I support this petition. ESPN I cannot believe, you won't use your regular announcers for the World Cup. What's with you guys?
I want Tommy and Derek, don't you see they are the best.
I support this petition because this is not a MLS or college tournament, this is the World Cup! So we need announcers that know the sport intimately, not announcers that do this part time. Reminds me of when a major network does Formula One, leave that to the pros at Speed TV.
I support this petition because THE WORLD CUP is the only TRUE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP seen in America.Baseball, Basketball,Hockey & Football are all Domestic Sports passing themselves off as WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.None of your Domestic games can compete with SOCCER as a SPECTACLE.
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I support this petition.
Derek is the top shelf of announcers, not just in the US anywhere in the world.
Tommy does a great job and is fun to listen to.
I support this petition. The World Cup is the biggest soccer tournament and respect soccer fans use the best announcers. Tommy Smyth's is not only the best announcer but as well as been informative , knowledgeable, and talented. He's fun to listen to. Please no subs allowed in this game.
I support this petition. ESPN, it's time to gain some credibility from hardcore soccer fans, do this and we support you, don't do this and we go to your competitors.
I support this petition. PLEASE get it right. In the long term - true soccer fans will remember the networks that show an actual understanding of the game - don't blow it by handing the greatest sporting event on earth to a bumbling idiot
This is the worst thing that ESPN could ever do...I will not watch the JV squad announce this great event...do us proud and get some guys that know the game and are capable of calling it...I support this petition.
Until there're charges who're informed enough to, for example, recognize where the essence of plays are when they run replays, soccer remains in the doldrums in this culture. I support this petition.
I support this petition. Soccer announcers let the game tell the story, not fill up every space with talk talk talk...please get announcers that will actually mention the players with the ball at their feet, not anecdotes about something totally unrelated to the game.
I support this petition.
Espn, you have the resources to make the world cup announcing excellent (Smyth, Rea). It works for the champions league- use them!! Don't ruin the biggest sporting event in the world for us Americans who know, and love this game
Please!! This is the World Cup we're talking about, it shoulf be treated with the utmost respect, and we should be given the best announcers, with the most experience, someone to bring the game to a respectfull level, to make us feel that it was worth it to wait 4 years.
I support this petition.If ESPN is truly committed to showing important sporting events the best way possible, THEN GET SOME REAL ANNOUNCERS WHO KNOW AND LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL GAME!!!!!!!!
I support this petition. There are much better announcers on GolTV and Fox Soccer Channel that can do the World Cup better justice than the three you currently plan on employing. Phil Schoen and Ray Hudson should be your top broadcast duo for the event. Thank you.
I support this petition. There are far better anouncers, in the USA, that can do the job. Please do not give glorified MCs. I need to feel the game, not to know personal details about the players.
I support this petition.
Please, ESPN, with your network claiming to be "the worldwide leader in sports" you of all networks should know how big the World Cup truly is, please don't make us suffer through commentators who will talk through the entire match, please give us good announcers who understand the game and how to call it.
I support this petition. Although, I don't speak Spanish, I will once again have to watch ALL of the World Cup on Spanish language TV--One can feel the passion for the game that they project. Perhaps ESPN could contract some top British talent and I would gladly watch the entire cup on ESPN. Thank you.
"A pass along the boards" is a phrase more for hockey than for Soccer. Don’t get confused, even if the game is in a snowy German stadium. Come on O'Brien, admit it, just because your daughter plays in AYSO does not mean you are qualified to call games for the worlds biggest sporting event. Bring in the professionals that live this sport to call the games. If we have to listen to O'Brien for US games due to “already signed contracts” PLEASE put Tommy Smyth and Derek Rae on for the rest of the games.
I support this petition.
Quality deserves quality. ESPN should not settle for anything but the best. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth would be excellent choices.
I support this petition. ESPN has always had quality announcers in every sport with the exception of US Soccer matches.
ESPN's coverage of UEFA Champions League matches always have good announcers, why can't the US Team be provided with the best?
I support this petition. Please treat this sport and event with the respect it deserves and help more Americans fall in love with this beautiful game. Thank you.
I support this petition.
Let's get someone that can provide real insight on the game, like Madden w/ football. There are plenty of American coaches or ex players that would do a great job. It would definitely be better than Joe Buck or whoever they decide.
I support this petition.
I am afraid that Celo Balboa is hopeless. While I applaud Dave O'Brien's interest in announcing the World Cup, he clearly is entering the booth without the experience and knowledge of the international game to command the top announcing gig in Germany. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth deserve an opportunity to be the top grouping in Germany; if an ex-American player is necessary to appease the US Soccer Federation, John Harkes or Alexei Lalas or even Ricky Davis would suffice as the third guy.
If Dave O'Brien were to gain more experience by calling matches on ESPN International weekly, he would be ready to call matches at the World Cup as a secondary play-by-play announcer.
I support this petition. I do not speak Spanish but I will tune into Univision for all of the televised games instead of listening to some `baseball guy` on ESPN trying to explain the rules of soccer to me like I am some dumb idiot!
