How could you ask a guy that's never called a game before to call World Cup Soccer? It's insulting to your fans' intelligence that you'd do such a thing!
It's not just a small "maniacal" minority of fans that is disappointed that you chose a lead announcer who had never broadcast a single soccer match before this year. JP Dellacamera and Seamus Malin please!!
the Dan and Balboa show has been annoying at best to listen to while watching some of the most increadible soccer. Please find replacements for the finals.
I shouldn't have to watch the games in a language I don't know just so I can see the game instead of your graphics, and shots of foreign fans. Get a clue.
In true football nobody get "fouled on the play", and nobody wants to hear mindless statistics about stadiums etc. Football announcing has a long history and has evolved to a particular style fior good reason.
This has been ridiculous listening to these stupid idiots who don't even know what team is on! How do you mispronounce players' name? For goodness sake, stop talking about irrelevant things besides the match! Learn some game terminology!
Please, never again with the John O'Brien experiment. You might as well opt for John Tesh at that point. Next go round, please consider using JP Dellacamera or Bob Ley. Dellacamera deserves the opportunity and Ley was excellent throughout the last tournament.
Dave O'Brien as the lead World Cup broadcaster is an insult to all soccer fans. Why not allow Bill Walton to broadcast the World Series next year. Terrible decision.
Dave O'Briwn is a disgrace to soccer broadcasting. 4 billion people play and love the sport and this is what we come up with? Hey, ESPN producers: this isn't a beer commercial, it's a sporting event. Get someone who knows it. Jesus!
ESPN and ABC, your choice of commentators has been sorely lacking for a majority of what I consider to be one of the finest sporting events in the world. The commentary, therefore, should match the caliber or such an event. I hope in 2010, you decide to heed the views of the people (your audience) who matter. I've been waiting four years for this event, and the experience has been spoiled by the lack of respect your network have afforded it by handing us mediocre commentry and "analysis". You've got four years to make an improvement.
over-compensating for lack of wit and game knowledge, these commentators detract from the enjoyement of the game by citing unimportant events, they sound like morons as they declare everything a superlative. How are Americans to develop a taste for good soccer when their being led astray by imbeciles who dont know what good soccer is? Please, anything but this idiot Dave Obrien and Marcelo Balboa.
One good reason to have American announcers would be so they could help "translate" the game for some beginning, but enthusiastic, American fans like myself. Yet, after listening to Marcela Balboa, my frustration with some of the finer points of the game has only increased.
I enjoy the in-studio commentary of Eric Wynalda and Julie Fouty, though.
Balboa is a disgrace.
I will never again watch ABC ESPN if they dont change announcers. I have been so upset with an event I have been waiting to see for 4 years.
Just an example of Balboa's lack of intellect: "Next World Cup Beckham will move to the middle - and displace who - Gerrard, Lampard?
This man constantly contradicts himself and is a homer for South American teams.
Words cant express my disgust
The announcers have RUINED World Cup games for me with their stupid remarks. The way they single out players and sometimes attribute a team's success to ONE individual is appauling. Zidane, a case in point, sure he's a great player, but c'mon! The announcers couldn't stop talking about EVERY little thing he did. I also think the announcers just enjoy saying the word "Chelsea", because they pointed out players from that club EVERY chance they got. Watching the World Cup has motivated me to learn Spanish, so I can watch the games on the local Spanish channel instead; I dont think there are any announcers in existence as bad as those on ESPN.
Balboa is the biggest F_in idiot on the network,then
Musberger!I thought he'd been frozen?
Let's face it they don't want football here. As my Dad use to say US = Useless.
Respect the sport, respect the fans, respect the players. I would much rather have a "foreign" announcer for the world cup games, than an announcer who is a foreigner to the sport. It's not about the soil you're standing on, it's about the love of the beautiful game.
