Get Tommy and Derek in there. Think about hitting the target market and not getting the most renowned sportscaster available. Not only do some of these guys know nothing about the game but it gets annoying when they are doing every sporting event out there. They don't know everything about all sports and should not be the ones relaying the live action to fans. Please consider this and use the heads people in your positions should have.
I support this petition because the announcers are baseball announcers and they have no idea about soccer. Why should ESPN have the rights for the games much less the champion League games if they don’t like the announcers? The good part about the Champion League is Derek Ray and his partners are very good. They have all the talent in the world. Let them become the new announcers. Hey ESPN GIVE THE CHAMPION LEAGUE RIGHTS TO FOX SOCCER CHANNEL or GOL TV
I support this petition. Not all viewers in USA are from this country. They also subscribe to channels such as Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV because they love the game. Show the games w/o commentary if you refuse to consider the audience seriously.
I support this petition.People we are now over 1200 . Should this not be a wake up call to the suits at Bristol.
We love what Tommy and Derek do on the Champions League. Please let them do the same on the World Cup. I would put ESPN coverage of the CL up aginst anything in the world. I know it would hold its own.
Not only would it be good for the fans to have Derek and Tommy, its also good for ESPN.
I support this petition. We need real soccer comentators! I dont need someone to tell me about landon's childhood as we watch the world cup- let me watch the game! Stop talking!!
Its either Derek Ray and Tommy Smyth, or Univision. Having uninformed, uninspired , annoying commentators "Americanize" the sport will draw NO NEW VIEWERS, but will alienate thousands of fans who want to watch every game. I can't believe this is even an issue!
I support this petition. It's a shame, because Dave O'Brien is very good announcer... at baseball. Announcers like Joe Buck can make a smooth transition from baseball to football because they grew up watching the game. In the US though, with little to zero exposure to soccer, O'Brien is a clueless as a cricket announcer would be doing an NFL game. Should we honestly be expected to listen to a guy who isn't familiar with the rules/format/names/positi ons/terminology/history etc. This is quite insane.
I support this petition. Marcelo Balboa is a class act, but David O'Brien is a walking talking train wreck when it comes to soccer. Have him stick to sports he cares about.
I support this petition.
Have some commentators who actually know the game. We don't need to turn the most popular sport in the world into a "Dog Show" comentary.
ESPN sucks. The broadcast rights should be given to a respectable company who covers sports other than Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Texas Hold-Em.
I support this petition. I' American, but I'm in Istanbul, Turkey at the moment. I was planning on coming back this summer for my senior year of high school but decided to stay here for the World Cup, as the atmosphere's so much better. But, I know I would be outraged if I had to listen to these buffoons. Get someone British! Period.
I support this petition. I hate balboa and the other guy, they are useless cunts. I love how they praise USA as the number 1 contender to win but every other country is 'not that great' this time round.
I support this petition.This is the WORLD CUP people.THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING. How can the most recognized and signature voices at ESPN not be voicing the World Cup? We all wait 4 years for this event and the Worldwide Leader in Sports excludes Tommy Smyth and Derek Rae? WAKE UP! The people at ESPN need to put themselves in the shoes of what VIEWERS want, not what they want. Tommy and Derek not only are educated and knowledgeable, they also have the passion that the most beautiful sport in the world, soccer, inspires in their play-by-play, and in English. They don't just sound like they're reading a grocery list like the ones ESPN picked.
The idea is to get viewers to watch your network, not force us to watch elsewhere. If you put anyone other than Tommy and Derek, you are insulting soccer fans who tune into ESPN. If ESPN doesn't put any thought into what viewers want, then stop bidding on the World Cup.
I support this petition.
im not even american, i live in canada.. but we get your feeds for champions league matches. derek rae is a good commentator, but tommy smyth is horrible. i listen to goltv's american announcers and they are a disgrace, so i can only assume that your american ones are just as bad. dont do this to the game.
I support this petition. The greatest sporting event sould have the greatest announcers and color analyst. Bring on the A team and leave the team on the pine pony.
I support this petition. Come on ESPN, there are plenty of good British commentator with experience of commentry on the "real football" game. ESPN's management team are bonkers obviously.
I support this petition. Dave O'Brien does not have the experience and knowledge to be announcing the biggest sports event in the world. He thinks there are teams called Glasgow United and Wolverhampton Wolves. He has no place on your team. If Smythe and Rae are being overlooked, and O'Brien is being chosen, the lunatics really are running the asylum at ESPN. Listen to your base for a change.
I am an American in support of this petition. I will watch via satellite in public venues if I have to, to avoid commentary by inexperienced, unknowledgeable American announcers from destroying an experience that comes only once every four years. I favor Tommy Smyth.
