ESPN2 MLS Commentary, my take

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by Stoppagetime, May 11, 2007.

  1. Stoppagetime

    Stoppagetime New Member

    Jan 13, 2007
    South eastern, Pa
    Okay, after watching a few MLS games this year on ESPN2, I've figured out what it is exactly about the telecast that is lacking for me. It is the 3 man booth play by play commentary. Dave O'Brian, Eric Wynaldo and the Irishman (I can't think of his name) comment the game as if it were a baseball telecast. The commentary is so casual, matter of factly presented with talk about anything other than what is happening on the pitch. It is like 3 guys talking amongst themselves and oh there is a soccer game being played. Now last night I was switching between the RSL/Colorado game and the Barcelona/FC Getafe game on GOL TV. Now I know it wasn't one of the best MLS games that night but the commentary made me want to ask are these guys even aware that a game is going on ? The Barca game was a great game and the 2 commentators (which I enjoy the most of any soccer telecast) are excellent play by play men and showed excitement and passion over the actions on the pitch and it was a 4 nil game ! They never strayed from the match talking about personal interest stories and little meaningless tid bits that distract from the game. I got to give it to ESPN2, their HD production with camera angles have gotten a lot better. I do like O'Brian's voice and Wynalda has some good insights but these guys are really taking away from the game by not focusing on the game. Watch a game from any one of the major European leagues on Fox Soccer channel or Goal TV and you can hear the difference in the commentary presentation and excitement.

    Does anyone know the name of the 2 man broadcast team on GOL TV ? I think one of them is named Max Brotos. They are good and entertaining.
     
  2. mrecint

    mrecint New Member

    May 31, 2006
    Fishers, IN
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree, OB sometimes just throws out the oddest tidbits that I could care less about. Don't they watch EPL or other leagues style of commentating?

    I guess if the MLS were a little more fast paced, the commentary would get more exciting. It'll come together....they've got all season.
     
  3. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think out of all the different varieties of team combos this season on ESPN2, I like the current one the best. Tommy Smith is way better than Bruce "What a great goal (with a sarcastic enthusiasm) Arena, and works way better with Wynalda and JOB. They're not bad. And it helps to have a guy like Tommy Smith who normally covers EPL and Champions League.
     
  4. WarrenWallace

    WarrenWallace Member

    Mar 12, 1999
    Beer and Cheese
    Those tidbits aren't for the soccer fans. They are for the casual fans that may be stopping on the channel to watch a few minutes. The hardcore fans will watch almost regardless. ESPN is trying grow the TV numbers from the non-hardcore fans.

    I feel dirty.
     
  5. writered21

    writered21 Member+

    Jul 14, 2001
    Middle of the Road
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The GolTV announcers for that game last night were Phil Schoen and Ray Hudson.

    Phil Schoen broadcasted MLS games a long time ago.

    Ray Hudson coached MLS games a long time ago.

    Had there been something for O'Brien/Wynalda/Smyth to get excited about in last night's game, I'm sure they would have.
     
  6. ross from st paul

    ross from st paul New Member

    Sep 13, 2001
    gold river, CA
    Club:
    Queens Park Rangers FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How'd that work out for him?
     
  7. ProfZodiac

    ProfZodiac Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 17, 2003
    Boston, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [​IMG]
    Heywood leads the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair. When this guy sneezes, he looks like a party favor.
     
  8. writered21

    writered21 Member+

    Jul 14, 2001
    Middle of the Road
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Clearly, very well, since he's broadcasting Barcelona games and that means he's at the top of his craft. Clearly.

    I mean ... clearly.
     
  9. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    Obviously ESPN should go with a one man booth, and somehow incorporate prawn sandwiches into the broadcast.
     
  10. JPH

    JPH BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 18, 1998
    Jersey Shoreish
    I could go for a prawn sandwich right about now.
     
  11. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    funk soul brother.
     
  12. StillKickin

    StillKickin Member+

    Austin FC
    Dec 17, 2002
    Texas
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The problem with the ESPN2 MLS commentary is that there is no play-by-play. At all. Period.
     
  13. DoctorD

    DoctorD Member+

    Sep 29, 2002
    MidAtlantic
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If anything more exciting had happened in last night's game we would have missed it. The camera would have been lingering on Kreis or Adu or the 30@30 break. As it was we missed an almost goal.
     
  14. Onionsack

    Onionsack BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jul 21, 2003
    New York City
    Club:
    FC Girondins de Bordeaux
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From what i understand its not the announcers themsleves it is the production and direction from ESPN brass that has dictated how these telecasts are to be done.

    They instruct these announcers what they expect, and unfortunatly for the fans that philosphy runs directly counter to what we expect from the crew.

    My biggest peeve isnt so much what they say, its that they say it continously. For example, MLS made a big deal about this new anthem, well i have yet to hear it on TV, the few times they show the walk out the commentators talk over it non stop i cant ever hear it. Iys like talking over the national anthem. Sometimes they need to realize that less is more, for example in CL telecasts they announcers will shut up on purpsoe and allow the viewer to listen in to the sounds of the game and when they cal the action the flow is usually cponfined to the play on the field and they say it with an elegance.

    Whatver, as long aste people in charge at ESPN of these [productions continue to feel this style is best suited to the audiance then it will continue, i mean we have been complaining about this since the dawn of MLS...and it has never changed, so don't hold your breath.
     
  15. GutBomb

    GutBomb Red Card

    Aug 28, 2003
    Outside Boston
    oh my god this thread is so fresh and original. i am reading so much here that i haven't read in countless other threads on the same topic!
     
  16. vasco_de_gama110

    Aug 18, 2006
    Glendale, AZ
    So, you want to hear the sounds of silence with the occasional horn?
     
  17. Onionsack

    Onionsack BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jul 21, 2003
    New York City
    Club:
    FC Girondins de Bordeaux
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I want to hear less rambling and a greater focus on the match itself. If that means a few seconds without hearing DOB add a worthless tidbit about so-and-so's childhood, or few seconds without hearing Wynalda or Stone making unfunnt jokes...it will be like an eternity
     
  18. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    it's like the Renaissance is happening all over again.
     
  19. FC Uptown

    FC Uptown New Member

    Feb 3, 2006
    H-town
    ESPN is clearly trying to use the telecasts to educate the casual sports fan tuning in who is only familiar with a few names (maybe) from the World Cup. So ESPN will talk about the USMNT, hype up the coaches and players from the national team, and insert a lot of human interest stories and "context" into the games to emphasize the "stars" that fans will tune in for. The World Cup ratings taught ESPN that Donovan, Dempsey, Conrad, Mastro - people really were interested in those guys, our USA "stars".

    I personally dislike the MLS telecasts intensely because they seem very amatuer and not focused in on the actual action on the pitch.

    But if attracting the American sports fan and getting high ratings could be done by inserting Derek Rae and Smyth in the booth and calling the game BBC style - don't you think ESPN would just do that?

    I think you get what you deserve, and the strange ESPN telecast is really more a reflection of the state of the casual American sports fan's desire in a telecast. Olympic telecasts are really no different than these and have one human interest story after another (to mind numbing effect - almost unwatchable all the "overcoming the odds" stories) to spectacular ratings.:(

    It sucks, but maybe ESPN will hire Bretos and he can change it all....;)
     
  20. WarrenWallace

    WarrenWallace Member

    Mar 12, 1999
    Beer and Cheese
    since the game is on the television, i can visually see what is going on. So I don't really care about commentary. That said, I would rather have them talk like regular American sports announcers than hear silence.
     
  21. DoctorD

    DoctorD Member+

    Sep 29, 2002
    MidAtlantic
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    True dat, but last night was a definite reversion in broadcasting quality.

    BTW when has ESPN ever tried a continental/Mexican approach to broadcasting their games? How do they know it won't attract fans if they've never tried it?
     
  22. GutBomb

    GutBomb Red Card

    Aug 28, 2003
    Outside Boston
    How is the tidbit about their childhood useless? I like the game, but I am also interested in the people playing the game. My brain can figure out what's going on down on the pitch, but I for one really like the fact that Dave O'Brien tells stories.
     
  23. equus

    equus Member

    Jan 6, 2007
    No problem with that when the ball's bogged down in a midfield struggle or a sub is being brought on (perfect time for a "30 at 30" type update), but when DOB is telling some long-winded backstory or factoid as the ball is being crossed into the box and a volley on goal is being struck, and he's still trying to talk about Freddy Adu's wishes to go to Europe or Coundoul's bitchin' Nissan Sentra, that's what many are referring to. Wynalda and Smyth are not immune from getting caught doing that as well.

    The best time to do something like that is during a stoppage for a free kick with a wall being set up or corner kick, instead of slapping circles and arrows and telestrator marks everywhere telling us what they might do (usually it never happens that way) instead of letting the image tell the story and use the stoppage to inject those tidbits.
     
  24. scott47a

    scott47a Member+

    Seattle Sounders FC; Arsenal FC
    Feb 6, 2007
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You have to be kidding.
     
  25. geordienation

    geordienation Moderator

    Apr 21, 2001
    Chicago
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC

    MLS General: The great undiscovered well of knowledge that BigSoccer has been missing.
     

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