 RE: Michelle is in
Tafoya named sideline reporter for 'Monday Night Football'
Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
May 4, 2004
Michele Tafoya's broadcasting résumé has a new highlight.
Tafoya, who made the jump from KFAN Radio in Minnesota to CBS in the fall of 1994, was named the sideline reporter Monday for ABC's "Monday Night Football," replacing Lisa Guerrero. Guerrero, who was hired after Melissa Stark left after three years, lasted only one season and came under heavy criticism for her shaky work.
"I'm just really excited about the opportunity to do this," said Tafoya, who lives in the Minneapolis area and also has worked locally at Midwest Sports Channel and WCCO-TV. "In a way it's a dream job because of the stage you are on and the people I will be working with."
Unlike the 39-year-old Guerrero, who brought plenty of on-camera experience to the job but hadn't done much work on the sideline, Tafoya is a veteran in this area. She already is the No. 1 courtside reporter for NBA telecasts on Disney-owned ABC and ESPN, and has handled sideline assignments for college football as well as the NFL when she was at CBS. Tafoya, 39, also has handled various play-by-play jobs.
"Whenever I've watched Michele on television I've seen somebody who appears to be very passionate about what she's doing," "MNF" producer Fred Gaudelli said. "She's extremely knowledgeable and credible and there is a great likeability about her. . . . Those things made her a natural choice. Plus, her style will fit perfectly with [announcers] Al Michaels and John Madden."
Gaudelli first contacted Tafoya about the "MNF" job two weeks ago. After going to New York to meet with Gaudelli and Mike Pearl, the executive producer for ABC Sports, she was offered the post a few days later. "She was the only person we spoke to about this," Gaudelli said.
Tafoya, who left CBS to join ESPN in January 2000, had not pursued the "MNF" job. "I've never really thrown my hat into the ring," said Tafoya, who will make her debut Aug. 9 at the Hall of Fame Game. "I think in this business opportunities come along and this is one that just came up. I never really considered pursuing this job or lobbying for it. That's not really my style."
As for Guerrero's future, she is expected to stay with ABC Sports, but Gaudelli admits the "MNF" job was a poor fit. "I'm a believer in Lisa's talents, but I just didn't think her talent and the role matched up," he said. "The sideline role is an incredibly hectic environment and nothing is predictable. . . . My hope was that we would work like gangbusters, which we did and Lisa did, to expedite the learning curve as quickly as we could. But in the end, the talent and the role were not compatible."
In a statement released by ABC, Guerrero said: "I enjoyed my season. It was a wonderful step in my career, and I look forward to the next opportunity."
Tafoya, who already works with Michaels on ABC's NBA telecasts, will continue in that role for ABC and ESPN. However, she will have to give up her assignment on ESPN's Monday night pregame show. She has a four-year deal with the all-sports network that ends after 2006 and received a multiyear contract from ABC. That network's deal with the NFL ends after the 2005 season.
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05-03-2004, 08:20 PM
