Not only is it frustrating to listen to announcers who aren't intimately familiar with the sport, but in putting a baseball commentator in this position is a total mismatch of styles. Baseball is more of a storytelling/radio type sport to commentate, soccer is not. Listen to any of the top announcers in soccer and what you'll notice is that they don't talk for 89.5 minutes of the match because they know that the crowd, the stadium and most importantly the players are the draw, not what they say about them. Consider this request, please.
I thoroughly support this petition. Dave O'Brian is the worst announcer that I have ever heard for soccer. He doesn't even use the proper verb "defend" when announcing and instead uses the term "defense." You already have Derek Rae at your disposal. Take advantage of that.
I support this petition. I may love turnips, but I don't want them announcing games during the world cup. Please bring someone who knows how to spell football.
leslie.
I support this petition. The World Cup happens one every FOUR years. It is important that the quality of announcers reflect the importance of the tournament.
Knowledgeable commentators make the game more interesting to the casual or new viewer, and are more insightful and exciting for the knowledgeable viewer.
Obrien doesnt know the positions of the players misprounces names of cities and when KEY aspects of the game are going on (such as the perceived backpass by the Polish defense to the keeper) he is talking about something in France. This would be akin to watching a NBA game and as Lebron is fouled, the announcer is talking about the great eateries in the Cleveland area.
Bottom line is that if you do not change him as the main announcer, I WILL watch univision.
The World Cup is the biggest event in the world's game. As the sport grows in the US, ESPN should want to embrace the community that already are huge fans, instead of pandering to passerby. Showing such disrespect to fans by presenting the games with such lack of knowledge will simply create a worse name for ESPN in terms of soccer coverage. The time to change is now..clock is ticking.
I support this petition. I'll be watching Univision instead of listening to the insipid commentary of ESPN. You give this sport no respect, including bumping your Champions League coverage for the farce that is the "World" baseball offseason tournament.
I support this petition. Maybe ESPN can use SAP (second audio program, the second audio track that TVs support, often used for a 2nd language) to provide an alternate, high-quality audio commentary for the discerning fan?
I am forced to watch soccer in Spanish, or with the sound off. Soccer is one of those things you get addicted to at age 7 that doesn't diminish its appeal as you age. There are so many articulate former players - both men and women that would be great additions to the audio. Silent Soccer.
I support this petition fully. There are options for "US" broadcasters that cover the game in European markets such as the EPL, Bundes Liga, Siere A, etc. Stretch your horizons a bit and find some talent that has played the game or at least has some experience broadcasting some level of the game, even MLS OR USL. This is the single largest sporting event in the world and I am one of the U.S. fans that consider it so....there is more to the sporting world than the NBA, NFL, MLB and college basketball.....please reconsider your currennt staff so I don't have to watch the US games in a foreign language on Univision or Gol TV!
Soccer cannot and will not take off in this country until ESPN starts respecting that the commentary style is different and I cannot believe I'm going to listen to someone who knows less about soccer than me. ESPN wants to leave soccer by the side of the road. DON'T LET THEM!!!
I support this petition. My mute button is going to be worn out this summer if I have to listen to those Rob Stone and the knuckleheads. I need pure soccer announcers when watching this not a bunch of monkeys with sissy scripts that talk about the biggest crap during the match. You idiots at ESPN can't do shit right.
ESPN is dropping The Ball when it comes to Football. Look at FSC and those two Toss-pots Nick and Steven... people actually thing the know something. To not show the biggest match of the year when you have the rights is rediculous.
I support this petition. Nothing against O'Brien, but I agree we need knowledgable analysts. Derek Rae, Rob Stone, Balboa, Tommy Smyth, Wynalda, etc. It is argumentative who would do the best job - what we all agree on is that it should be someone with a long resume of soccer experience.
I support this petition wholeheartedly and must say I do appreciate all that ESPN gives the world of football with great coverage of a number of games (baseball however should not take priority over champs league football this week on espn deportes!)
I support this petition.
The quality of comment on ESPN soccer coverage is atrocious.
The Seamus person is a complete moron. Whenever he opens his mouth I want to hurl something at the TV.
At the very least keep this uninformed man away from us.
I support this petition. On the job training is no basis for choosing a World Cup commentator. ESPN this is not some silly AAA baseball tournament. O'Brien should be forced to study for years how Martin Tyler, John Motson and yes your own Derek Rae do it before ever being let loose covering a sport he doesn't comprehend. Wake up espn. Stop flaunting your ignorance.
As a football (please, not sarker) fan in New Zealand, I have no option but to watch the WC beautiful game via ESPN. But to hear the likes of Dellacamera et al bastardising it with his 'americanisms' makes me cringe in embarrassment. Please dont make me watch it yet again with the sound turned off. Rae & Healey are the best of a really bad bunch. Tommy Smith (with a whyne) is awful, but even he is preferable to those proposed by you. The thought of another septic who clearly has never watched or listened to a 'real' football commentator fills me with dread. 'World-wide leader in Sport' you may be. World-wide leader in stoopid decisions you most certainly are!
I support this petition. I really don't understand this continuing idiocy. Just use any of the commentators that regularly cover the Champions League for ESPN.
