With tonight’s Monday Night Countdown assignment, Kolber enjoys a “homecoming”
Philly Sports Moments
Kolber remembers: “As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, I was lucky enough to go to lots of 76ers games. . . And how fortunate was I to have players like Julius Erving, George McGinnis and my personal favorite [current NBA Countdown analyst] Doug Collins representing the home team. I saw the Phillies win the World Series and cheered as the Flyers won the Stanley Cup.” Read about Kolber’s favorite Philadelphia-area places to visit on Front Row’s Facebook page.
Tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) is more than a home game for the top team in the NFC East; it’s also a homecoming for ESPN host Suzy Kolber.
A native of Upper Dublin, Pa., Kolber returns to the Philadelphia area to host ESPN’s more than two-hour Monday Night Countdown (6 p.m., ESPN) from Lincoln Financial Field. She talks about working on MNF’s pregame show and hosting the weekday NFL Insiders (3 p.m., ESPN) with Front Row.
After working the sidelines on Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football, how have you incorporated your reporting skill set in your current role as host on Monday Night Countdown?
I truly loved being on the sidelines for SNF [2001-05] and MNF [2006-11]. It was probably the assignment that most connected me to my lifelong love of the NFL. With that said, I try to make my hosting role on MNC an extension of the sideline. I still gather my information directly from the coaches and players and also work hard to create a seamless flow between [MNF reporter] Lisa Salters’ reports, our analysis on the set, our feature items and the game itself.
What is it like to work alongside [Countdown NFL analysts] Steve Young, Trent Dilfer and Ray Lewis after covering them as players?
As the host, I appreciate that I get to be the QB for three Super Bowl champs. It’s my job to help them shine and I take that very seriously. Mutual respect is key. Plus, like any relationship, chemistry is paramount, so most importantly we have fun together.
As host of NFL Insiders, what about the show are you most proud of?
I am so proud of NFL Insiders because unlike many other shows, our Insiders drive the content and determine the direction of the show. Producer Todd Snyder, who is very creative in his own right, does a great job of collecting and organizing everyone’s info and putting together a rundown that really flows. That is not an easy task. It’s a must-see if you like hardcore inside information.
