My Personal Apology to Keith Olbermann

Dear Mr. Olbermann,

Considering you have never met me, this might sound like a pretty bold statement, but I have never liked you very much.

I have always found you terribly cocky and way too sarcastic. I never saw you on ESPN, but I couldn’t stand your work on FOX. You always seemed to make the game about you and I hate that.

So last year, when I heard you were being given a spot on “Football Night in America,” one of my favorite shows, I was less than thrilled. Not only did I think you would completely wreck the great chemistry the show had, but I thought you would take time away from my guy Cris Collinsworth—not to mention my guy Bob Costas. And although I have to say you had some good moments on “Football,” Bob’s constant gushing over you got more than a little annoying…

Obviously I’m not the only one who thought that way as an article in this month’s “New Yorker” quotes several people—including my rock Tom Brokaw—disagreeing with your broadcasting style and detailing the bridges you’ve burned at your previous jobs because of your “difficult” personality.

Which makes your work this past weekend all the more impressive…

I know it couldn’t have been easy anchoring MSNBC’s coverage of Tim Russert’s death—asking person after person the same questions for hours—but you handled it beautifully. And for the first time, I saw a human Keith Olbermann. Your grief was obvious in your eyes, on your face and in your voice. But still, you pressed on, which was actually somewhat reassuring.

For the first time, I could see why MSNBC has hung so much of its hopes on you. You truly rose to the occasion…

So, Mr. Olbermann, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the bad things I have said about you in this blog. I now have a new word when I think of you…

Respect.

Just cut my guy Collinsworth some slack this season, would ya?

Sincerely,

Angela Henderson