 years previous this previous weekend, has routinely been on the receiving end of complaints from followers and analysts who declare he usually sounds disinterested and even bored throughout video games he is calling. Andrew Marchand of the New York Publish famous final week that Michaels earns “an estimated $500,000 to $1M” per sport, and Michaels informed Marchand he plans to proceed working by way of not less than subsequent NFL season. 

Michaels hasn’t been shy about responding to critics all through 2023 although each he and Eagle perceive such takes include working high-profile gigs. 

“Al’s been doing this on the highest stage eternally,” Eagle added throughout the podcast episode. “And Al’s going to do it the best way that he sees match as a result of he’s earned it. However you can also’t simply dismiss that others could have an opinion. They’re allowed to have an opinion, that’s the way it works.”

Michaels and broadcast accomplice Kirk Hebrstreit theoretically ought to have an excellent matchup to name when the 5-4 Cincinnati Bengals play on the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens on Thursday evening. One factor for sure concerning the broadcast is that Michaels will not change his model for that or any project at this stage of his storied profession.