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Big Shot: Billy Joel, ARod, Messier and Melo Discuss the Pressure Aaron Rodgers might deal with on “Monday Night Countdown” Season Debut

Monday Night Countdown reporter Michelle Beisner-Buck and producer Jon Fish weaved an interview with the music legend - and NYC icons Messier, Melo and ARod - into their storytelling

EDITOR’S NOTE: In advance of tonight’s 2024 clash of the Buffalo Bills visiting the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (8:15 ET, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ABC), ESPN producer Jon Fish revisited his 2023 feature about the pressure of performing in New York City as it related to then “new” Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was injured in that game 13 months ago. The updated feature’s theme has added resonance in light of the Jets firing head coach Robert Saleh last week.

Fish says: “With the firing of Saleh, the microscope is now clearly zoomed in on Aaron Rodgers more than ever. So we added more insight from Rodgers recent sit-down as well as expanded on the other athletes anecdotes.

“It is clear given how the season has gone for New York that the drive to win big never goes away for any New York franchise.
As we looked at the feature, we were happy to have a longer running time which allowed us to expand upon the stories [Mark] Messier, AROD [Alex Rodriguez] and Carmelo [Anthony] experienced while playing in New York City. Viewers will really enjoy watching this longer version.”

Watch the updated feature tonight on Monday Night Countdown (6 ET, ESPN).

Below is the 2023 ESPN Front Row post about the project.

Messier. Melo. ARod (the baseball version).

They are three New York athletes who know all about pressure and have said at one point, that’s “My Life.”

But when the pressure of “playing” in the Big Apple is discussed – as it has been incessantly since the latest NYC “ARod,” Aaron Rodgers, signed with the New York Jets – there’s one man who wrote the book song on it: Billy Joel.

So, with tonight’s season debut of Monday Night Football kicking off in New York (well, technically in New Jersey but, you get the point) as the Jets host the Buffalo Bills, Monday Night Countdown’s Michelle Beisner-Buck and producer Jon Fish sought out Joel to understand, with “Honesty,” why New York pressure is like no other sports town’s.

“I am a guy who likes music,” said Fish. “There is no one more New York than Billy Joel and, by the way, he has the perfect song and he’s also performed at Madison Square Garden nearly 150 times. No one knows pressure in New York like Billy.”

Well, no one, maybe except for Rodgers, who hopes “This is the Time” to end Gang Green’s 50-plus year Super Bowl drought.

“There really is no better person that can speak to the pressure and the expectations of performing on the biggest stage in the world, New York City, than the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel,” said Beisner-Buck. “What an honor to sit with a true New York, and legendary performer as he candidly gave us his New York state of mind.”

With the help from ESPN’s music department, Joel agreed to sit down with Monday Night Countdown on Sunday, just after his sound-check prior to the 94th show of his Madison Square Garden residency – and his 140th show ever at the iconic venue.

“Billy Joel’s music has been the soundtrack to my life,” said Beisner-Buck. “And now my five-year-old sons sing ‘Uptown Girl’ while we make dinner.”

Although Joel said he can’t imagine what it’ll be like for Rodgers – he will not be “The Stranger” under center – when he takes the field on Monday night. But according to Joel, “he knows what he is doing.”

So do Mark Messier, Carmelo Anthony and Alex Rodriguez, who for extended phases of their respective storied careers, excelled under pressure for the hometown New York City fan base. Messier and Rodriguez, ESPN NHL and MLB analysts, respectively, and Anthony were interviewed for the Monday Countdown feature.

“It is Monday Night Football. There is no bigger stage than this with the Jets and Bills playing,” said Fish. “You have these New York athletes who dealt with all the pressures of New York, and you have the voice of New York – the soundtrack of New York, in Billy Joel.”

Tonight, Jets fans get to find out if “This is the Time.”

The full feature will air on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown (6-8 p.m. ET, ESPN), just before the Bills and Jets meet on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. For more information, visit ESPN Press Room.

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN NYC PRESSURE FEATURE CONTRIBUTORS

Jon Fish
Aaron Johnson
Zack Budman
Josh Vorensky
Denny Wolfe
Greg Jewell
Marlon Hidalgo
Robert O’Reilly
Matthew Knapp
Brian Webster
Brian Reilly
Derriyonn Winns
Kit Di Benedetto
Kelly Richardson
Travis Ulmer
Tim Anderson
Eric Deibner
Brian Reilly
Carlton Lester
Jason Magini
Gabe Vega
Kelli Malcolm Connolly

ESPN Music: Kevin Wilson, Claude Mitchell, Joanne Strange

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