I support this petition; would you have a hockey announcer describing the seventh game of a World Series Baseball Game, no. Put on Rae, Smythe or any one of the tried and trusted announcers. One of the great things about listening to a commentator who knows the sport, is that he'll also give little tidbits of the game, a non-knowing commentator will. If someone other than a football (as in soccer) announcer is giving us the play by play, I will watch one of the Spanish channels; I may not understand everything they they are saying, but at least I'll know they'll have passion and knowledge about the game.
I support this petition.a baseball commentator would still be reading out the team lists ,when the game is nearly at halftime .they are not able to keep up with such a fast moving game ,in soccer you do not have time to sit and quote stats all day, please use someone who is experianced at the sport , and not just one of your good ol boys.
I support this petition.As someone who faithfully watches all levels of soccer on ESPN I urge you to rethink your intention to use Announcers who have limited Knowledge of The Beautiful Game Please reconsider and use your own soccer experts Derek Rae, Tommy Smyth, Seamus Mallin et al for your upcoming World Cup coverage
I support this petition. ESPN is capable of easily providing superior broadcasting staff, please do it for the world's game on its biggest stage. Your viewing fans deserve it!
I support this petition.
I object to the crawl at the bottom of the screen
and the giant logo and
slogan that were featured
in the germany game.
it just looks clueless, you
need to have knowledgeable commentators, not
clueless numptys who think they need to speak
constantly.
derek rae is the best in the business.
I support this petition. Think of your ACTUAL fan base, those that will watch each game are those that will be sent away from your network by the ignorant comments by your announced commentators.
Yes, please do provide more appropriate announcers. For instance, you recently aired the US-Germany Match and Marcelo Balboa and Co. were at best mediocre and a worst ignorant buffoons. Eventually, your network's cluelessness will cost it more than irate football fans.
The strategy of the game adds a real time dimenson to world cup football tha does not exist in "time out sports". Do not insult the intelligence of soccer fans by limiting coverage to announcers reading pre cooked statistic reports.
All e need is 100 spanish words to switch channel to a "real time" network
I support this petition. Maybe they could use someone who i sa better announcer, such as Gary Thorne. Since ESPN doesn't have hockey anymore, I'm sure he is available.
Please for the love of god have mercy stop calling it soccer its football it just makes all americans sound so stupid (which you all are) and i bet most of you arent even supporting america at the world cup and you all support manchester united who arent even the best team in england in fact there not even the second best team in england their a bunch of cheating scum. I also heard recently that you pricks wanted to award points depending on where you score from.dickheads
I support this petition. While my Spanish is poor, I WILL watch Univision and get a dish so I do not have to listen to the ignorant of your announcers. Derek Rae...please!!!
I support this petition. Apart from ESPN2's Champions League coverage, I find all commentators on American telvision an insufferable distraction that add nothing to my enjoyment of the game. Please find someone better who doesn't blabber throughout the entire game.
I support this petition. ESPN/ABC are to be commended for showing the sport so often, but the coverage is ridiculous. Perhaps you'll be able to retain viewers if they enjoy the commentary instead of despite it.
We deserve better it is ridiculous to think that after 12 years since WC'94 and over a decade since the inception of MLS that ESPN hasnt found any crediable commentators. There are plenty out there, they reguraly work games on the radio and work for other networks. Get on the ball ESPN
I support this petition. U.S. Commentators have no business commentating as American soccer is nothing compared to European soccer. Make it some english guys that do champions league matches.
I support this petition.This is a huge World Cup for fans of soccer in the US. We need the best ,this way we can make new fans for the game. Rae and Smyth are great as a team . Might not be a good idea to split them up.Keep them together they will be stars when its over and ESPN will look great to fans.
I support this petition.Balboa does not sound like he ever played the game.We know O'Brien has no clue at least give us Tommy Smyth and O'Brien. Then pair Derek Rae with Balboa. This way we get half a loaf.It's better than nothing.
Marcello Balboa should ONLY ever be known for his bicycle kick in the '94 World Cup. Listening to him announce soccer games KILLS the viewing experience. Please bring in ANDY GRAY!!! I'll even settle for Tommy Smith.
As a Brit living in the US, I support this petition.I support The Little Irish Bugger.What more could ESPN need than an English bloke cheering for an Irishman.Tommy deserves the chance to shine in Germany. The Jock is OK they make a good pair.
I support this petition.I support this petition.I am 19 years old and a college kid.I along with several of my girlfriends love to watch ESPN coverage of the Champions Cup. I know he is getting up in the years counted but Tommy Smyth rocks. I love his comments he is funny. He does not overtalk the games. Just listen to him and Derek Rae announce a game. They capture the crowd. If you listen to the way they do it you can almost move your body to their spokenwords.Plese use these guys. I am not at all concerned that they have accents that are not American. They are simply the best in the USA.
Thanks Beth.
I support this petition. Please put some Soccer/European Football fans needs and wants a head of your pocket book and put some quality Soccer/English Football Announcers for the games greatest event. Thanks for taking care of this before World Cup 2006.
I support this petition.
Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are the only qualified personell you have and they are the only ones not doing games. not a good move guys. i personally will not watch espn OR any of their affiliated stations if this decision stands. our announcers are trained to do other sports. soccer is totally different. Derek Rae says it best he is a "match commentator" not a play by play guy. soccer is not a play by play sport.
I support this petition. I had to watch the last World Cup with the sound turned down because I couldn't bear to listen. Give us John Motson, Martin Tyler, and Peter Brackley.
I support this petition. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth would infuse a sense of authenticity to the game on an international level, which casual American soccer fans will enjoy.
Please do not have announcers with no knowledge of the sport do the play-by-play for the World Cup. Also please remember that, while there are plenty of quality foreign broadcasters, a British accent does not necessarily equal a good announcer. Just find someone who knows the game.
I absolutely support this petition. With all of the high quality english speaking announcers working in soccer it is unacceptable to stick an uninformed announcer in the booth.
I support this petition STRONGLY and TOTALLY. This is the WORLD CUP for god's sake, nt the Bristol local ymca cup!! i just want ESPN to start living up to their own motto of being the worldwide leader in sports...or shoud just stick with Sky Sports from now on?
