Derek Rae and Tommy Smith, please. Your selections of Rob Stone, JP, and some baseball guy are insulting and laughable. YOUR AUDIENCE IS NOT SOCCER MOMS!
It isn't the American sports fans you're appeasing with World Cup coverage, it is the fans of the universal sport. The best way to do this is by using authentic commentators. Don't fear British accents, and let them call it the way it is meant to be called. If not, I'll gladly watch the spanish stations.
I support this petition.
Thankfully, I'll be in Germany for the World Cup...I will not have to suffer through these terrible announcers that will be doing the games...
Unfortunatly, my TIVO will be forever scared with the disgrace that is Dave O'Brien, JP and the Stoner...
Don't be afraid of a foreign accent...Present the game the way it should be!
I support this petition. The only announcers out of your pool that should have any chance of covering this special event is Glenn Davis and Tommy Smyth.
Would love to hear a handfull of Americans announcing the matches. In fact, as an American, nothing would make me prouder. However, as a fan of the game I want to hear the best announcing possible, and the chosen announcers can not offer that. Please reconsider you selection.
I support this petition. Please don't make me watch with the sound down. I heard the USA/Poland commentary and the guy was awful. It's the best tournament in the world and deserves the best commentary.
I support this petition. As an American fan you are doing the game a great diservice with the cast of announcers you are planning to use. I am not an expat of another country but a US born citizen who loves the game. Please consider using talent that is familiar with the game and that apriciates it the way we, the fans, do. Thank you,
Rob Stone is a horrible announcer and represents everything that is wrong with American Soccer. This is a sport played by everyone across class lines. Not just middle class wankers. Get some announcers who have some experience with the sport and not some baseball loving idiot! Get some really good announcers who know the game. Bring back Mike Hill!!!
I support this petition.Please use announcers that actually understand the sport and the players. This is an event as big if not bigger than the Olympics, please treat it with as much respect.
Any petition supporting the removal of American style announcers is supported by me as well. Its unfortunate that TSN, an ESPN affiliate here in Canada, has British quality announcers while you guys there in the States have to deal with SCOOOOOOOOORE! Get the BBC feed boys!
I support this petition! I have already changed my DishNetwork package to one that doesn't include ESPN so that I could get good soccer coverage. It is such a waste that ESPN has the rights to the World Cup when the games will be announced by amateurs who don't understand the game and get bored with the action and start talking about other crap while the game is on.
Would you put a guy who's only experience is watching his son playing Little League to call the World Series? That's what ESPN has done with Dave O'Brien, a dreaded soccer-dad and a phoney at that. SCORE!
I support this petition. I will watch matches at the pub on Telemundo even though I would rather watch the match in HD. Please hire qualified announcers!!!
Stone, Dellacamara, Balboa, O'brien are make your broadcast unwatchable. I will watch on telemundo. They disrespect the game. I'm an American born and raised. Tommy Smyth lives in America so why are you afraid of him. Show some respect. O'brien is utter bile.
I support this petition. I will not watch the World Cup on ESPN. I will watch it on Univision even though I dont't understand Spanish. If ESPN will get an entertaining, knowledgeable, and experienced announcer I will definitely tune in and watch it on ESPN. I would like to see an announcer from the EPL announce. That’s it, done deal!!!
I support this petition!! I will not watch ESPN, but will telemundo or other stations to catch intelligent broadcasting, even if it is in another language. PLEASE change the announcers on ESPN so we can watch World Cup footie in HD!
Why set yourself up to viewers going else where to watch the greatest sporting spectacle on earth? This is your opportunity to draw new viewers, not push them away with boorish commentary. Use Ray Smyth, and Healey. It's in your best interests.
I support this petition. I feel like I have been watching a baseball game not soccer. Use Derek Rae for the run of play, and if you must "Americanize" use one of the other three to do color when Derek asks for it.
I support this petition. Rob Stone, Eric Wynalda, JP Dellacamera, Marcello Balboa, Dave Obrien are all BAD BAD BAD. If you use them I will not watch your channel and i will not support the companies that sponsor your broadcast. I suggest Derek Rae, Smyth, Healey, or the European English language audio feeds.
I support this petition. The greatest sporting event in the world deserves commentators like Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth who are experienced and know the game of soccer.
