I support this petition. I tried to give Dave O'Brien a chance but he is awful. He is a PbP announcer. Stick to that and stop telling stories. Marcelo is not much better.
I support this petition. It is stupid to have some idiot who only wants to do soccer because his daughter plays in some rec league to do the biggest greatest sporting event in the world.
I support this petition. I would like to listen to good commentary in English. I usually watch the games on the Spanish channel even though I don't understand the language, or I turn down the commentary and watch the game.
I support this petition. I also note that ESPN knows quality commentators becuase their champions league coverage is pur quality (Derek Rae, Tommy Smyth)
GET DAN OBRIEN OUT OF THERE!!! he is HORRIBLE. come on suits, for the fans. he really is quite terrible at being a soccer announcer. do something positive for your loyal viewers.
I support this petition.
You have announcers for the Champions League matches. Add them to the team. There are also local MLS announcers that deserve a chance on the national stage. Dwight Burgess of the Columbus Crew comes to mind immediately.
Its time for soccer fans to receive good match commentary.
I support this petition.
I am usually embarrassed and annoyed with the announcers used for soccer on ESPN. How about Ray and Smith?
I am quite serious when I say that there are many players on a U-13 team I coach that know the terminology and understand the game better then most of your play by play announcers.
PLEASE don't do this. Give us guys who really know the game.
I support this petition.
US Networks mistakenly believe that "Americanizing" soccer presentation will bring in more casual viewers. Unfortunately their market research has been amateur at best, resulting in lower ratings.
This is as stupid as Toronto, a Canadian city, joining the MLS (USA League) in 2007! Yo, ESPN, just use the guys that cover the Champions Cup matches on ESPN2. I don't want any English wankers...Univision #1
An event like this deserves the best announcers, not a bunch of lackeys to appease MLS' whims and desires. Give me Derek Rae and Tommy Smythe or I'm off to Spanish lessons and Univision.
I support this petition. I wanted to turn the sound off the Poland game because of Dave O'Brien. Marcelo is no announcer but at least he knows the game! Marcelo could barely get a word in between all the factoids pouring out of O’Brien. If ESPN doesn't want to spring for world class announcers they should at least use knowledgable people who don't feel the need to fill every second of the game with blather.
I support this petition.
My husband watches ESPN football coverage for Champions Lge, friendlies and he goes off his nut and gives me grief when about your poor commentators. Some Derek and a little Irish lepracaun man are the only ones he likes.
We need to get annoucers that have passion for soccer and the knowledge of the sport to make the US coverage of the World Cup way better. Soccer fans in the US deserve way better.
I'm bilingual and I would much rather watch the english commentary, but if you use those MLS guys and JP Dela Camera I'll be tuning into Univision and Andres Cantor, someone who actually knows something about the game and the players. Use Derek Rae! He's brilliant.
