View Full Version : Full info on ESPN WC Coverage
BuffloSoldier
15 May 2006, 10:14 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-05-14-hiestand_x.htm
• Its top team for games —Dave O'Brien and three-time World Cup player Marcelo Balboa — will be in Germany and call all U.S. games. Two other TV pairs —JP Dellacamera/John Harkes and Rob Stone/Robin Fraser — will also be on site.
• Two announcing teams —Glenn Davis/Shep Messing and Adrian Healey/Tommy Smyth — will call games off monitors at ESPN's Connecticut headquarters.
• ESPN studio analysts will include Eric Wynalda, Alexi Lalas and the only woman in Cup coverage —Julie Foudy.
Other interesting notes:
-Games will be shown on ESPN broadband.
-Ted Koppel getting involved.
MasterShake29
15 May 2006, 10:37 AM
Good find.
Eric Wynalda relegated to studio duty? Interesting. I don't know that I've ever heard Robin Fraser before, does he do local MLS broadcasts somewhere?
I also find it interesting that ESPN is ok with Tommy Smyth calling games, but not his usual partner, Derek Rae.
Gioca
15 May 2006, 10:45 AM
But game coverage, relying on the Cup's world TV feed, which uses 22 cameras a game, will be straightforward and not involve ESPN cameras: "It would be ridiculous to cut away from the feed — you could miss a goal."
Great news!! They won't be able to cut away to random shots of the crowd (which should be done before the match or during the break) or sideline reporters during the match!
TarheelJTK
15 May 2006, 10:47 AM
I also find it interesting that ESPN is ok with Tommy Smyth calling games, but not his usual partner, Derek Rae.
It's unfortunate for fans that Derek Rae isn't calling games. He's very good and calls them in a very classy way. I personally enjoy Tommy but I know that a lot of people don't like him and his style so it's strange that they would use him and not Rae.
szazzy
15 May 2006, 10:49 AM
I cant stand Wynalda, and he's still light years better than Marcelo Balboa. What do they see in this guy as a commentator? I've never seen someone say less using more words.
He offers no analysis, and repeats himself constantly. I'm sure he's a great guy, but he's so bad he makes whomever he's partnering with worse too. O'Brien is much better with Wynalda because he has something other than an inanimate object to talk to.
Gioca
15 May 2006, 10:49 AM
It's unfortunate for fans that Derek Rae isn't calling games. He's very good and calls them in a very classy way. I personally enjoy Tommy but I know that a lot of people don't like him and his style so it's strange that they would use him and not Rae.
Perhaps they aren't using him because of his accent? Which is just wrong if that's the case.
TarheelJTK
15 May 2006, 10:56 AM
Perhaps they aren't using him because of his accent? Which is just wrong if that's the case.
That's what I thought initially but Tommy Smyth has a more distinctive accent than Rae.
DoctorD
15 May 2006, 11:00 AM
"Julie - was Bruce Arena wrong to pick so many MLS players?" :)
Gioca
15 May 2006, 11:04 AM
That's what I thought initially but Tommy Smyth has a more distinctive accent than Rae.
Right but he's also just the analysis guy, Derek speaks much more than Tommy. I hope that wasn't the thinking used, because I enjoy hearing Derek Rae.
monster
15 May 2006, 11:26 AM
Good find.
Eric Wynalda relegated to studio duty? Interesting. I don't know that I've ever heard Robin Fraser before, does he do local MLS broadcasts somewhere?
I also find it interesting that ESPN is ok with Tommy Smyth calling games, but not his usual partner, Derek Rae.
Robin has been doing RSL matches, I believe. This is his first season and I don't recall hearing him yet. I just read it somewhere.
tab5g
15 May 2006, 11:36 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-05-14-hiestand_x.htm
Other interesting notes:
-Games will be shown on ESPN broadband.
is this a free streaming content site (espn360), or something else?
i would have figured that games would (only) be available at the yahoo.fifaworldcup site.
monster
15 May 2006, 11:37 AM
Another tidbit - the entire broadcast team (I believe) spent some time in Bristol a week or so ago to plan the coverage. Harkes was on the XM show he does talking about it. He said one big topic was how to appeal to all the elements of the viewing audience at the same time, acknowledging that some of the broadcast must be an opportunity to embrace the new and/or casual fan.
ursula
15 May 2006, 12:27 PM
I've heard one game by Frasier and I liked him. I remember thinking he should eventually have a higher profile as he's already better then most. Well that higher profile is coming four years early! Good voice.
billf
15 May 2006, 12:29 PM
Yippeee, Julie Foudy...
Tea Men Tom
15 May 2006, 12:36 PM
Dave O'Brien & Cello have to be the worst TV announcing team since ABC had Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorff as its color analysits on MNF.
O'Brien flat out sucks as a soccer announcer..... end of story.
And Celo's a boring Ty Keough.
Good job ESPN.
IamtheShark
15 May 2006, 12:50 PM
Nostalgia for the Jack and Ty show?
Someone bust out Ray Hudson's phone #...
mellon002
15 May 2006, 01:16 PM
The only real soccer announcing talent (other than Tommy Smyth) is Derek Rae and he is totally left off the roster. Unbelievable. We there has to be some sort of explanation we don't know about.
Andy_B
15 May 2006, 01:38 PM
Perhaps they aren't using him because of his accent? Which is just wrong if that's the case.
It should be noted that Rae can turn the accent on and off at will. He is a linguistic cameleon in that sense. When he called Revs games for the first few years, no one who was not already familiar with him even knew he was Scottish.
Andy
Andy_B
15 May 2006, 01:40 PM
Another tidbit - the entire broadcast team (I believe) spent some time in Bristol a week or so ago to plan the coverage. Harkes was on the XM show he does talking about it. He said one big topic was how to appeal to all the elements of the viewing audience at the same time, acknowledging that some of the broadcast must be an opportunity to embrace the new and/or casual fan.
Perhaps to a US game or two, but the vast majority of the people watching will be soccer fans. Talking down to the vast majority of the audiance might be a mistake IMO.
I hope they don't make the obvious mistake of thinking that just because the ratings are going to triple a MLS broadcast, that all of the new people are new or casual fans...
Andy
TarheelJTK
15 May 2006, 01:44 PM
Perhaps to a US game or two, but the vast majority of the people watching will be soccer fans. Talking down to the vast majority of the audiance might be a mistake IMO.
I hope they don't make the obvious mistake of thinking that just because the ratings are going to triple a MLS broadcast, that all of the new people are new or casual fans...
I think they have already made that mistake or else someone like Derek Rae would be involved in calling of games. The first choice team of O'Brien and Balboa has never ever said anything inciteful and spend most of their time making me cringe.