Please give some consideration to making Derek Rae and Tommy Smith the main voices of ESPN's World Cup coverage. They are the best soccer broadcast team around.
I support this petition. I've had enough of these American commentators and their bias....they don't even understand the beautiful game or have an ounce of passion for it.
I support this petition completely. I watch the Univision coverage of the World Cup whenever possible for the very reason that the ESPN coverage is beyond awful.
I support this petition. Go to Germany, but don't use RazorGator they know nothing about Football, I just used StaroneTickets.com for the winters olympics, they are great! They deliver great seats!!!
It's bad enough the Champions League matches are ruined by the horrible and biased commentary coming from Tommy Smyth et al, but now we're going to have to suffer through people who have even less clue (if that's possible) about what's going on. I'd rather listen to the commentary in Spanish or French than that.
I have no problem with JP and Marcelo Balboa, but O'Brien knows nothing about soccer, and Stone is just plain bad. What about Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth in the booth? Do we have to have Americans in the booth? There are plenty of Canadians broadcasting the NHL in the U.S., including ESPN's own Barry Melrose.
I support this petition. Please be a leader and unafraid to break out of the mold. You really are letting FOX set the broadcast standard. Shame on you ESPN. I love this network in so many ways, but to see such an uneducated decision (yes, it truly is uninformed and misguided) is upsetting.
A baseball announcer? Please, there are qualified Americans to do this broadcast and some great English ones that add so much more by saying a lot less.
I support this petition. A perfect example of my attitude towards the commentating of the most recent US match v Poland... the TV was quickly put on mute, a favoured radio program was coming through the stereo, and then I switched to England v Uruguay to escape the nonsense that spewed forth from the baseball commentator working the US match. It is disrespectful to the game of football to have people with little to no knowledge base to comment on our sport (I say our sport because it is not their sport). Please find people to call the games not inform us of how many children the athletes have with X number of wives.
There are a number of well versed Americans, experienced in doing soccer matches, who can do the play-by-play. They are passionate and knowlegable. They are the announcers that should be used.
SIMPLE SOLUTION...Just use your ESPN INTERNATIONAL CHANNEL commentators!!
Do you think THAT WORLDWIDE audience would put up with the drivel you expect the American audience to put up with
I support this petition and although I do think O'Brien is one of your best announcers, ESPN could do with a little less isolationism and actually bring in some real football guys to do these games. Ever seen an EPL game? No, probably not. Get with the program, ESPN.
I support this petition, but Tommy Smith sucks! Put a ex great player or smart coach. For example, the best commentators in France, are Michel Platini and Guy Roux.
I support this petition. One, I don't know what a "consolation round" is and 2) I have never heard of "Glasgow United" I have the voice and knowlege that I could do a better job. I speak several languages and sound like the midwesterner that i am.
I support this petition.
DEAR ESPN,
STOP BEING IGNORANT AND START BEING A PART OF THE WORLD!!
SOCCER IS THE WORLD SPORT THAT UNITES DIFFERENT POEPLE OF THE WORLD. IT IS NOT AMERICAN ONLY SPROT!
From a marketing perspective, it makes sense for ESPN to try and draw the largest viewership for the World Cup. Those of us watching the games with great interest will not stick by ESPN for long when we have other alternatives. Please consider using the BBC feed for all games.
I support this petition. I have enjoyed Max Bretos and Martin Tyler on the FoxSoccer channel SuperSaturday shows. I would support those two doing the World Cup if we can't get Derek Rae and/or Tommy Smith. The US had many footballing afficiandos who don't want to be insulted by an announcer ineptly trying to call a match. We all wait 4 long years for World Cup matches, make them enjoyable by hiring knowledgable announcers!
I support this petition. Is it possible to use the England feed?
If not, maybe some of the English commentators would do our games. Any of them would be better than what we usually get. MLS is already unwatchable. Shouldn't we try to learn from our mistakes. Are we more concerened with putting out the best product possible, or your ego. Com on ESPN you have a great opportunity here. Don't fumble the ball!!!
I support this petition.
Also I hate the scoreboard scroll across the bottom. I will probably watch the Univision feed, even though i don't understand Spanish.
I support this petition. I feel that commentating for ANY sport has gone downhill with self-important announcers and completely unfunny "color-commentary " ex-atheletes. Please use announcers that will let the beautiful game be beautiful and not filled with high pitch chatter. Thank you
I support this petition. I am American and watch ESPN due to the commentators Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth. They add so much to the experience of the match. I doubt I will watch any games if the commentators are not fully schooled in the game of soccer. I will watch a foreign feed somewhere in NYC...do the right thing.
I support this petition.
You must understand the passion that lies behind football (soccer) supporters and understand that the way the game is presented is critical. Failing to realize this could really back-fire on ESPN/ABC as you run the risk of simply not being taken seriously when the game becomes a big money generator on TV in a few years. I'd rather listen to Spanish commentary than have to put up with ill-informed and unmotivated American commentators.
I support this petition. Errata: 2.88 billion viewers. There are less than 6.5 billion people in the world. Impressive, 1 in 3 people on the globe will watch Costa Rica beat the snot out of Germany. Not! I can only dream...
I support this petition. But please do NOT use Tommy Smythe. His is a pompous windbag who talks incessently but delivers very little useful information about the game.
I support this petition. I realize that you probably want American voices, but there must be someone better than these mugs. Stone and Balboa, in particular, are simply dreadful. Conversely, Derek Rae is brilliant and you hide him. Once again, you're driving me to Univision, where, even if I only understand 25% of the commentary (and that's being generous), at least the rhythm is right. Andres Cantor no longer works at Univision and can work in English. He's far superior to any of the hacks you propose. In fairness, Dave O'Brian is actually quite good on baseball.
I support this petition. Because someone who has knowledge of the most beautiful sport in the world will attract viewers, and make them appreciate the valors of the game.
It's time to get serious about football in this country. It will never happen until those who control the game here take it seriously. Don't market the World Cup to the least common denominator. Do the right thing and help educate those who could learn to love the beautiful game.
I support this petition.
JP, Derek Ray and Tommy are good. Rob is Ok.
Balboa tries to hard to be a psychic. I'll spend 99 cent and dial Cleo if I want that......
It is exciting that all 64 games will be televised in HD. How can you make this improvement yet plan to use inferior commentators? Give us quality announcers! The World Cup is an incredibly important tournament, so please select the commentators with proven soccer experience.
As a fan of soccer and an American, I have to agree that ESPN needs to think a little harder about this decision. It would be especially nice not to have legitimate commentators with a working knowlege of the players, the game, the history of teams, rules, rivalries, and of course the past legends and historic meetings between teams. Anything else would be an insult to the fans who tune in.
A World Class event like the World Cup
merits World Class
announcing. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are just that.
WORLD CLASS!!!!!
Do the right thing ESPN..
I have learned to tolerate JP Dellacamera and Rob Stone. ESPN could certainly do MUCH better with other more knowledgeable guys on their staff. I felt that the work of Dave O'Brian during the US vs. Poland match was hideous and actually detracted from the game. Please, please get real announcers for the WC. You have the budget ESPN. Just do it and don't embarass yourselves.
I support this petition.
To be the "Worldwide leader in sports" you should know better than to pimp specialist commentators across sports. I don't watch Basketball, Baseball nor NFL - PLEASE do not insult us all by having commentators that have no 'feel' let alone knowledge of the game. I can see a lot of fans using the radio and the TV.
ESPN, please watch an EPL broadcast on FSC or pay per view. The World Cup only comes every four years. It should be rememberd for the outstanding play, not the boring announcers.
I support this petition, but **PLEASE* DON'T use Tommy Smyth either, he is ignorant of the game and like finger nails on a blackboard to most knowledgable fans!!!!!
