I support this petition. Soccer is becoming a widespread sport across the United States, and the team is rising onto the scene as they are up to sixth on the last FIFA rankings poll. Announcers such as Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are well qualified, doing Champions league matches and numerous others. Please consider this!!
I support this petition, and find the decisions taken by ESPN in their selection of commentators for this massive event to be typical of the ingnorance shown by ESPN in their evaluation of the target market for this sport in general.
I support this petition. The announcers need to know someting about the game. The game can not be talked over as if it were a baseball game. Please reconsider your choices.
I am sick of being "taught" the game by announcers that are just learning the game themselves. Treat us to real announcers, and use those who you already have on the payroll. Like Smyth and Rae!!
I think ESPN is making a big mistake here. ESPN needs to get Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth in the mix of things there. Thank god I learned Spanish. If ESPN doesn't get their act straight I'm going to have to watch Univision.
I support this petition, but I also think that said announcers should not commentate on US games. This is because I think the US has a very interesting groups and there will be some good games which I intend on watching.
This is the world's biggest sporting event. I can handle crappy US commentary on US games cos that's what I expect, but to have crappy US commentary on teams from elsewhere takes away from the enjoyment of the game. There are US people out there with experience covering football. Let's get them in the game!
I support this petition. You need to start taking the most popular sport in the world more seriously. Poker and Bowling should not be considered sports, you can do both being overweight, smoking and holding a beer.
I support this petition. There should be commentators who know when something important in the game is happening and talk about it instead of something that has no bearing on the game whatsoever.
Look at how well erudite foreign announcers have done covering the Tour de France on OLN. Americans appreciate commentators that know the sports they are covering.
I support this petition. Quality announcers create larger audiences.
Announces play an important part in building appreciation of a game by providing intelligent and educational commentary during game play. People who feel confident in their knowledge of a game are more likely to watch and enjoy it.
I usually watch WC games on spanish television because of the lack of quality announcers on the U.S. networks. I'd rather hear people that I can barely understand but love the game than people who don't love it and frankly, don't really know it either. Show some respect to the largest sporting event in the world and make us proud as Americans by putting top notch, knowledgable commentators on the air so we as fans are taken as seriously as other peoples should take our WC squad.
I support this petition.
honestly,the prospect of o'brien, dellacamera, and stone is almost as frightening as the jack edwards debacle of 2002.
if there was any way derek rey could do every broadcast, i'd cry.
I support this petition. With its lack of knowledge for what real fans want, once again, ESPN shows that soccer is not important to its networks. Just looking at ESPN's programming, you see where they place soccer in the sports food chain: right behind bowling, trick shot billiards, and the toughman competition.
I support this petition. Someone like Derek Rae should be announcing these games. He is one of the best soccer announcers around and he already works for ESPN!!
I support this petition. There are some good knowledgable people in this country who could do a good job. Why not try poaching Christian Miles and company from Fox Soccer Channel?
I support this petition.
Max Bretos would be a much better choice to cover the World Cup! Please change your minds and give the fans someone who actually knows the game. Baseball is a much different sport and is covered differently...
I support this petition.But then, I am not surprised when ESPN chooses to show a WBC(baseball) first round game instead of the second leg of the Champions League today(Tues the 7th)
I support this petition and all of John's points. We deserve quality. Sorry, but Dave O'Brian, JP DellaCamera Rob Stone and Eric Wynalda just do not have what it takes to call the beautiful game the way it should be done... beautifully!
I support this petition. This is the world's football tournament, not the waste of time that is MLS. Give us, the fans, the supporters of your sponsors, announcers capable of accurately and passionately calling our sport's games. It’s high time to realize that the world does not need the glitzy, cute and sometimes wholly inaccurate announcers that the “total sports network” is going to trod out for this, the most important and compelling of all international sports events. Let the soccer moms have their shoddy announcers during the MLS season, but give us, the real fans, what we deserve, lest Univision get all of my viewing time. Thanks you.
Please consider this petition seriously ESPN. The serious soccer fans of this country will appreciate it and the casual viewer will get a better, more informed perspective from individuals who have an extensive knowledge of the game and the game's players.
Thank You.
I support this petition. We don't need somebody with a forgeign accent just somebody who really understands the game. Someone who has played it, knows the players and is passionate about seeing good soccer. The game doesn't need an announcer necesssarily but a personality that is truthful about the quality of the game. Find that person, and you are going to make ESPN the go to place for soccer viewing in America.
I support this petition.Another ignorant decision by Corporate America. I will be looking for alternative coverage. Can't ESPN afford to hire decent commentators from the U.K. because they are overpaying all their American Football commentators?
I support this petition. It really is embarassing, the champions league coverage is so great, it's one of the few places you can go and get coverage by people who actually know the game. I think they are better than everyone on FSW and GOLTV. Why would you ruin such a good thing?
