Recently retired Venezuelan international Alejandro Moreno. He's actually been a pretty good commentator thus far this season, but I guess once a player, always a player when it comes to situations like this. I definitely cringed a little bit (ok a lot) when watching that on TV
"You know, an intentional handball can actually be a straight red." http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-04-06-CLB-v-PHI/highlights/216014
I came to this thread just to post the Col/Phi "can be a red card" idiocy. That was pretty funny. I mean, the play was, what, 80 yards from goal once you take into account the angle? Yeah, that's an obvious goal scoring opportunity. I wonder why Duncan Oughton didn't correct him. Does Duncan not know, or did he just not want to get into an argument about it?
It's even funnier because it wasn't handling at all since the ball was not in play. The restart was another throw-in which means he blocked the throw-in from entering the field and was likely booked for Delaying the Restart.
HSO here - commentators need to have advisers on the laws of the game. Most come from a players or coaches background, and they are so used to pushing their opinion (as they should - if you care, you push) that they aren't really objective about what the officiating should be. The ManU CL game the other day is the best example I can think of - all the hollering that no way is that a red card. Props to the few media outlets that really looked into the issue and came up with the right answer.
Gus Johnson. Fox Soccer Channel new "announcer". I'm sure he is a fine person, and the world is a better place with him in it. God bless, and carry on. Having said that: I expect much much much better when I watch a Man U v Chelsea match. I am not watching a NASCAR race. I am not watching an NBA game, nor a Baseball game. These are very obviously where Gus comes from and has cut his teeth on. Fox, if you are going to go through the trouble to have a soccer channel, let us please have soccer announcers. Sure I prefer the default BPL announcers, why not? Sure ESPN beat you to the punch and hired Martin Tyler (soccer announcer royalty in my opinion...): Please fix this as soon as possible. Hire Ian Darke to counter ESPN's coup perhaps. When I watch the Masters golf tournament, I don't expect Joe Rogan of UFC MMA fame to be on the job. It would be as large an affront to the golfing community as Mr.Johnson is to our soccer community. And stay the hell off my lawn. MOD EDIT: Moved here, where it fits a little better, at poster's request.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-18-SJ-v-COL/highlights/220648 “… they're going to pull a card on that, Kelly?” at time 00:07` … evolves into... “…he does grab him a little bit around the neck…” at time 00:34
Women's Champions League final -- Wolfsburg keeper makes a save fully stretched, ball bounces a bit but she reaches out an arm and ends up with one hand firmly on the ball. Immediately, a Lyon player kicks the ball and the referee blows up. Commentators, after the replay, conclude that it's clearly not a foul because she hasn't got two hands on it. I guess they've never heard the "just one finger" speech before?
Not necessarily a commentator, but made me laugh (bold mine). At least they got the "un" part right... All the yellow cards came in the second half and beyond, with Adria totaling four and to Pittsburgh three, all of which were labeled as unnessecary behavior. http://thecup.us/2013-us-open-cup-first-round-riverhounds-hit-the-high-mark-beat-rwb-adria-in-pks/
http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/05/25/henry-sees-yellow-tackle-breakaway Another gem from the New England clown college. They might be the worst in MLS.
Nah, the Quakes have the worst in MLS. I'll see if a video comes up, but in today's game Lenhart got a yellow for reentering without permission after going off to get his bloody nose treated. (paraphrasing slightly) Commentator 1: "They're going to give him a yellow card for that? That seems very harsh." Commentator 2: "Yea, you wouldn't normally see a yellow card just for that,"
But he's right! You never see a card for that at this level . . . but it's because players aren't stupid enough to ever do that at this level . . .
Football League Championship playoff final, Watford v Crystal Palace -- Watford player hoofs the ball forward, Palace midfielder jumps straight up in the air and the ball skips off the top of his head. It continues to fly and lands at the feet of a Watford striker who is and has been 3 yards offside, and the flag goes up. Color commentator immediately goes off about (and I'm paraphrasing because I can't find any video) "How can he be offside if he receives the ball from an opponent" and "in a match of this magnitude the standard has to be higher, how could he get that wrong" etc., etc.
But the announcer is right! Just checked my copy of the LOTG from the early 70s and he's spot on! Oh, wait, Law 11 evolved in forty years?!?!?
But in fairness the play-by-play guy did try to correct him and offered the correct explanation. BTW, I have never heard these guys before, neither of them were much good IMO (but better than Gus Johnson!). Anyone know anything about their background, qualifications and experience? It seems that they were not at the stadium. I don't understand why they don't just use the commentary from the English TV guys, who know the teams, the players and the history very well. PH
DC United v. San Jose, regarding the yellow card to Porter in the 2' minute: "He didn't intend to be reckless."
A gem on a Honduras hand ball. US vs Honduras Ian Darke : But was it intentional? Taylor Twellman : I don't care, that was a penalty!
As many games as Ian Darke has done throughout the years one would have thought he would be more knowledgeable of the rules. I find most of the Brit commentators we hear in the US to be less than mediocre personally.