I support this petition becuase i dont wanna hear about every single players life story. I got my own problems. When I tune in i just wanna watch some fottie and maybe get a little info on the game it self. Thank you very much
I support this petition. We don't want any baceball anouncers. This is soccer not baceball. Soccer is number one sport in the world dont mess it up with baceball anouncers!!!
I support this petition.
I'd much rather have Derrick Rae and Tommy Smyth calling each and every game, because they have a wonderful track record doing the champions league games. Or maybe Gary Thorne and Bill Clement, another classy duo, though their bread and butter is hockey, when it used to be on ESPN, I'm sure they could learn everything they needed to know by June 9th. I'd even rather have Max Bretos(of FSC) calling a game, even though he can be over the top and clownish at times, at least he has a passion for the game. If it came down to the Mexico vs. the US in the knockout rounds again, and ESPN keeps the same announcing team fromt he Poland game, I'd ratherr watch the game on Telemundo and I can't even understand Spanish all that well, but at least their announcers have heart and passion.
I support this petition. You have to have footballers calling the games Maybe Ray Hudson with his English phase's " a fantastic cracker of a goal"could be a nice add to Dellacamera. IT MUST BE FOOTBALLERS TO CALL THE GAMES!!!
I support this petition but Please.. somebody take Tommy Smyth out and smack him around the head.. a bigger idiot talking about football i have never heard..I'll do it if you want!! I mean..How hard can it be!!
I support this petition. This is so stupid . A baseball presenter taking care of the soccer world cup - the biggest single sporting event inthe world ?? Duh !!! What's this ? A network of morons or something ?
ESPN - here's the deal. The game's true fans will be tuning in so spare yourselves a whole heap of embarassment. Dave O'Brien knows nothing about this game, period. And it's revealed everytime he opens his mouth. I will tune in to the Spanish language channels rather than listen to the lightweights your holding up.
I support this petition. It is so damn frustrating to see how ESPN handles soccer. Don't they know that the WC is bringing them what they what? And still they put horrible announcers to talk about the game of soccer when soccer isn't their sport.
I support this petition. Even in Uganda, am used to Derek Rae, Dellacamera, Tommy Smith, Janusz - the voices that we know for football.AND OFCOURSE IT'S WHAT WE WANT.
There are worse things!! I would rather have no commentators at all than having a Canadian City like Toronto join the USA League, MLS. That's like Benfica moving from the Portugal Prem League to La Liga of Spain!!
I support this petition. What are you people at ESPN thinking. I mean you guys really dont have any clue about soccer do you. It makes absolutely no sense to put announcers that do even have the experience or dont know anything soccer at all. Please consider Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth for the world cup. If ESPN doesnt change their mind, you are seriously going to lose a lot of fan base for the world cup. Please reconsider. Thanks.
I support this petition..........does this push the point home far enough? i don't think so. I'm british and am used to greats like andy gray, i pay ridiculous prices to whatch footie in this country and i think it's outrageous to hear sh*t like "the goal tender makes an x-treme save to the upper ninty". i dunno if anyone noticed that the greatest competition has has the worst announcers, it just doesn't add up, sign this petition and end the mistreatment of football in America
I support this petition.
I do not wish to relive the days of WC coverage 1980 by TNT "Old Spice keys to Victory" (Score & score often!) or pointless commentary by sports commentators who don't have the respect of the International community of fans. I do not speak English, yet I can watch an entire game on Telemundo because of the GENUINE passion of the announcers.
Derek Rae & Tommy Smith are the men I want to hear.
BTW, who are the announcers???
It's bad enough having to listen to Tommy (bulging onion bag) Smyth (with a 'y') but, by the sound of it, things could get worse. Please please, please get some real commentators on for the World Cup. Give this competition the respect it deserves and give the world's most popular game a chance to be taken seriously in this country.
I support this petition.
Remember the technology change and the next world cup would be probably on the net game by game. But if the coverage is great this world cup people will keep looking at espn, even when their are so much so much add that are cutting any exitation from the sport!
Espn shall have a better coverage. Espn Should think people like sprot not the adds that are cutting any sport exitment.
I support this petition. I like everyone else I know speaks spanish and english and we are all very passionate about this upcoming World Cup, especially since the US is very good this time around. But since the US announcers suck and half the time they're explaining throw ins and off sides, I will defenitely watch Telemundo and Telefutura's coverage!
While I appreciate O’Brien's interest, it is not appropriate to learn the sport and it's history, during the World Cup
I will be watching the broadcast in Spanish if Derek Rae and Tommy Smith are not utilized for any matches. Like many have said here, I don't speak a lick of Spanish either.
I support this petition. At this point, I may look for an audiocast online of someone else calling the game, and watch it on mute. While ESPN is putting a regular face in, which seems smart for them, it's better to put in an intelligent commentator in there who will speak accurately about the game, rather than put in someone else who can not carry on a good play by play of the game. ESPN dropped the ball big time on this one.
I support this petition.
Foreign FOOTBALL announcers put more heart commentating the game than baseball announcers, FOOTBALL is not about statistics.
I for one will rather watch Univision/Telefutura for the WC.
I for one will be listening to Univision's WC coverage. I can barely stand to listen to American announcers in other sporting events, let alone the World Cup.
That aaid, I am profoundly skeptical that you, ESPN, will give a single hoot about what real football fans really think.
I support this petition. I enjoy Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth's commentary for the Champions League matches. They should be the World Cup commentators. If not I'll be tuning in to the Spanish telecast. Rae's and Smyth's enthusiasm and proper knowledge of the players and of the game and its history should be rewarded and valued at the network.
I will be listening to qualified and insightful commentary and unfortunately that won't on ESPN unless things change. Even HD is not worth the enduring poor commentary and lack of insight.
I would rather tune into Telemundo than listen to ESPN's clueless "Commentators" and I can't understand a word of Spanish.
No "Red Zones", no "Head balls" and no "P.K.'s"
Get Derek Rae in there and tell him to leave Tommy Smyth back in the madhouse.
I support this petition.OH and how about showing more Champions League game since you own the rights and are leting them go to wast by showing Bass Fishing. If not sell the rights to Gol TV they have good broadcasters and show the best live matches on weekends.
I support this petition. I think these US commentators are trash. I think a lot of people will be tuning into Telemundo to watch Andres Cantor instead.
I support this petition. Fantastic that ESPN is showing more soccer and is supporting the World Cup, but for the sport to get better penetration in the US market, you need to have commentators that know how to explain the deeper details of a match, and the game in general.
I support this petition. I understand ESPN's reasoning here, trying to use reknown US commentators to broadcast the World Cup in the States, but they couldn't have been more wrong. The announcers don't bring in more viewers, the magnitude of the games alone will do that. Poor form, ESPN.
I support this petition. Even for those who are not hardcore soccer fans it is important to have someone commentating that understands the ins and outs of football. Not someone who has never done it before.
I support this petition. The quality and sport of these WC games need to be complemented by a high quality presentation. I remember when Brent Musberger announced a game on ABC in the 80's, and after 'splainin the game to us, when someone scored, he yelled "7 - zero"(a TD is only worth 6?!). How embarrassing!!
I support this petition. You do a horribly job with the Champions League and the least you could do would be to give the true football fans a decent presentation of the world's greatest and most unifying event.
