Imagine for a moment you're an accomplished pro such as, say, Brad Nessler, or an affable, competent ex-jock like Todd Blackledge, and you've spent the last two years of your professional life counting one of these 2008 Pammie Award finalists as your closest colleague:

And so the last shall be the first: When ABC/ESPN announced its announcer lineup for the '09 season Thursday, Nessler and Blackledge were clearly the biggest winners, ditching the restless, barking Paul Maguire (in quasi-retirement from the Nessler/Bob Griese team to focus on his Zorro fetish) and the rambling, oblivious Mike Patrick (splitting with Blackledge to join Craig James in a Saturday afternoon Axis of Irritation) to join a primetime team that should be one of the better collaborations this fall -- at least as good as the primetime A-Team, headed by Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit, with Blackledge's "Taste of the Town" hopefully continuing to make up for what Nessler lacks in Musburger-level enthusiasm.

And on the new Nessler/Blackledge sideline?

People's champ Erin Andrews will get more exposure after spending Saturdays last year with the far more obscure Dave Plasch/Andre Ware team. Again: Clear winners here.

Speaking of the Pammies, namesake Pam Ward is holding hard and fast to the noon ESPN2 slot alongside Ray Bentley, to the eternal chagrin of Big Ten fans everywhere. I would suggest at least replacing the nondescript Bentley with Ward's former partner, entertaining lunatic Chris Spielman, but I like the guy too much to ask that much of him.