In what is probably the crazest trade I have ever heard of, one of the greatest announcers in sports history, Al Michaels was traded from ESPN to NBC. The only thing that is weirder than an announcer being traded is what this announcer got traded for.
The previous voice of Monday Night Football and the announcer who called the “Miracle on Ice” was swapped for the rights of the 4 Ryder Cups, more highlights on ESPN, and of course Oswald the Rabbit.
Many of you are probably asking, “who the hell is Oswald the Rabbit?”. Oswald the Rabbit is a character created by Walt Disney when he was at Universal in the 1920’s and after he left he created the character Mickey Mouse, which is essentially Oswald the Rabbit without the rabbit ears. Disney, the parent company for ESPN, has gone all those years without the rights to the pre-Mickey Mickey Mouse, Oswald the Rabbit.
Must be pretty weird feeling for someone who is not an athlete to get traded. Both Michaels and NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol joked that at least there was more trade value here then the Jets got for their former head coach, Herman Edwards. Edwards was traded to the Chiefs for a 4th round draft pick.
I figured I would do a trade analysis much like they would do with actual athletes since they are the ones that usually get traded.
NBC gets:
1)Al Michaels for their new Sunday Night Football.
ESPN gets:
1) 4 Ryder Cup rights
2) Olympic Highlights
3) Oswald the Rabbit
Looks like NBC had the stronger offseason picking up Michaels, the premier voice in sports right now. ESPN did not seem to get too much to improve their team, getting golf, olympic highlights, and a forgotten rabbit.
Pick: NBC to win (-4 1/2)
vs.