[ne plus ultra]

That was the best American announcing I've ever heard. JP realized what a play-by-play guy is supposed to do in soccer -- 75% of it is tell us who is touching the ball, and using the rhythm of those touches to express the rhythm of the game. He also changed his tone of voice completely from past games. He expressed the tension of the game at every moment. He had none of those droning trail-offs that have plagued him in the past, that tended to put negative connotations on any play that didn't end in a goal. Instead, his voice perked for each attack, giving the real emotion of a soccer game, where every advance on goal heightens the anxiety and the excitement.

Chatter almost never overwhelmed the game. Most of the color was relevant color about recent performance. The analysis was better, including Foudy at the half. The only real down note I can think of is Harkes repetitive use of "experienced professionals." As almost always happens, skill and determination beat "experienced professionals." At those moments, Harkes sounded like a devotee of Arena, the preeminent man for choosing experience over ability. But the missed beats were few and far between. Harkes anticipated the subs so well you wondered if they were using some sort of spy mike.

The camera angles and shot-choices were great for the most part, though there were a couple awkward closeups (I remember one sudden switch to a ball rolling across the touch-line - why?) The player-positional-cloud was fun as an experiment, though "I do not think that means what you think it means"; and I wouldn't use it again unless they figure out a way to contrast a players cloud with, say the normal cloud for someone in his position, or something. Seeing a red blob slightly closer to midfield than the previous red blob wasn't that enlightening. But again, it was fun to see them try something different.

Very nice. I thought the game was tremendously exciting. Part of that no doubt was that the game actually was a cracker. But some of it was because these two, and their sideline help and production staff, really picked up their level.

[DCUdiplomat96]

Originally Posted by ne plus ultra

That was the best American announcing I've ever heard. JP realized what a play-by-play guy is supposed to do in soccer -- 75% of it is tell us who is touching the ball, and using the rhythm of those touches to express the rhythm of the game. He also changed his tone of voice completely from past games. He expressed the tension of the game at every moment. He had none of those droning trail-offs that have plagued him in the past, that tended to put negative connotations on any play that didn't end in a goal. Instead, his voice perked for each attack, giving the real emotion of a soccer game, where every advance on goal heightens the anxiety and the excitement.

Chatter almost never overwhelmed the game. Most of the color was relevant color about recent performance. The analysis was better, including Foudy at the half. The only real down note I can think of is Harkes repetitive use of "experienced professionals." As almost always happens, skill and determination beat "experienced professionals." At those moments, Harkes sounded like a devotee of Arena, the preeminent man for choosing experience over ability. But the missed beats were few and far between. Harkes anticipated the subs so well you wondered if they were using some sort of spy mike.

The camera angles and shot-choices were great for the most part, though there were a couple awkward closeups (I remember one sudden switch to a ball rolling across the touch-line - why?) The player-positional-cloud was fun as an experiment, though "I do not think that means what you think it means"; and I wouldn't use it again unless they figure out a way to contrast a players cloud with, say the normal cloud for someone in his position, or something. Seeing a red blob slightly closer to midfield than the previous red blob wasn't that enlightening. But again, it was fun to see them try something different.

Very nice. I thought the game was tremendously exciting. Part of that no doubt was that the game actually was a cracker. But some of it was because these two, and their sideline help and production staff, really picked up their level.

I also give the duo some decnt praise, at least they wasnt your typical british pauses like you would hear from Tyler, or some other yap from the premier league.... But JP didnt have to mention so much that Donovan wining the MVP award throughout the game. Also a acouple other thing but over all they both was real good, too bad there are other who want a all european crew for the world cup.

[RapidStorm]

You must have ignored all of the fawning over Beckham and Donovan as "big game players" just before RSL scored.

Tonight was better from an overall, keep-to-the-action-on-the-field point of view, but there was still far too much starstruckedness (not a word, but meh) in the booth tonight.

[krudmonk]

Harkes and Sullivan: separated at birth

[Autogolazo]

Originally Posted by ne plus ultra

That was the best American announcing I've ever heard.

How many times did they even mention Jamison Olave, one of the most dominating players on the field tonight?

The PBP was typed ahead of time at Anshutz Hdqtrs.

Garbage, one-sided, pro-L.A. commentary. When the overtime came up, Harkes was all about L.A.'s "experience", even though they had gotten their butts kicked in the second half. He deliberately denied what was going on in front of him.

[boomersooner027]

I respectfully disagree with the OP

[Fred T. Jane]

They were absolute pants this evening, especially with all of the fawning over Los Angeles. John Harkes is is a horrible commentator, opting for the Andy Gray model of commentary by telling everyone the obvious combined with making completely asinine comparisons (LA is interchanging like France did in the 98 Final! Huh?). It's an improvement on Dave O'Brien and Marcela Balboa, but that is faint praise indeed. I'll take Martin Tyler, Jon Champion, or Nigel Winterburn eight days a week and twice on Sundays for the World Cup. Just hold the Andy Gray.

[BirdsonFire]

JP is generally fine. At least based on the script that he has to play with. It would be great if they would let him call the game. I'd like to see how good he really is.


But Harkes is the typical not good color commentator. I did notice him mention that Beckham calls him "John" and not "Harksey". I was very confused by that. I'm not sure which alter ego is real.

And Lalas will always remain someone that I'll break a flat screen just to punch him in the face. I should probably invest in a projector.

[Mr. Warmth]

Originally Posted by Autogolazo

How many times did they even mention Jamison Olave, one of the most dominating players on the field tonight?

The PBP was typed ahead of time at Anshutz Hdqtrs.

Garbage, one-sided, pro-L.A. commentary. When the overtime came up, Harkes was all about L.A.'s "experience", even though they had gotten their butts kicked in the second half. He deliberately denied what was going on in front of him.

The fact that Chad Marshall won defender of the year may have been the biggest crime against humanity since the Wounded Knee Massacre

[ne plus ultra]

Originally Posted by Autogolazo

How many times did they even mention Jamison Olave, one of the most dominating players on the field tonight?

The PBP was typed ahead of time at Anshutz Hdqtrs.

But you're wrong there. They mentioned Olave many, many times.

I admit I'm giving an awful lot of credit for improvement, but in previous years, you wouldn't even have known Olave's name at the end of the game.

They didn't mention him in the color or the anecdotal stuff that is written ahead of time, but he was all over the play-by-play, and this happened because instead of talking over the top of the game, Dellacamera actually did play-by-play. That's an enormous difference from the past.

But most of all, it sounded like soccer. It had the right emotional tone. That has never been true. In the past, the game has always sounded like baseball.