I support this petition.
Derek Rae please!!!! We don't want O'brien. He claims to bring personality out of a player, we don't want to hear that in football. He can do that in other sports
I support this petition.Would Americans listen to the NBA finals or the Superbowl with a Cockney or Glaswegian guy on the mike.....no chance !!!.....do it right ESPN and give it to the Brits to handle...as only we can.
I support this petition. The supporters who love the game sould take priority over those you think might start folling the game. you have a built in audience, please don't detour them away from your broadcast by using sub-par annoucers. It's the reason I don't watch other soccer events that they announce.
I support this petition. that is why i now prefer to watch champions league from our local channels they use european commentators who think outside the US
I support this petition. PLease think of all the Bits and other European Ex-pats that now re-side in the states. They deserve some intelligent commentary from someone who understands football (yes it football, not soccer!)
I support this petition.
This is one of the most important World Cups for the USA in recent decades. It's important for the USA soccer movement that the announcers perform as well as the players.
I SUPPORT THIS PETITION!!! ESPN needs to higher another set of announcers such as Tommy Smyth and Derrick Ray. The current announcers are horrific because they don't know when to shut up; they feel the need to talk over the game and therefore drown out the game atmosphere. They obviously don't know a thing about the game of football. I can't and won't sit through a single game of the World Cup on ESPN if the announcers aren't changed.
I support this petition. Better qualified people @ ESPN that can announce the game. What soccer credentials do these people have...totally unacceptable
I support this petition. Please hire some real soccer announcers, people who will either shut up or add some real insight. Someone who doesn't feel the need to be so politically correct all the time.
They probably don't want to hear teh sport being called Football by the announcers. Even Ameriacns know that's the world name for the game and it's played under FIFA rules representing the true football.
Derek rae should definitely be in. ABC should also use experienced commentators. Why not use the feed provided by FIFA?
Seriously, ESPN, it is the true fanatics who watch the World Cup. With all the emotion that gets built up in advance (it's only every four years!) you will anger and alienate A LOT of fans by using lame commentators. I would rather switch channels and listen to some motor-mouthed Spanish guy shouting GOOOOOOOL than put up with some American novice who doesn't know the lingo or grasp the game.
ESPN, your days are numbered! Massive advertiser boycotts are in the works if you use sub-standard announcers such as Dave O'Brien, Marcelo Balboa or Eric Wynalda on the World Cup. Would you use Dave "Soup" Campbell on Basketball? Or Bill Walton on PGA Golf? Then why insult soccer fans by bringing in a baseball (not even a TOP baseball) announcer to call the soccer Holy Grail? Get with the program, use the resources at hand such as Derek Rae, go out and get QUALITY AMERICAN SOCCER ANNOUNCERS such as Phil Schoen, get foreign announcers such as Martin Tyler and Andy Gray, use America-based schtick-meisters like Tommy Smyth and Ray Hudson to color up the games and leave the Jack Edwards', Ty Keough's and Dave O'-(it's an end-zone shot)-Brien's at home where they belong!
I support this petition. Please get announcers who know the game and its particular language. The transfer of terminology from unrelated games takes away the enjoyment of the game. There is no such thing as PK, or 'assists' in football. Deep knowledge of the game and historical perspective that has been lived by being in the game a long time is essential. Your selected announcers sound very shallow in their knowledge. ESPN needs to get quality announcers who will add to the emjoyment of the game.
I support this petition. Get some announcers who will bring some actual insight and passion to the matches... this "PK", "SCORE" nonsense is total BS!!!
I fully support this petition & only wish us American soccer fans could pick up the feed from the English announcers who commentate with intelligence bite and purpose.
I support this petition. Jack Edwards and Rob Stone could possibly be the worst soccer announcers ever. Oh wait...Eric Wynalda and Marcello Balboa are the worst followed closely by Stone and Edwards. Why not Derek Rae, Alex Grey, Ian Crocker, or any number of correspondents. "SCORE", hopefully I'll never have to hear Jack Edwards say that again.
Hail Hail
Cheers,
John
I support this petition but wish to go further. Ratings for MLS will never improve with the annoying Rob Stone and chicks patroling the sidelines interviewing every Tom Dick & Drew Carey during the game. We even have players & Coaches wired up to the amusement of Rob Stone and the annoyance of viewers. Hey ESPN. TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH. High a professional and get serious.
