Soccer Insider is reporting that Tommy Smyth will be joining Stone and Waldo in the booth. I'm sure some people dislike him but I think he does a fantastic job during the Champions League broadcast's and used to be very good for the Metrostars on MSG.
Here's the link, although I haven't found the ESPN article yet. I think he'll be replacing O'Brien in the booth. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/04/please_no.html Also, here's the wiki entry on Tommy Smyth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Smyth
Now...let me preface this - I think that Waldo and O'Brien, Stoner and Foudy are the best team we have in the US. O'Brien isn't just doing this for more money - I think he really believes in it and wants it to grow. However, man, what would it sound like to have Derrick Rae call an MLS game - and a good one at that.
Ask any Revs fan. And didn't he do Metros games for awhile too? Of course, that was back when he was temporarily American.
If he indeed does replace DOB then this will be best news ever. This shows that ESPN is not gonna stand for ************ broadcasting and that they want to present soccer better. Please let DOB leave Tommy Smyth knows his stuff and he is a very good commentator unlike swing and a miss O'Brien.
Hasn't Tommy been hyper critical of MLS and its players (looking down on them as inferior)? I like his fervor, but if he's joining the bandwagon after the tide has turned in MLS' favor, I have mixed feelings. Help me out, people. Maybe I'm confusing too many of his comments with Paul Gardner, who definitely spits on MLS. I just haven't seen enough of Tommy lately to be sure which way he leans.
can Tommy do PBP?....I'm all for losing DOB but he was getting a little better i guess so i'm suprised if he's replacing him
Isnt tommy a color commentater, ive never heard him do play by play but i like tommy and DOB just sucks. If this is true... then awesome job ESPN!
No--it seems pretty obvious to me that DOB stays, with Waldo and Smyth as color, JUST LIKE WALDO AND ARENA for nats games.
Dave O'Brien - play by play Rob Stone - play by play Derek Rae - play by play ----- Allen Hopkins - play by play and color commentary ----- Eric Wynaldia - color commentator Julie Foudy - color commentator ----- Tommy Smyth - blind ignorant fool with a frightenly heavy accent for someone who's been in the United States as long as he has.
Tommy was the voice of the Metros from 1996 until early 2000's, so he can do play-by-play. But, according to Goff (I haven't found this press release), Stone will do play-by-play, While Waldo and Smyth will both do color commentary.
If you don't like him, that's fine, but do you really have to say "DOB sucks" and F*** DOB"? You sound like a 12 year old who just learned those words, and feel like you need to use them all the time. Grow up.
Raise your hands if you're surprised that ESPN's big commentary improvement is to compound the problem with YET ANOTHER VOICE..... anyone....? <crickets> Oh, wait.... I happen to like Tommy. I don't think he says anything particularly useful, but I'm amused by the accent. I actually think the accent will help; Americans have a ridiculous affinity for English/Scottish/Irish accents, don't forget. But without dumping Ol' Swing And a Miss, I don't see what this does other than make the airtime even more crowded. Yeesh.
For the record, Derek Rae freaking rules. For my money, he's the best PbP announcer ESPN has on their roster. That said, I don't know how much I'd like to hear him doing MLS games. It's a shame, too, because the reason is something he can't help - his accent. His voice goes very well with mid-week championship games because they're European, so his voice actually sounds at home amongst a sold out Old Trafford, Anfield, San Siro, Etc. Hearing him talk over mild noise at Pizza Hut Park might be a little too weird for me. But hey, stranger things have happened. And, a the very least, I'd be interested to hear it. Who knows? It might be awesome. EDIT: Actually, this post means nothing because I just figured out that we're talking about Smyth, not Rae. Oops. I absolutely HATE Rob Stone as a play by play buy, but i get the feeling I'm in somewhat small company on that.
I look forward to hearing "And in pops Taylor Twellman, bulging the auld onion bag! EEEuuuOooh, whatta finish." I happen to like Tommy Smyth with a y, if only because he has personality. I hope he plays a major role in the broadcast and that his presence marks the beginning of the DOB phase-out (although he did a better job last week, the first week and most of last year was awful).
Get used to seeing this guy in the broadcast booth: With this guy: Let the ego contest begin...should be filled with lots of laughs though
DOB has improved greatly. Stone? We've had him for what, three years now. He doesn't add a single thing to the game for me. I won't say I hate him, because that's simply stupid to say because you don't like a guy's commentating skills. But as THE voice of MLS on the national level, Stoner just seems too second rate for me. NFL has Al Michaels. NBA has Marv whatever. Baseball's got somebody, I'm sure. MLS needs a more commanding voice of authority in the box than Rob Stone.
I like the ESPN commentary setup. DOB is what we need a "mainstream voice" (I hate that concept but people who are just getting into soccer can relate to it) that is growing into the job. Hey if a baseball guy can do soccer maybe some of his baseball buddies will have maybe a tiny bit less resentment of this great "threat" and wouldn't that be good for soccer? Julie Foudy is getting better every time I see her. She's razor sharp smart and for me I think it's great to see a woman analyst who has an impressive and growing understanding of the game. Allen Hopkins was always the voice of sanity on Fox Soccer Channel. While some nameless souls interjected un-needed "comedy" into their broadcasts Allen just called the game. An extremely mature voice- he should be given a bigger role, he's got the talent. Waldo, alright we all know what he brings, isn't it fun to have a soccer analyst who doesn't back down when people trash the sport? Rob Stone, much improved after his "rookie" and sophmore seasons. I'm beginning to appreciate his work. Perry Stein