Talk:Joe Theismann

Removed the Controversies Section
It seems like almost every commentator is criticized for making inaccurate statements here and there as well as 'stating the obvious.' This is not limited to Theismann, and the whole section should be deleted as it has no citations to any of this information. Seems to me like the section of the article was merely added by a disgruntled fan who didn't care for his commentary.

The section read as such: "As a broadcaster, Theismann has often been criticized[by whom?] for stating the obvious about certain plays, and has given some inaccurate comments about certain plays and players.[citation needed] Before a 2005 game that involved the Redskins, Theismann declared that Redskins kicker John Hall could not make a forty yard field goal, only for Hall to make a forty-seven yard field goal during the game. During a 2005 playoff game in January 2006 between the Redskins and the Bucs, Redskins Safety Sean Taylor was ejected for spitting at Bucs RB Michael Pittman, who retaliated by shoving Taylor. Theismann said about Taylor's ejection, "That was a terrible call!" When the NFL revealed why Taylor was ejected, Theismann declared that it was a great call. During the 2006 season, his lone season on Monday Night Football, Theismann struggled to allow sufficient input by fellow color commentator Tony Kornheiser, who had been previously hyped for his new role." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.49.90.145 (talk) 06:15, 19 April 2010 (UTC)

removed...
 Even more bizarre is the fact that the Dolphins have not protested given the fact that Williams is technically still signed with them.

I took this out because the Dolphins gave ricky williams permission to join the argonauts, and it's not really relevant to Theismann.

Pronunciation
The article currently says this:
 * Late in the season, his hallmates in Zahm Hall hung an enormous banner out of a 4th story window proclaiming, "Theisman for Heisman," changing the original pronunciation of his surname, "THEEZ-man," to rhyme with "Heisman," which he has continued to use since then.

"Theismann" in German already does rhyme with Heisman. I'd like to see a source cited for that anecdote. Alcuin 21:44, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
 * "Tighs munn" actually is the German pronounciation of Theismann, as "ei" and "ie" are pronounced in just the opposite way in German and English, while Th is pronounced T in German, the silent h having been eliminated long ago in an orthography reform from most words except names. Theiss possibly refers to the German name of the river Tisza in Hungary. -- Matthead Discuß   05:06, 12 January 2009 (UTC)

I remember...
It was not uncommon for German families to change the pronunciation or even the spelling of surnames in order to avoid persecution during the World Wars. I cannot provide you with a specific place for the quote, but I do recall that, during the long delay during the MNF game that the injury occurred in, Frank Gifford (I believe it was Frank) did relay the story on air.

The one mainstream link I could find that wasn't just on bulletin boards was:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview01/s/heismanhype.html
 * Nice work --Alcuin 21:10, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
 * That link expired, see web.archive.org 's copy of it: http://web.archive.org/web/20041215070450/http://espn.go.com/ncf/preview01/s/heismanhype.html --Lexein (talk) 11:54, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

Brady Quinn
I removed the last two paragraphs in the section of Controversy, specifically about Brady Quinn. Basically it said gave an opinionated comparison of Quinn and Theismann and went on to say that Theismann was the most annoying commentator on ESPN. I felt that it displayed an opinion of the writer and the article needed to be re written to be un-biased.JA 14:38, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

Links that mention name pronunciation change ...
Neither of these mention "hallmates in Zahm Hall" ... that aspect of the story seems worth finding a source for.

-- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9F07E2D91038F93AA25752C1A963948260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/V/Vecsey,%20George  ... pronunciation changed at urging of Notre Dame publicity man, Roger Valdiserri

-- http://www.irishlegends.com/pages/reflections/reflections2.html ... pronunciation changed at request of Roger Valdiserri ... with mention of role of "grandmother Eva" insisting that the "change" is really a "fix" to what was "correct" ...

Lynchmob98 21:42, 24 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I removed the Zahm Hall reference, and added the NYTimes cite, and a video link to NFL.com where Joe tells the story. --Lexein (talk) 14:54, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

Notre Dame
I think someone should write an article more about his Notre Dame career. If I have the time I might do it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ndgoldnblue (talk • contribs) 12:43, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Controversies
Neither of the controversies in the "Controversies" section are really controversies. They basically amount to Thiesmann (a commentator by trade) making comments about someone, with that person or organization commenting back with opinions of their own. It doesn't have any of the hallmarks of a real sports figure controversy, such as anyone being fired, a public backlash, or large media coverage of the fight. I wouldn't call these controversies at all.--Gloriamarie (talk) 16:45, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Frank Gifford commentary
I know YouTube links aren't recommended as sources, but at least part of the quote in Frank Gifford Monday Night Football commentary can be confirmed. DanTD (talk)

I agree. this is really not a controversy. this is from somebody who does not like Theisman —Preceding unsigned comment added by GoodKingJohn (talk • contribs) 03:10, 6 February 2010 (UTC)

Broadcasting career
Most of this section reads like a negative opinion piece. Is it appropriate here? Rsduhamel (talk) 23:07, 10 January 20
 * I agree. This is biased. — Preceding unsigned comment added by GoodKingJohn (talk • contribs) 03:12, 6 February 2010

Copyvio, original research
I've moved the following here for discussion: Suggestion: Trim down the quote to the minimum needed for "fair use" and useful information, find a source for the quote, and/or a non copyvio video link. I checked NFL.com, no luck.
 * 1) WP:OR original research and WP:CV copyright violating extended transcript of Frank Gifford,
 * 2) the YouTube copyrighted NFL video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ1iVRRu6w0 masquerading as a Facebook video link.
 * Below is Frank Gifford's commentary of the play as it unfolded:

First and ten, Riggins, flea flicker back to Theismann, Theismann's in a lot of trouble. And it was Lawrence Taylor who...slammed Theismann to the ground at the 42 yard line. The blitz was on, that's not necessarily a good play to have called, and quickly Lawrence Taylor is up, saying Theismann is hurt. And I don't believe Lawrence Taylor would have reacted that way unless Theismann, is really hurt... He slammed him, to the natural surface here...  The blitz was on, that is not a good call to have with the blitz on...  Theismann has no chance at all to get downfield and let's take one more look at it with our reverse angle camera. He's looking deep and he knows he's in trouble. Lawrence Taylor number 56 right there. Carson is number 53. But it's Taylor, over Carson (at this time the leg is shown). And you can see the uh, right knee, the right foot. And I knew that something was uh... really bad when Lawrence Taylor leaped to his feet, and beckoned over to the Redskins bench; get your medical team in here quickly.

--Lexein (talk) 12:37, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

Please help find sources
I reverted this deletion, because it's one of several stats (high and low) which were uncited. Removal of a low stat seems POV. I tagged fact and section norefs. --Lexein (talk) 07:43, 14 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Seriously? This isn't how POV is corrected, but including random insignificant stats.  He's punted the ball twice.  See WP:UNDUE.  His punting average is not a significant stat.  I agree statistics should be cited, but you don't make an article better by including random stats, without regard for their significance to his career, merely because they happen to be bad.  If a running back throws an incomplete "option pass" twice in his career, are we obligated to include a discussion of that running back's "horrible completion percentage"?  Theismann wasn't a punter, and discussion his "punting average", merely to force us to include a random "negative stat" doesn't make the article more NPOV, it just makes it of lower quality.  Yes, his stats should be cited, but they should also be relevent.-- Jayron  32  08:37, 14 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Oh, and as far as statistics go, you could do worse than Pro-Football-Reference.com. See This for the team's single-season passing records.  From there, you can find links to career records, or really any other stat you could hope to find.  For the record, you can find that he did punt the ball once, for one yard, see, but there is no support for the claim that it is the worst average ever.  Just merely a fact that he punted once.  -- Jayron  32  08:42, 14 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the source. I see that you care a lot about this, and that you don't like it. I agree about middling and other uninteresting trivia. The word was "lowest", not "worst", and I didn't add it, somebody else did. I'm removing the adjective, since it's POV and unsourced. But it was a punt, the only one of his career. I'm not WP:OWNing it, it just seems like the only slightly humorous stat, among all the relentless superlatives. Anyways found a source about the one-bar, need one more.  --Lexein (talk) 11:22, 14 May 2011 (UTC)
 * It reads much better now. Thanks for adding the sources.  This is definately improving!  -- Jayron  32  14:54, 14 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Cool. --Lexein (talk) 15:59, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Deletion of overdetail about controversial statements
While I agree with removal of excessive detail about controversial statements Theismann has made, it seems to me that there is room for the fact that he has developed a reputation for such statements.[1][2] No? --Lexein (talk) 00:31, 15 August 2011 (UTC)

Injury
I found an article from the New York Time from 2005 where Joe elaborates on the injury a little more, and also states how at first it was incredible pain before his body went numb. I'm going to add some of this when I get some time. Link below.Zdawg1029 (talk) 04:04, 16 September 2013 (UTC)

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/26/sports/football/26monday.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
 * Okay I added a couple quotes of his to the injury section. I think they were worth adding, especially the fact that he said he was initially in unbelievable pain. If someone else has a better way of wording it then by all means.Zdawg1029 (talk) 20:26, 16 September 2013 (UTC)
 * Your edit looks fine to me. Ckruschke (talk) 18:02, 17 September 2013 (UTC)Ckruschke

Assessment comment
Substituted at 20:00, 29 April 2016 (UTC)

Brand Ambassador for easyMedicare
He's frequently seen on TV as the spokesman for easyMedicare, wanted to add that to the top section.

easymedicare Announces Theismann as Brand Ambassador | News EZMedMan (talk) 17:43, 22 November 2022 (UTC)


 * I'm gonna go ahead and add that. EZMedMan (talk) 19:07, 1 December 2022 (UTC)
 * There's a sentence under his "Acting" career where his other spokesman gigs, I added it there. EZMedMan (talk) 20:14, 1 December 2022 (UTC)
 * I've removed that sentence. Please do not add material related to your COI. Sam Kuru (talk) 18:05, 12 December 2022 (UTC)

Conflicting Dates re: Theisman’s Leg Injury
The initially article states Theisman suffered the career-ending injury in 1985, then later (in the Personal Life section), say he divorced in 1984 shortly after that injury. 97.121.168.145 (talk) 04:23, 17 January 2023 (UTC)
 * The 1985 football season started in September 1984 and extended through the winter into 1985; there is no contradiction.  General Ization Talk  04:52, 17 January 2023 (UTC)