Traded for a cartoon?

So, Al Michaels was traded.

Well, not exactly traded, but certainly allowed to move to a different team in return for considerations. The considerations apparently involve highlights for the Olympics, the Ryder Cup, and a cartoon rabbit.

It seems that before Walt Disney made Mickey Mouse, he made some thing that looks pretty much like Mickey Mouse but with long ears - Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It's kinda a frightening looking thing, but I guess he's some sort of part of Walt's legacy. And apparently he was important to the Disney Corporation.

Michaels had been broadcasting football games for ABC, but ABC lost their Monday Night Football games to ESPN. ESPN, in turn, gave up the Sunday night games to NBC who wanted to have Michaels in the stable. So, ABC and NBC worked out a trade because Michaels was still under contract for ABC.

Here's the kernel of the deal...

NBC gives ESPN more Olympic hightlights as well as highlights and Friday live rounds to the Ryder Cup, Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes. In return, ABC (also owned by the same company as ESPN) let Michaels out of his contract, leaving him free to sign with NBC.

So strange...

Almost as strange, in fact, as having Tony Kornheiser in the booth for Monday Night Football (which he will be)...