I love your coverage of the Women's World Cup. You are doing a better job of covering soccer. I love the different analysts from different countries, but please forbid the use of this soccer cliche: "On frame"... It was good a couple of times, but it is officially overused and worn out already. I couldn't count the # of times I heard it this morning since it made me numb. Please make it stop. Other than that, thank you.
As far as Americans complaining about announcing, this is very minor. I love how a country with almost zero history of braodcasting football is absolutely filled with experts on how to/not to call a football match.
ESPN needs to employ people who don't talk like 5 year olds and immature little girls. That means Foudy and Dicicco have to get the f*** out.
When these are the problems that people have with soccer coverage that means there are no real problems. This post does nothing but makes you look like a whiner.
They are reairing the USA vs Colombia match on the main ESPN channel at 7:30 pm EST today. And then they are reairing it again on ESPN2 around midnight EST. This seems to be a last minute decision by ESPN probably due to the quality of the USA win. They want everyone to see the match. Hopefully the tv ratings pay off because they are really putting a lot of effort into the WWC this year. Thank god the USA is doing well because this could have been a ratings disaster should the USA get eliminated early.
That is understandable. Let's get Americans attached to this hard-working, wholesome group of non-millionaire athletes. With two of our major sports leagues in work stoppage, the timing couldn't be any better to reach the disenchanted and disenfranchised fans in this country.
For heavens sake people, it was just an observation. I was having a bit of fun with it also. DiCicco used it and once he did, so did others. It gets a bit obnoxious. I agree with those who want to see Scurry and DiCicco go.
CBC showing Brazil-Norway right now, which means I get occasional Big Soccer poster Steve Banyard, rather than Ian Darke having to overcome the pain that is Julie Foudy.
American soccer fans are the biggest nitpicking whinea***s. There are legitimate criticisms of the way the game is broadcast in this country. Complete nonsense like this trivializes the real concerns. If this is even a problem (which it isn't), then it's somewhere around #539,294 on the list. If this really bugs you that much, then take a time machine back to 1994 when I started watching and you were luck to get 1 game a week rather than 5 or 10 a day.
A tad? Ian Darke ought to be careful about using the phrase "great free kick" when it's immediately followed by "straight into the wall." But he has an accent so he must know what he's talking about. On frame doesn't bother me because it's factually accurate. I think 'unlucky' is one of the worst broadcasting adjectives. If you hit a shot 20 feet over the bar or your shot goes out for a throw in, it's not unlucky. It's poor.
saabrian, Again, it was just an observation. I just think the phrase is overused, but I also posted this in fun to see if there are other cliches that are wearing thin. You guys are way too sensitive. I am enjoying watching the WWC and have enjoyed the increased coverage of soccer on television. My viewing experience goes way back to PBS and hearing Mario Machado doing telecasts of English soccer. I am happy to see more of the sport and more channels which show it.
The only announcer that is really annoying me at the WWC is Tony DiCicco. Utterly useless commentator---my favorite comment of his so far is when he commented that a player was an "excellent tactical finisher." Still not sure what that means, as it seems to me that everyone who scores is doing something right tactically. I realize American soccer coaches have to find a way to enter either the word "technical" or "tactical" into all of their comments about a match (see John Harkes), but this one was particularly dumb.
I like DiCicco, I think he's insightful and clearly knows the game. Just my honest opinion. I think Kate Markgraf has done well as well, short, insightful comments and then shuts up and lets the PBP broadcast take over. There's a feeling that the game is important. This is how all sports broadcasts should be in this country but of course, in the US it's mostly scream at you and hype everything up for ratings. It's a very euro-approach that works. Cat Whitehill isn't the smoothest out there, o.k. I'm in agreement of Bri's approach. I love Ian Darke, there's a "homeyness" to him as well as the way he calls the game that I like. I think him and Foudy have great chemistry and she's at her best with Ian as PBP guy. In the past I haven't always liked her much but I think Ian brings out the best in her. They're clearly having fun in D-land and enjoying the WWC and it shows in the broadcast. To me, and maybe this isn't true, but I feel Foudy has taken the "make a relatively short, insightful comment and then shut up and let the game happen with an air of importance" approach that many of us have been longing for. See Kate Markgraf and Brian Dunseth on FSC as well. (Ironic that Brians been relegated to sideline reporter) or maybe this is espn listening to us as to how we don't need to be talked to like it's our first soccer game and are already there b/c we love the game, hence don't need to be reminded of the 'stakes' and all the drama. but I feel Foudy is at her best with Ian for whatever reason. They sure seem to get along well and enjoy their jobs.
You MUST be seriously mistaken. If you looked in the dictionary under the phrase "talks like he gets paid by the word," there would be a picture of Dunseth. He is the quintessential example of a broadcaster who babbles on incessantly about nothing having to do with the action on the field. The sideline reporter position is the only one in which he is remotely tolerable... but even from there, I bet he gets in as many words as the in-game analyst.
Dear ESPN... Thank you for "The Herd" (Colin Cowherd) - a true friend to soccer. Also thank you for the veritable full course feast of soccer over the last month of so with the Gold Cup, U17 World Cup, and the Women's World Cup. PS - Did anyone not cry when the Japan U17 boys lost 2-3 while showing so much heart against Brazil a couple days ago?
Top of the hour today, Cowherd threw out his vouching for the sport. He mentioned his typical buzz words such as he being "a buyer in soccer" and it being a sport on the ups. Reason being due to the game (number of Cups including the "Dixie Cup" lol) having a sense of urgency type of feel to it, unlike baseball and it's long games and long season. He also expanded a bit on the length of a soccer match compared to baseball, with soccer it's only about an hour and 58 minutes tops. Keep in mind that his mother is English so he does have the game in his DNA to an extent.
Another Cowherd bit this morning. He was plugging the U.S. Women's Team scoring higher ranking than the Yankees game yesterday/night. Time for a Cowherd thread perhaps? He's really selling soccer lately.
When he's on Sportnation, it seems like he tries to praise soccer, but act like he doesn't care that much either...........probably to please the anti-soccer audience that listens to him. It's too bad people have to hide their liking to soccer. Admitting your a soccer fan in this country is almost like admitting you are gay. Especially if your a big media personality where liking soccer is almost taboo.
Take a drink whenever ESPN mentions 1999. You'd be dead by halftime. Even Darke has resorted to talking about the USA in non-US games so much.
take a drink every time bob ley mentions how far away they and big blue are from the stadium, today in Dresden 1 mile, I think he said it like 8 times. s***faced but happy US Fan
That's what I was sort of thinking. The dude is kind of unique. Cowherd is a late baby-boomer, american sportcaster at ESPN who not only says good things about soccer, but BELIEVES what he's saying and on top of that I think he even plays soccer a bit from some tweets I read which means he understands the game better.
Even though Darke and Foudy went overboard on the ref today, the coverage I've seen of the WWC has been excellent. When the WWC is over I'd love to hear more of the Adrian Healey - Kate Markgraf tandem doing some other games.