Watchdog

There is a reason ESPN loads up on former print journalists to do much of its on-air question asking. It's because asking questions is not as easy as it looks.

Exhibit A: Steve Young's query to the Steelers' James Harrison after Monday night's game:

"You know, James, you've fought through a lot of adversity. Unheralded. Akron State. You come from Akron. Parents are here. You're playing on a big Monday night stage. But what I want to know about the Pittsburgh Steelers, everyone is talking about the Indianapolis Colts, everyone is talking about the New England Patriots.

"Why are . . . do you believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers, I'm sure the answer is 'yes,' but do you believe the Pittsburgh Steelers can, are you looking forward to getting to New England or are you just taking it one weekend at a time, or do you start looking at that offense and say, 'Can we match up well if we stop Randy Moss,' I mean, is there any talk like that in the locker room about New England?''

Harrison: "No.''

(Awful Announcing has links to a couple of interesting MNF clips from last night, including Mike Tirico tweaking NBC for its "green'' initiative Sunday and, much worse, analysts Young and Emmitt Smith attempting to shout over the national anthem.)