This is a hugh deal for all of us true fans of the beautiful game. Newcomers and general interest viewer need this as well, whether they know it or not.
I support this petition.
Very nice petition. I personally don't speak spanish and prefer to watch the game in Univision than ESPN, because of the commentating! At least in Univision I don't understand anything and concentrate on the game.
This is nothing against Dave O'Brien personally. He is an American soccer fan and his interest in the game is more than welcome, it is applauded. Unfortunately he wants to announce the world's largest sporting event without any knowledge of the sport. I would also like to announce for ESPN in the World Cup, but I am not. Perhaps if there were announcers like Derrick Rae working the US games over the last decade or so, Mr. O'Brien would have an idea how to approach anouncing a match. Instead we get broadcasters that don't let the game flow and talk about Glasgow United? The fans of the game don't need to be taught the game by the announcers, they will learn by watching. And most importantly, if we look away from the tv for a minute, and want to just listen to what is going on in the match, we should have that description available to us, not ramblings about things that happened 2 days before the match. That is what the pregame and halftime are for.
ESPN, you only bring disgrace to those of us Americans who really do understand and respect the game - who will tune into as much World Cup coverage as possibly. I'm hopeful you will staff commentators whose commentary I can stomach rather than to Univision. English is my first language. The USA is my birthplace and my culture. But even still, I recognize how inexperienced we are behind the microphone and how we have much to learn from our UK footballers. True fans of the sport, and those who will support the telecasts sponsors, deserve quality commentary from the best in the game. Carry a 3rd person in the booth if you want American blood, but the play by play and color can only be delivered by experienced football broadcasts. Tune into the Premiership broadcasts on Fox and take good note that they NEVER use their Fox talent for the game commentary. ESPN...time to concede that you can't carry this ball. Now, don't fumble it away. That's using football terms you should understand.
I support this petition. Again THIS IS the world's greatest game right??? So it deserves to have the best commentary possible. Would you want a welsh dart match commentator discussing baseball, american football or basketball??? Of course not. So don't be backward and get your act together ESPN forget the glam and put on the pros!!!
I support this petition. Please use commentators who understand the game, and the laws of the game; commentators that will explain what is happening and not automatically assume that they know more about what is happening than the players and the officials who are there.
I support this petition. Do every footie supporter in America a favor and get some British announcers, and i don't mean tommy Smyth. By the way who is Dan O'brien (is he the tri-athlete)? This is the reason American footie fans run away from games on ESPN and to subscriptions with Setanta and Gol TV.
I support this petition. This guy O'brien just doesn't cut it. I vote for Bob Ley because I and most others think he was the best. But if he can't do it bring back some other past guys like Jack Edwards (great voice and enthusiasm) & Ty Keough (excellent knowledge of soccer. Or if your willing to fork out the dough, bring back Al Michaels.
I support this petition. Give it to those who've earned it.. like, Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth. They are the best you have, that I have seen, for the World Cup.
I support this petition.
I think I'm gonna break out a machete and go nuts when Rob Stone calls a cross "service" for the 50th time during the Argentina-Holland match. In comparison to the rest of ESPN's numpties, Tommy Smyth comes off as Andy Gray. Now if that doesn't say something, I don't know what does. Martin Tyler is being wasted in Australia for the World Cup, why couldn't you clueless bastards at ESPN get him to call game here?
I support this petition. I'm an american soldier and I defend our country. I may stop doing this if ESPN puts these yahoos in as commentators. Put in Smythe and Rae
I support this petition. The announcing at the poland game was atrocious. Many football fans in my town understand basic spanish, so switching to univision would definetly happen if the annoncers weren't changed
If the game is on the Spanish channels I usually watch there and I dont speak a word of it. I just graduated with a degree in Communications so tell ESPN call me. I don't even watch the Olympics on American tv...it's so lame.
I support this petition. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are ESPN's finest football commentators w/Rae being one of the best IF NOT THE BEST on the planet. Without Rae & Smyth, I'm running the BBC's audio feed over a muted Spanish channel.
I support this petition.But please check the spelling on the letter b4 u send it - it should be "announcers" not "announces" as it reads now on the 3rd paragraph.
I support this petition. This is the biggest sporting event and these announcers Like Rob Stone, Dellacamara, O'brien don't understand the game. the commentary is onesided, they talk the entire game and don't allow the crowd noise to shine through thus you loose all the atmosphere of the game. They just don't know the craft of announcing soccer. You would not have John Madden announcing the Masters or the US open tennis tournament. Because they don't know the technique. When someone serves or is waiting to hit a golf ball you don't talk you let the tension build. They don't talk in a tennis match during the rally. This is about technique and skill and understanding there is a better way to announce this sport. Americans, don't want completely one sided announcing that is just inane rambling that ignores the play on the field. There are ESPN guys like Derek Rae and Tommy Smythe Healey and others who do games in Europe and the Champions league that are more than capable of leading the world cup announcing team. But if the announcers that did the US Poland game are what I have to look forward to I will forever take my business elsewere. Do the right thing and make your product better.
I support this petition. Why don't you hire some English Commentators who know what they are talking about. Don't ruin the world's sport. I am available for a nominal fee dodgiebloke@yahoo.com
Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa are a couple of boobs. As a "color guy", Marcelo DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE A CUE FROM THE LEAD ANNOUNCER. And Dave O'Brien does not know how to call a soccer game. "End Zone" has no meaning in the world of Association Football. Please choose wisely ESPN.
I support this petition. WE need people who know futbal to do the commentary for the world cup not some Wankers who don't care about the Beautiful game.
Sorry espn I will be watching on univision, To a language I don't speak or understand alot of.
It's better than the useless jibberjabber that your US announcers bore us with. Please bring us the lads who know how to call the Worlds game. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth
I support this petition. the quality of the commentary is way below the level required, please fix this and you and your advertisers will be handsomely rewarded. And I'll be mighty happy!
WTF IS AMERICAN PEOPLE GONAN BE DOING COMENTATING FOOTBALL FOR??THATS JUST PLAIN STUPID, IT SHOULD BE SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD NOT JUST SOME RANODM IDIOTS!!:@
Its not that the US announcers are completely clueless. Its the constant, high-intensity repetitve, inane jabber that ruins the game. Listen to the announcers that do the EPL or bring back Mike Hill.
ESPN has traditionally chosen theo worst possible announcers possible for soccer. Their stunning lack of knowledge makes it impossible to watch without turning down the sound. I support this petition wholeheartedly.
I really dont support this petition.
If the World Cup audience were knowlegble soccer fans, it wouldn't be on TV. Reality is the only way for ESPN to get any ratings, is to appeal to the mainstream audience who knows little to nothing about soccer. I dont think anyone wants the 1990 days and before where commericals happened during the games or only few select games were broadcast.
Ever see a british broadcast of Basketball? Its the same thing with American broadcast of soccer.
I do not hate O'Brien or Celo but I would prefer Bob Ley and Seamus Malin Like we had in '98. Mr O'Brien is a steady voice but his lack of familiarity with the tem and Celo real lack of insights do not make the "core" soccer fan happy and they do not seem to be the authority to be able to sell the games to the non or casual fan. Could we get Al Michaels before he is sold to NBC?
I support this petition. i am one of those fans who would rather watch the games on univision, listening to a language i don't understand, than watch it on espn, listening to a commentator who doesn't understand.
I support this petition. Get the best annoucers. The Copa Mundo is the primeiro futebol campeanato.ESPN MAKES ME SICK. They are a bunch of blow hards. Eu escutar Futebol sobre inter para Brasileiro. Futebol esta tudo mundo. Eu ver futebol Brasileiro TV o Univsion o Fox Sports. Sim. Entendi.
I support this petition.
Leave your currently selected team on the USA games if you must (to appease the occasional American soccer fan), but for God's sake please give us Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth for the rest of the tournament!
I support this petition. There are many talented and knowledgable announcers you could turn to, and instead we get people who don't know the game and apparently don't care enough about it to talk about what's going on ON THE PITCH rather than what they consider amusing anecdotes. Please, ESPN, this list of announcers is awful-- get people who actually know soccer.
I support this petition. The Disney way is to do things well and exemplary service to customers/guests. Please hire the best possible crews for World Cup 2006.
I support this petition. Mr. O'Brien needs to learn the value of silence, and stop insulting his audience with vapid commentary. And a good match commentator will know the opposition by more than just name. Do your homework. Listen to some good match commentators from the English Premier League.
