John Harkes as an announcer

[voyager]

Not sure what forum is appropriate so, Mods - feel free to move wherever.


After the game against Panama I have to say that John Harkes is one seriously annoying announcer. How many more times will he use the word "brilliant" to describe something? He is not the only announcer to do this. It seems to be a soccer-specific phenomenon. He seemed to think that everything the US did was brilliant. Brilliant, in my mind, means so much more than anything you can see in a mediocre soccer game.

Please, make it stop. Am I the only one???

[nyrmetros]

I like the fact that he says WE alot. I like the connection between the announcers, the players, and the viewers. There is no need for a neutral broadcast if our team is involved.

[voyager]

That's fine, I'll go along with that. But just please stop saying everything is brilliant. It got to the point where I wanted to watch with no sound.

[nyrmetros]

If he wants to say Brilliant, let Guiness buy some advertising spots! :)

[canammj]

John tells it like it is. The NAT's played POORLY against Panama and he didn't dodge the issue. I respect some of his thoughts, since he did play the game.. I also have to give him credit to jump to TV. Unless your a communication major coming out of college or in the TV industry and came over to soccer, its probably hard being smooth and non-repetitive on live TV. Comparisons to some the NFL players who came over to TV, some of them are not great either. IN football, the game stops and starts...Soccer moves, so your thoughts have to... I love hockey and I delight in great anouncers in that sport. Soccer does have much of a TV history, so it make take some time to develop good anouncers..

[Jabinho]

John tells it like it is. The NAT's played POORLY against Panama and he didn't dodge the issue. I respect some of his thoughts, since he did play the game.. I also have to give him credit to jump to TV. Unless your a communication major coming out of college or in the TV industry and came over to soccer, its probably hard being smooth and non-repetitive on live TV. Comparisons to some the NFL players who came over to TV, some of them are not great either. IN football, the game stops and starts...Soccer moves, so your thoughts have to... I love hockey and I delight in great anouncers in that sport. Soccer does have much of a TV history, so it make take some time to develop good anouncers..
I think your analysis is brilliant :o . I like John but he, and others will improve and more and better talent will come along as the sport grows here.
We don't have a Vin Scully of soccer yet but maybe someday.

[bukie2k]

Since his Thistle days, Harkes hasn't met a camera he didn't like. It is nice that he brings a USMNT perspective to the broadcasts, hence the constant "we' references, but other than that he is just another hair spray and a smile mic jockey. If I had to choose I'd take Wynalda over Harkes. Even though Waldo can be annoying his observations don't sound like one-liners a la Harkes.

[Power_of_foot]

Did John Harkes participated in WC 2002?

[yossarian]

Did John Harkes participated in WC 2002?


No. Nor did he participate in the 1998 WC. He was cut at the last minute amidst a swirl of rumors as to why (fights with teammates; messing with teammates wives, etc., nothing verified).

[dabes2]

Since his Thistle days, Harkes hasn't met a camera he didn't like. It is nice that he brings a USMNT perspective to the broadcasts, hence the constant "we' references, but other than that he is just another hair spray and a smile mic jockey. If I had to choose I'd take Wynalda over Harkes. Even though Waldo can be annoying his observations don't sound like one-liners a la Harkes.

Any credibility Harkes earns as former captain of the US National team he loses by being a Jersey kid who can't stop saying brilliant, pitch, test, table, nil,... Yes he played a few years in England, and had coaches from Europe, but it is so overdone. I don't want phony foreigners. I want real American soccer players/fans/announcers. This is why I, also, prefer Wynalda. He speaks his mind, he comes across as genuine, and he has a sense of humor.

[jotadia]

No. Nor did he participate in the 1998 WC. He was cut at the last minute amidst a swirl of rumors as to why (fights with teammates; messing with teammates wives, etc., nothing verified).

How about fight with the coach, Steve Sampson, when Sampson moved him from his preferred attacking midfielder roles to left fullback.

[jotadia]

Any credibility Harkes earns as former captain of the US National team he loses by being a Jersey kid who can't stop saying brilliant, pitch, test, table, nil,... Yes he played a few years in England, and had coaches from Europe, but it is so overdone. I don't want phony foreigners. I want real American soccer players/fans/announcers. This is why I, also, prefer Wynalda. He speaks his mind, he comes across as genuine, and he has a sense of humor.

I agree, cut the fake British accent. Remember who you are. Maybe Brad Friedel should be reminded

[Nicky Butt]

I agree, cut the fake British accent. Remember who you are. Maybe Brad Friedel should be reminded


I agree on Friedel. He needs to remember he grew up in America.

[soccerfan]

no matter what any of you might have against him and there is nothing wrong with speaking your mind, WE NEED SOCCER KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE doing the broadcasts, i hope one day every commentator will have played or coached soccer at some pont in his/her career

[Gar7]

John tells it like it is. The NAT's played POORLY against Panama and he didn't dodge the issue. I respect some of his thoughts, since he did play the game.. I also have to give him credit to jump to TV. Unless your a communication major coming out of college or in the TV industry and came over to soccer, its probably hard being smooth and non-repetitive on live TV. Comparisons to some the NFL players who came over to TV, some of them are not great either. IN football, the game stops and starts...Soccer moves, so your thoughts have to... I love hockey and I delight in great anouncers in that sport. Soccer does have much of a TV history, so it make take some time to develop good anouncers..

I like Harkes take on a match, whether it be the US or MLS encounter. He was spot on with his analysis and who cares if he says 'brilliant" or not. That's why I like Wynalda as well. They are not afarid to say we played like crap and the fact that they are homers(as they should be, former US players and all). John and Eric are way better than their former Italia 90 teammate Chris Sullivan who goes from English to Spanish as if English is his second language. WTF is up with that?

[Gar7]

Any credibility Harkes earns as former captain of the US National team he loses by being a Jersey kid who can't stop saying brilliant, pitch, test, table, nil,... Yes he played a few years in England, and had coaches from Europe, but it is so overdone. I don't want phony foreigners. I want real American soccer players/fans/announcers. This is why I, also, prefer Wynalda. He speaks his mind, he comes across as genuine, and he has a sense of humor.

Why should that matter? His parents were Scottish and said many things that rub off that just stay with you as a person. I say many Britisisms because of my mother and brother(Welsh and English born and raised respectively), it is a part of who I am. Why should he conform to your colloquelism?

[smith07]

no matter what any of you might have against him and there is nothing wrong with speaking your mind, WE NEED SOCCER KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE doing the broadcasts, i hope one day every commentator will have played or coached soccer at some pont in his/her career

did tommy smith ever play becasue i think he is the best

[mkb3]

That's fine, I'll go along with that. But just please stop saying everything is brilliant. It got to the point where I wanted to watch with no sound.

I think a close second for his favorite phrase is "as well". He constantly says this over and over. He grates.

And what's up with him (and Wheelock) not being able to identify the players on the field? I know they are in the studio, but sometimes watching on tv it is clear who is making the play. Yet, he and Wheelock very often mis-ID a player or just ignores them.

He's horrible. Give me Wynalda any day.

[mouseboy33]

Well Harkesy was far more enjoyable to listen to than the annoying Max Bretos. I know some people like him, but he makes me want to ram steel bars in my ears. I hate everything about his play-by-play. It goes far beyond annoying, it borders on abuse or something. I hate the way he veers way off topic and over pronounces everyones name and screams out that they are a "product" from a certain school or state. And he chats and laughs far to much about everything else than the match being played. Half the time he suppose to be describing whats happening and he's talking about something completely different. Its also annoying when he blabs endlessly about every South American club under the sun and usually its unrelated to the teams playing. And for those of us that dont follow South American soccer its useless dribble. Fine it its about the uncoming matches or something but i dont need match reports for River Plate when I watching a USA v Panama game. Several times during the match I did actually switch off the volume and prayed that the broadcasting booth would be attacked by insane Panamanians. But I remember that they were doing remote play-by-play from LA. Earthquake or mudslide please?!

[Tea Men Tom]

Well Harkesy was far more enjoyable to listen to than the annoying Max Bretos. I know some people like him, but he makes me want to ram steel bars in my ears. I hate everything about his play-by-play. It goes far beyond annoying, it borders on abuse or something. I hate the way he veers way off topic and over pronounces everyones name and screams out that they are a "product" from a certain school or state. And he chats and laughs far to much about everything else than the match being played. Half the time he suppose to be describing whats happening and he's talking about something completely different. Its also annoying when he blabs endlessly about every South American club under the sun and usually its unrelated to the teams playing. And for those of us that dont follow South American soccer its useless dribble. Fine it its about the uncoming matches or something but i dont need match reports for River Plate when I watching a USA v Panama game. Several times during the match I did actually switch off the volume and prayed that the broadcasting booth would be attacked by insane Panamanians. But I remember that they were doing remote play-by-play from LA. Earthquake or mudslide please?!

I have to defend Max. I actually like when he veers off topic. You can overdo it and take away from the game, but I don't think he does. I also think he adds enthusiasm and excitement to the broadcast plus he works very well with his color guy. He made made Harkes sound pretty good.

After years of Jack and Ty, it's a relief to listen to someone who's enthusiastic about soccer yet knowlegable at the same time. He kind of straddles the line between the Andres Cantor "over the top" style and mainstream American play by play and he manages to pull it off.

I actually think Max may be the best play by play guy in the US right now when it comes to broadcasting in English.