US Fans Hate Giuseppe Rossi? Huh? NBC Rips Off Chris Medley?
Posted on March 12, 2012 3:32 am
The guys discuss goal.com’s assertion in a recent article that Giuseppe Rossi has become the focus of “hate” by American soccer fans.
Did NBC rip off Christopher Medley’s “Soccer & the Mechanics of Sport” idea?
And a response to those from abroad who assume ALL American’s are “idiots.” On The Straight Red Card.
twitter: @straight_red
Is the article on mlssoccer.com?
Here is the regretful article, only building on the generalization that we’re all a bunch of rabid, frothing at the mouth morons, who wave American flags at the drop of a hat, and sing country songs about kicking ass:
http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/10/italy/2012/03/03/2943375/united-states-fans-threaten-italy-forward-rossi-online
No, goal.com…
Hey guys,
I’m going to have to disagree with your reaction on the Christopher Medley/NBC “ripoff” allegations. First, if Medley had developed his suggests for improving soccer coverage in private and his ideas had been stolen, then his ire would be justified. But if he voluntarily took the initiative to pass his ideas onto the major networks, it is disingenuous of him to become upset when (it appears that) one of them took him up on his suggestions.
Also, Kyle Martino’s “Between the Benches” role, at least as played out yesterday in the Dallas/NYRB broadcast, does bare stronger resemblance to the similar feature that they innovated for the NHL broadcasts than Medley’s ideas (at least as I heard them from your interview with him). Martino did not significantly enhance the viewers’ knowledge of individual mechanics of the sport, but his vantage point facilitated his commentary on the tactics (and real-time execution of the same) employed by the teams. To use an American Football analogy, he told us more about how the wide receiver’s run facilitated the pass than how the quarterback approached the throw (how many steps, arm movement, etc.). To take two examples from the game: unless I missed it, neither White nor Martino explained to the listeners any of the mechanics behind the Blas Perez assist on the Villar goal (other than a vague reference to vision), or the Henry assist for Cooper’s goal.
NBC’s innovation was to relate the color commentator, not in any directives given to him to cover the tactical and mechanical side of the game more (i.e. Medley’s proposal). Fortunately, as Martino is a former player, just being physically close to the action inspired him to better tie his remarks the action and decision-making employed by those on the field. If Medley’s efforts influenced NBC’s decision to go ahead with the relocation, then kudos to him, but to say that he was ripped off is IMO an unjustifiable reach.
if Medley had developed his *suggestions…
Two more edits: “…does *bear stronger resemblance…” and “NBC’s innovation was to *relocate the color commentator.” I blame you guys for discussing a topic so interesting that I had to respond in the early morning.
Chris did contact us tonight and said he was happy, regardless of whether he had something to do with it or not, that NBC made these changes. I would also agree that Martino was the best I’ve ever heard him today in the NY v DAL game. Very insightful for the average fan, regardless of what you thought of him beforehand. I thought Brett made the point: it COULD BE, based on NBC’s experience with the NHL that they may have come up with these changes on their own–but I have to say, I think Chris still may have had something to do with them nudging towards it.
I think interviews with NBC execs and Kyle himself, that the changes were made to help cover the more tactical and technical parts of the games from a more “birds-eye” perspective. The proof was in the pudding today as well, as this was about as technically specific as I’ve ever heard Kyle.
I hate Guiseppe Rossi with the fire of a thousand suns.
that’s quite a bit
I don’t see this as ripping off Medley. NBC’s hockey broadcaster Eddie Olczyk does this in all of his broadcasts. In fact, he has a catch phrase before doing it. On a replay, Eddie goes “Stop it Right, here”, the video stops and Eddie goes on the telestrator and breaks the play down. He started this a couple of years ago during the CSN broadcasts of the Blackhawks. It was to teach the new fans following the Hawks the fine details of the game.
I am guessing some producer thought the would be good idea for their new soccer broadcasts.
Chris stated that the broadcasting should be more like the other sports in the US. He talked about how in Basketball and Football (failed to mention hockey) how they break a play down and explains the tactics of a play, pick, etc…
It was not an original idea, but he did receive quite a bit of interweb attention on the idea of bringing it to soccer. He even msg’ed Arlo White (along with everyone else in the industry). Then NBC announces right before the season starts that they are going to follow a broadcasting practice utilized in Hockey.
It’s very possible that given the NHL plays on Versus (a NBC channel) that when they sat down in meetings about MLS broadcast that they simply decided to want to replicate it without ever considering Medley’s video.
I hate Giuseppe Rossi.
I was thrilled when he was dropped from the Italian WC squad and felt a sense of justice when he suffered a season-ending injury.
Everything bad that happens to Rossi makes me feel better.
Every time I have a bad day, things don’t go right, clouds are a-hangin’ over me, etc., I remember that Guiseppe Rossi has logged as many minutes in a World Cup Finals as I have. Then I feel better.
I don’t really know if NBC is Ripping off Chris. I don’t think any of the ideas he proposed are actually revolutionary. I have seen most of the ideas on international broadcasts for years.
Or maybe I’ don’t understand what the fuss is about.
Dude from the video here.
So here’s the thing. I can’t be certain if NBC used the ideas from my video or not.
What I can be certain of is that both A-White and K-Martino both saw my video, in fact I even corresponded with one of them about it. I would find it hard to believe that if they were sitting around brainstorming ways to improve the broadcast and they had both seen my video that it wouldn’t play a part in their process.
That being said, I don’t have a patent on my theory, nor could I. It is just an idea of how to attract new fans and make current fans down to watch more soccer on TV. If they use it and it helps in some way for the US to improve their collective soccer knowledge which down the line brings us one step closer to my ultimate sports dream of the USA winning the world cup, then GREAT.
But here’s the thing. I didn’t make the video because I had a clever idea, I made the video because I want a job in soccer. I don’t even want a job anywhere near the broadcasting side…I have no experience there and they have people much more capable than myself to execute my ideas. I’m a marketing professional…the idea guy
But if they are in fact bringing some of my ideas into their broadcast, doesn’t that at least make me deserving of a phone call to discuss possibilities?
For what it’s worth, other soccer-related enterprises have reached out to me, and after all is said and done perhaps I will land that dream job. If that happens, and NBC generates new fans to the sport through their efforts then I’ll be a happy guy.
Either way, thanks to everybody for watching my video and providing comments/opinions. And thanks again to Derek and Bret for giving me the chance to rap about it in TSRC and staying in touch since.
-Chris
p.s. If you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about the video can be seen here:
Soccer and the Mechanics of Sport on TV: http://sireo.us/yNI7rx
Far be it from me to discourage the job search. Good luck!
The question is, how did you, Chris Medley, come up with this “Soccer & the Mechanics of Sport” idea? Did the people who inspired you get any calls?
I notice I am hearing a lot less of “he should have done better with that,” and a lot more of the technique that should have been applied. I am pretty sure Chris deserves credit for that.
I totally picked up on Kyle breaking down the way the formations and player placement were hindering NY success. I also heard a lot more “why” and “how” things happened, rather than WHAT happened–which I can clearly see all by myself. As can most others with functioning eyeballs.
Wow. All the hate. A kid is born here of Italian parents, lives here until just about 12 and that constitutes that he was “raised” here, given that he go the majority of his football training in Italy? He’s 25 now, let’s give it a rest. He’s Italian…and one hundred times more Italian than most “African-Americans” are African.
I hear there are German hate groups doing the same thing to Chandler and Johnson. Dooley still gets hate mail from Schalke on a regular basis. :rollseyes: Grow up and get over it. An Italian kid happened to be born here and, when he went back to “his country” he decided to keep playing for the nation be bore an identity with. Time to move on.
You are right. For me Rossi’s story is even more consistent than Jones’ and Johnson’s, because at least he didn’t play on the US youth national teams. He decided at an early age what he wanted and I respect that.
But are you sure that Dooley is getting hate mail from Schalke for choosing to play for the US team? Because he decided to play for the US long before he ever joined Schalke.
Was a joke.
If anything, the German fans have a right to be upset at Johnson, Jones, Chandler, Dooley, etc., for switching to the US team having played for Germany previously, in many cases. Rossi did not play for the US, he was merely born here.
I wonder how many of those biatching about Rossi — if the tables were turned and they were born in, say Kuwait, to US parents and lived there until 11 — would feel a compelling urge to play for Kuwait rather than the country of their heritage? Not one, I will venture.
Oh ok, that one went right over my head. You even had me doing google searches, lol.
@ D Wreck
The difference betwen our “german american” inclusions vs Guiseppi Rossi is because of our lack of depth at forward and the ridiculous amount of goals rossi scores for his club team. The german players do not put up the same numbers. Thats why a lot of people hate rossi for choosing Italy!
Makes no sense. Either you have a standard to which everyone is subject or you have none. The latter is just sour grapes.
I hear ya, but agree with LoewenBoy–you have to have the same standards for everyone, regardless of what position they play or how many goals they score.
I would say that most of the anger is probably because many consider him AMERICAN thru and thru. He was born here to American citizens (yes his mom and pop were immigrants), and he went to school here, and his parents still live here and work here. So, based on the facts a lot of people see him as American now, and any deviation from that pisses them off. Some people blame Bruce Arena for all this as well for not giving in to Papa Rossi’s demands in 2006–but all that is history now and its simply time to move on–not time to start a “Giuseppe Rossi is a Traitor” Facebook pages.
Sorry to comment on this late, but i couldn’t agree more… Its absolutely ridiculous to hate on Rossi for playing with Italy. Quick question, what was Papa Rossi’s demands for Bruce Arena?
they dont put up the same numbers b/c the vast majority of german americans now playing for the US are defense or defense minded.
Johnson and Chandler plays wingback for their clubs.
Williams and Jones are dmids who have occasionally played CB.
Not sure what type of numbers they are suppose to compete with Rossi for. People may be bent out of shape b/c our striker pool is so thin and that Rossi would have been a star here, but fact of the matter is he stated early on that he was going to play for Italy and he hasnt looked back.
I have always had the same mindset as LoewenBoy… time for US fans to move on. We’ll gain some and then we’ll lose some.
chris medley’s youtube video sucks anyway. it’s a good idea, but there is no time to break the game down in slow motion replay during a soccer game. Football…yes. Baseball…yes. Basketball…yes. Which all have guaranteed stoppage of plays. No matter how much this guy insists, and keeps saying over and over again, that it’s not going to interrupt the game to do slow motion replays with in depth explanations during the game, it’s going to interrupt the game, and it’s not reasonable. maybe in pre-game or post-game or half time it’ll work, but not during the game.
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