I don't believe women shouldn't do commentary, but to answer your question... because of threads like this.
So, by your reasoning, because of a thread that speculates on who should be calling a women's soccer game, then women shouldn't do it? I'm not following your line of thought. Or if I am, it's extremely misogynistic
By your reasoning and incredible line of thought, you completely distorted my original question. My thoughts and opinions are not based on this thread. I suppose I could take a few leaps and call your comments misandrist though. Frankly, your response to my initial comment was so off base that I didn't want to waste time with with a long response. If men are more qualified and experienced, why shouldn't they do commentary? Why must the role be reserved for a female especially if she does not have the credentials to speak in the booth? Before we get into the chicken and the egg discussion, there are several avenues for female commentators to work and climb the ladder as their male counterparts must, but few national commentators have.
Ignoring the trumped up pissing match you seem to be more interested in, let me address the main "WHY" Because if ANY women's sport is going to get a foothold on the TV market, then those watching need to feel a connection to those involved and they do that through the people calling the games. Like her or not, Foudy is connected to the game, from the college, international and pro level and frankly, I can listen to her versus Harkes or even Whine-alda. What makes them more qualified than her? Or must football commentators have a funny accent in order to be taken seriously?
Please pick a point. You're leaping all over the place. There are few things wrong with this point. Especially on cable, television viewership discussions aren't as black and white as total viewers. Segments aren't created equally. That's why NBC shows can get shitty overall viewers and still have shows considered even somewhat successful against CBS shows with fewer people in the 18-34 range or Disney numbers aren't as significant as USA numbers. ESPN normally targets the male 18-49 since that is a demo more likely to watch and take interest in sports. I'm not exactly sure what type of connection you're referring to. I'm a male. You have dad in your username, but I don't want to make more assumptions. There are males with the similar connections, but that's irrelevant. None of those connections make her a good commentator. I never used them as examples. I don't especially care for them although a commentator is often as good as the PBP allows them to be. Neither of those two started doing commentary on a national level with espn. They did commentary for local markets before working with the four letter. I never once even hinted at commentator nationality bringing credibility to a broadcast. Once again, I never said women shouldn't do commentary.
Andres Cantor did play by play in the 2000 Olympics for women's soccer and was quite good. I'm told Michelle Akers formerly did some color commentary. But, I don't recall seeing her doing games so I cannot pass on her ability in the booth (as opposed to on the field, which remains unmatched to this day). Shannon Cirovski (formerly Higgins), the current Maryland coach and former USWNT member (she assisted on Akers' first goal in the '99 final) would be a good choice as well.
You chose to infer that they shouldn't. If you're asking why I asked the question, I've answered that already. If you're asking why I inferred women shouldn't do commentary, my response is that I didn't.
Is she doing anything right now? She was coaching at Maryland a few years ago and I think I remember her doing commentary or PBP for WUSA matches as well. Her husband, Sasho(the Maryland men's soccer coach), sometimes fills-in and does commentary for DC United matches. I'm pretty sure I've heard him on other broadcasts as well.
I would love to hear from Kristine Lilly. Also, the Tiny Terminator, Tracey (Bates) Leone, one of my all-time faves.
Using a phrase like "do we need" sets the question as a negative connotation, hence my interpretation. I'm sure I'm not alone in reading your question that way. Even starting the comment with the rejoinder "I suppose I know why" seems a little snarky to me.
The norm has become using a woman for competitions including women regardless of quality or qualifications. I'm glad you quoted me. The critical word from the beginning was "need." The World Cup is the premiere event in the sport. If combinations in the booth including women were subpar, why must the audience be subject to them for the sake of them being there? You can infer a negative connotation from "do we need," but that goes back to the topic of the thread. If you have continued issues, please PM me so we don't fill the thread with our back and forth.
Go to any forum talking about the Men's World cup and I'm sure you'll find threads complaining about the announcers. Year after year, WC, Olympics, Gold Cup, even EPL games, no one is completely content with how the games are called. College game broadcasts are no different and maybe that's more of a proving ground for some announcers (JP Dellacamera comes to mind) and I think he did some of the WUSA games as well. Here's my point; until soccer develops it's own John Madden and Harry Carey type announcers that can convey their understanding and love of the game to a clear and concise but emotional call of the game, then we get what we get. Jools is getting better, I think Kate might surpass her, I hear Mia the other day and she was surprisingly dry, not sure I could take 90 minutes of that. And Mia is the best, so that says something to me
Just because people complained about them doesn't mean they are better than the teams for this WWC. Most play-by-play and commentators for espn have been used on college football or basketball broadcasts as tests. While iconic, I'm not sure those are the best examples. They had a sound or unique calls of their own, but they were often horrible. I don't think icon status or celebrity is necessary. I'm not sure who you like or if you like anyone for soccer, but one of my points remains there are men who are currently better than the women used. She has potential and hope she does pass her. She has a long way to go though. Mia has always been dry and that's part of why we would have been perfect. I want that 24/7. Damn you Nomar.
Now that's funny I chose Madden and Carey because of how they generated enthusiasm and excitement for the games, even when the games stunk beyond belief. Madden had the pedigree of being a SB winner and the joyful exuberance that oozed out of the TV every broadcast. Carey had the distinction of being a beloved icon for 3 different and competing franchises and fan bases and if ever anyone could transfer the love and emotion he felt for the game to his broadcast, he was the guy. Soccer needs that in the US.
