View Full Version : Rob Stone Fires back
Z010 Union
12 Nov 2004, 12:36 PM
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=6465
Looks like someone got a beat. Own up son.
Alex McAdam, Edmonds, WA: What can you do as an announcer to get the viewers to focus more on the game? I find myself losing interest with all the non-relevent info that you and Eric provide. Maybe you could make a rule that if the ball is out of play, then you can pontificate as much as you like, BUT, when the ball is in-play, within the touchlines, then you call the live play by play. Your current broadcast is disrespectful to the players. I find it difficult to watch.
Rob Stone: (5:53 PM ET ) Disrespectful???
Are you sure that's where you want to go with this??
Here's the deal Alex...I will never abide by any television rules YOU set out for us. Believe it or not, we don't do our broadcasts solely for your entertainment purposes...Have you ever thought that we spend our 2 hour broadcast window trying to cultivate new fans?? Personal stories are one way to do that. If our TV ratings and stadium attendance were at NFL levels we might be able to cut that back a bit (oh by the way, they do the same thing) but obvioulsy we need to cultivate new fans. Throwing them in front of a soccer game that they have no emotional connection do, does not do that Alex. Watch any sporting event closely, and you will notice story lines developed, in the hope of hooking the casual viewer...Secondly, please introduce me to the players that have been disrespected by our broadcasts...if it's so tough for you to watch, turn away. I love this sport and its fans, but people who always have to find the negative involved in it are weighing this sport down in America. And yeah, you hit a nerve with me.
Detective40oz
12 Nov 2004, 12:39 PM
hahaha you get em Stoner!
Now lets talk about Max Bretos.....Oy Vey.
subbuteo
12 Nov 2004, 12:41 PM
i would give Rob Stone positive rep for that
texgator
12 Nov 2004, 12:42 PM
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=6465
Looks like someone got a beat. Own up son.
Yes, that was greatness from Stoner. I saw that question posted right before I left work last night and was wondering what Rob was going to answer back. I'm glad he didn't hold back too much, the poster deserved it. I've watched soccer broadcasts from all over the world, all kinds of styles, and every single commentator gets off the play by play for a stretch when things are dull. Soccer commentators don't have the luxury of a timeout, a deadball, or the time between pitches to interject interesting stories about the players. 90 straight minutes of "by the book" play by play would bore the hell out of anyone.
dawgpound2
12 Nov 2004, 12:50 PM
One bone of contention about virtually ALL MLS broadcasters I've heard.
STOP telling me constantly where players went to school, what city they grew up in, and/or what country they are from! NOW!
Braoadcaster's crutch that has no business being used over and over and over...
D-Wall
12 Nov 2004, 12:51 PM
Stoner is awesome. We need announcers like him. That dude was way off base. But then again he is probably used to listening to the EPL with there sophisticated announcers in the Queen's language. Stoner is the best announcer for the league and national team.
By the way, have you seen the Fan Zone presentations on Fox World? They are hilarious, especially when you are not prepared for it. GO ON DUFF, GO ON DUFF, GO ON DUFF in a high pitched scream right into the microphone during a Chelsea game recently. Funny stuff with there thick accents and how they rip on the other teams or their own players. Check it out.
That would be cool if they brought a rabid fan in the both with Stoner and Wynalda to just rip on teams or go crazy with support.
Stan Collins
12 Nov 2004, 12:56 PM
STOP telling me constantly where players went to school, what city they grew up in, and/or what country they are from! NOW!
Broadcaster's crutch that has no business being used over and over and over... True, but I'm sure you're aware that this is not a specifically American phenomenon. Whenever a player in the Premiership is not English, you can count on being reminded of this fact by most EPL announcers at least 6 or 8 times.
As the the other two thirds of it, that is probably to establish some sort of connection with 'new fans.' Hopefully there will at some point be anough 'old fans' that it won't be as necessary, and they won't do it as often. (e.g. Yes, I am quite aware that Brian Ching is Hawaiian, thank you.)
IASocFan
12 Nov 2004, 01:01 PM
One bone of contention about virtually ALL MLS broadcasters I've heard.
STOP telling me constantly where players went to school, what city they grew up in, and/or what country they are from! NOW!
Braoadcaster's crutch that has no business being used over and over and over...
Please reread the quote. Thanks Alex. :)
Z010 Union
12 Nov 2004, 01:06 PM
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=6465
Looks like someone got a beat. Own up son.
I forget to add, well done Stoner. I enjoy "Funky Cold Medina" et al.
Look forward to seeing you on the sidelines Sunday and hopefully back in the booth for the Jamaica match. Oh and just to piss off Alex and let us know you read the boards can you throw in a "Jamaica me crazy" :D
Cheers,
Jegao Paraiba
12 Nov 2004, 03:08 PM
Alex McAdam... you got burned! :D
Never pick a fight with a guy that has the last word.
yellowbismark
12 Nov 2004, 03:14 PM
Way to go Stonie!
I didn't like Stone in the booth when he first started, but I think he has gotten much better in the past year or so. I think he works good with Eric, too. And I enjoy the occasional off-the-wall comments he makes.
Nutmeg
12 Nov 2004, 03:15 PM
Dear Rob,
I'm writing this here because I'm pretty sure you follow these boards. Thank you. Thank you for taking a few seconds to tell SoccerFan, or at least this variation of him, where to stick it. I have never respected your work more. As the Bitch Brigade (my term for multiple instances of SoccerFan) lines up to complain about your work here on BS and elsewhere, please ignore them. You're doing great. And if you ever see Jack or Ty around, please thank them for their work on my behalf.
Nutmeg
JRHokie
12 Nov 2004, 03:36 PM
WHat is with all the hate for Bretos. I love that guy - he' s a nut. Love the way he calle dthe DC goals on Sat.
usasoc
12 Nov 2004, 05:03 PM
i can't stand the two broadcasters .. i agree they are too negative about the players. they don't want to be broadcasters they just want to critique them and basically in the negative. that is not what broadcaster are suppose to do. There are some that are calm and just tell the play by play. sometimes i feel they are jealous or something as to why they have to be so negative...
budalabutt
13 Nov 2004, 07:10 PM
One bone of contention about virtually ALL MLS broadcasters I've heard.
STOP telling me constantly where players went to school, what city they grew up in, and/or what country they are from! NOW!
Braoadcaster's crutch that has no business being used over and over and over...
That happens in every game, of every sport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Put in some ear plugs and turn up your stereo, punk ass!!!!!!!!!!!!
ZiggyGalaxy
15 Nov 2004, 01:22 AM
Now lets talk about Max Bretos.....Oy Vey.
Max Bretos...(mind you, this is coming from a G's fan)...biased? Yes. Awesome? Most definitely...
Brushes Sand
15 Nov 2004, 01:34 AM
As everyone rushes to fellate Stoner, I'll play deviladvocate.
The issues is not Stoner himself. Stoner, Jedwards, whoever.
Consensus Reality of the people paying the bills is that they
need to dumb down the telecasts. I hate it, but i'm not paying
for it. So I just tune it out. I still watch. But I don't listen.
The dumbed-down pbp and color, however, if it was designed
to bring in new fans, now has more than 5 years track record
of failure attracting new viewers.
Way too many I/O's and front offices are erect for the SoccerSmiles
crowd, and the onscreen manifestation of pandering to kids nets you
4th-grade level pbp and color.
No offense to Stoner, you're still as humble as the night I met you
in Indianapolis in '97 after the USOC Final. I'd rep you too for the smackdown.
But Bob Ley and Seamus Malin brought far more class and rep to
the National Team than anyone has since, and in my book they
will be the gold standard that no one will equal or surpass for
probably the next 25 years.
Excelsior.
-bs
Ronaldo's Idol
15 Nov 2004, 01:53 AM
How do you know that the "dumbing down" of broadcasts hasn't attracted new viewers? I think it is safe to say there are more viewers of soccer now than 5 years ago (ratings are up at least for this year), so perhaps some of these new viewers were initially attracted by such commentating to some degree?
Jimjamesak
15 Nov 2004, 01:55 AM
Respect for Stoner. I guess he's not quite the idiot I thought him to be.
writered21
15 Nov 2004, 03:15 PM
True, but I'm sure you're aware that this is not a specifically American phenomenon. Whenever a player in the Premiership is not English, you can count on being reminded of this fact by most EPL announcers at least 6 or 8 times.
As the the other two thirds of it, that is probably to establish some sort of connection with 'new fans.' Hopefully there will at some point be anough 'old fans' that it won't be as necessary, and they won't do it as often. (e.g. Yes, I am quite aware that Brian Ching is Hawaiian, thank you.)
Yeah, it's definitely not unique to the U.S. announcers. If anyone has ever watched Hockey Night in Canada on CBC, you'll know what town a Canadian kid is from, what junior team he played for and what kind of cake he had for his 9th birthday.