Al Michaels, the veteran broadcaster of ‘Thursday Night Football,’ has revealed a peculiar dietary choice that has defined his life: he has never eaten a vegetable. The 80-year-old commentator attributes his long and successful career in sports broadcasting to this unusual habit, which he openly discussed during his recent appearance on ‘Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace.’
Despite facing criticism from fans urging him to retire, Michaels is set to return to the Amazon Prime Video booth to commentate on an exciting game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers. Remarkably, he maintains good health and vitality, claiming that a life devoid of vegetables hasn’t hindered his longevity or performance.
Michaels explains that his aversion to vegetables dates back to his childhood, when his mother, overwhelmed by being a young parent, did not emphasize the importance of greens in his diet. He recalled, “I always pushed the vegetables away. To this day, no.” He confidently asserts that he has proven one can survive without these oft-recommended food items.
When pressed about trying a benign vegetable like a carrot, Michaels reiterated his disinterest, stating, “I just don’t even like the look of it.” His childhood experiences included being offered financial incentives to try vegetables, such as a $50 offer to eat asparagus at the age of seven, which he turned down with disgust.
As an adult, Michaels has continued to steer clear of vegetables, opting instead for a diet rich in meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. His firm stance on this matter has made him a well-known figure in restaurants, where staff are accustomed to discarding vegetables from his plate. He jokingly predicted that if he lives long enough, he might appear on a future iteration of “The Oprah Show,” boasting about his life at an extraordinary old age of 160 or 170 years.
Michaels’ unusual dietary choices have even provided comedic moments during broadcasts, such as a graphic highlighting his impressive steak consumption at Toscana, an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, showcasing over 4,000 visits and zero vegetables.
This bold claim may raise eyebrows regarding healthy eating habits, but Michaels serves as a unique example of how individual dietary choices can contribute to a fulfilling life, including a thriving career in sports broadcasting. His story is a reminder that health can take many forms, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.