The problem with uneducated commentators is their unexplainable need to "fill" what they believe to be a "lull" in the action. Most commentators feel, with the score 0-0, they need to tell us about a player's mom going out to the store for a loaf of bread. Let the game speak to the fans.
I support this petition...with a passion! I refuse to drag ESPN through the mud however. Soccer is my passion but it is not the only thing I watch on the networks of ESPN. For the most part, I enjoy the programming but I'll be the first to admit that they got this decision horribly wrong. Hopefully the executives at ESPN can see beyond the harsh criticisms that some of us are offering and put themselves in our shoes... I mean boots! Thanks to Nick and Steven!
If you paid millions for the rights to the world cup, why don't you treat it with that respect. 90% of American commentators are crap. Get someone who won't give us an anecdote about Jurgen Klinsman's dog's favorite chew toy, but rather understands the game and can say something intelligent about what's going on.
I would rather listen to static then the absolutely horrible noise coming from your so called expert commentators. If I must be forced to watch the World Cup with the volume muted, I will boycott ESPN in favor of some other foreign language networks. Your viewers deserve better.
Please give the World Cup the respect it deserves by assigning professional, educated commentators. This is America's oppurtunity to become a force in world soccer. Don't disregard the bigger picture.
The ESPN commentary staff regularly assigned to broadcast soccer matches has been horrible and is a huge embarrassment to your network, to the fans and to the international community in general. Please replace your commentators with someone that has a clue about the actual sport.
I support this petition.
The American commentators for the Poland game were TERRIBLE!! I'm interested in only what's happening on the pitch, not about the players' wives and kids, and how far from the French/whatever border the stadium is. I ended up watching the game with my TV muted.
I support this petition.
It's time to put our American attitude aside and let someone who knows how to properly call a game and not talk over or drown out the atmosphere. If this doesn't succeed then it can be guaranteed that ESPN will lose it's viewership. I would rather listen to another language than to hear the voices of people who simply don't know what their talking about. Please consider that the coverage of the best tournament in the world should have the best possible coverage. Bring Derek Rae and Tommy Smythe.
I support this petition.
I like to learn things about the sport from commentators who know more than me. I can always download games with Sky Sports coverage, but I would actually rather watch ESPN. As long as the commentary doesn't make me want to kill my television.
This isn't Sunday night soccer between two pathetic MLS teams. Please do not insult the sport of soccer and the millions of people who watch worldwide...
I support this petition.
the espn commentators are terrible.
marcelo balboa is the worst man on earth and about as interesting as a banana slug.
rob stone as well. good lord its terrible, i cant sit through what they have done to the beautiful game.
I support this petition.
I dont want coring anouncers... i want crazy wild anouncers that scream and go crazy when u score a goal this aint baseball where they say ooo good job and clap when someone scores this is soccer we need someone who knows the sport to scream goooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooool
This is the world's best sport and should be regarded as such. There is so much available money to you and your advertisers if you take your viewers seriously. Please give us quality commentators.
It's simply a question of knowing the facts and these part-time announcers simply don't. The announcer should be smarter than his audience, and it's obvious this is not the case.
I support this petition. I could not possibly put up with their shitty commentery for the whole world cup...thank god im going to it for a week....I will need the break.
The "Worldwide Leader in Sports" should be embarrassed with the crew that was put forth for the Poland game. Try somebody with soccer knowledge, experience, and national recognition: Brad Sham -- voice of the Dallas Cowboys and FC Dallas.
ESPN's reputation as a leading sports broadcasting network would be tarnished irrevocably by not appropriating the best and most qualified announcers for the World Cup 2006. Broadcasting excellence is a hallmark of ESPN and one that the soccer fans in the US hope sincerely will continue. I fully support this petition.
I support this petition. Please get some announcers with passion and knowledge of the beautiful game. The current ones are an insult to knowledgeable footy fans in America. Derek Rae & Tommy Smythe!!!
I support this petition.True soccer fans in the US will be glued to there tv for everysingle game 5 days straight they dont want a dull voice commintating will there tense and the game is wild
I support this petition. PLEASE do not allow people to call the game who know obviously so little about the game. If you have to use Americans at least use Seamus Malin who may be Eurocentric but knows the game. After all the game is Eurocentric. If forced to I will watch Univision and brush up on my Spanish instead of ESPN/ABC.
I support this petition. As other petitioners have mentioned, the "average American" is not going to be watching more than 3 or 4 matches. Those Americans who will be glued to the tube for 3 matches a day are hard core football fans who are infuriated by the incompetent and unprofessional commentary that is too often par for the course at ESPN. During the last world cup, many pubs in NYC either switched to Unavision or turned the volume off completely because the commentary was so aggressively jingoistic and ignorant.
Please, please hire someone competent this time around.
This is the kind of thing that I have grown to expect from a company who has on numerous occasions said that soccer is not a sport and will never make it in the U.S.
I support this petition.
I dont know how they could even consider having baseball announcers do this. The normal MLS announcers almost bore me to sleep as it is. If they dont find reall announcers I will be watching the games on Univision and what have you. Again, I just dont get it.
I support this petition.
Please for the love of god take that qa quarte and go buy a clue. Place some comentators on that are not so sterotypically american broadcaster robots. Some with heart and passion and not from the wantabe tribe.
If you go forward with this i will use my right to watch the games elswhere...say Univision.
hable español....puto!
