Did I miss something??? I thought episode 1 or 2 focused on Green joining the team, it even had his Dad involved. Jones was interviewed speaking German in 1 or 2 as well. Mix and AJ were in the 3rd episode. I remember a couple quotes. One were AJ talks about how he was born in "Mo-beeele Alabamaa", and how he played in Florida. Mix was quoted saying he is a "Mix... half Norwegian and half American".
I suppose I can see that, but while I was there it was fun time all the same. Maybe there's the comfort factor in front of the camera, but then again Mix was not interviewed and he's very comfortable front of the camera.
That's actually the 4th episode--the Donovan cut took up most of the 3rd episode. The NYC sendoff was abysmal, with Alexi and others predicting doom with the 23 a few feet away, no Euro-Americans interviewed, Julie Foudy acting like a goofy awestruck sorority chick rather than an accomplished player and broadcaster. The only bright spot was Dempsey's well-articulated vision of the path forward this summer.
Referring to the hr long show in Times Square today. But I was also thinking about Good Morning America earlier today. Anyone else is free to disagree, but I have quite a problem with not a single Euro raised player being interviewed or even talked about. Not one, not on Good Day America, not on the ESPNFC sendoff. Guys like Jones and Fabian have given their all to get here, yet guys like Wondo and Davis get the spotlight, after giving Zusi and Besler their time on camera? And Julie Foudy must be related to Gus Johnson in some form or another. Neither have a clue about what they're doing. Normally, the Taylor/Lalas duet brings down the collective IQ of the show. But good lord, Foudy was so bad I was begging for them to send it back Taylor/Lalas. The only thing missing from the show was John Harkes.
I thought Besler did not come off well. Well the team has a press person, that guy likely said who gets interviewed when (ie no dual nationals with their foreign accents). Davis and Wondo are the faces of two MLS teams, a league USSF has a deeply vested interest in and ESPN just paid a very large SUM of money to broadcast for the next 8 years.
Not at all. Mix asked him something along the lines of, "while we're watching CR7, are you taking note of his movement and where he likes to attack for when we face him" or something along those lines and Besler basically replied, "not really, just watching this as a fan", then giggled. That did not look professional at all. Actually, it isn't professional at all.
It was a great idea and had huge potential. I really enjoyed it for the most part. Lalas/Twellman were solid as always, but the host was pretty obnoxious. And yea I hate to say it, but Julie Foudy was pretty bad.
Players in Europe and South America are the same when it comes to gushing about Ronaldo and Messi. I don't think it is a big deal.
I agree with this, especially when it comes to Jones who has been with this team for 4 years now and has gotten 40 caps. He has gone through literally the entire cycle, and has made a noticeable effort to improve his English over those years, not to mention his patriotic tattoos and such. They actually could have highlighted something like that; how much would the crowd (and skeptical/new viewers) have loved if a guy gets up there, son of a serviceman, with a German accent to show off a tattoo of the star/flag on his KNEE and talk about his Americanism? Same with Brooks even. They really missed an opportunity there to get more people on board with the idea. Foudy has been an idiot for years who doesn't understand the game except on the most basic level. The sad part is that at least Gus has an excuse not being a soccer guy at all (I'll blame Fox for the position they're putting him in), whereas Julie played the game at the highest level and still fails to grasp nuances. I perceive Lalas as an intelligent guy but he isn't tactful, and he dumbs himself down for TV. Twellman to a lesser extent. You'd be surprised (or not really) as to how many of these guys do this. I know a prominent MLS and USMNT PbP guy personally and have had a few private conversations with him about the league, the USMNT, etc. and his on-TV personality and real-life personality's opinions are literally night and day. It was jaw-dropping and entertaining the first time we talked...but now I just feel bad that he can't share how he really feels about situations. Guys like Lalas have a little more rope to voice their opinions but probably not as much as they'd like.
I don't really think there was anything personal about not interviewing the Euro's. Altidore, Cameron and Gonzo were big parts of qualifying and IIRC correctly they weren't interviewed either. They only did a few interview segments and none happened to be with Euro players, ESPN has given them plenty of exposure in the 30 for 30 series
This is true, but I still think they missed an opportunity to connect with fans, however minor it may seem.
Why the hell we have to have Julie Foudy shoved down our throats is beyond me. She's not particularly witty, she's not attractive at all, she doesn't do a whole lot of analytical stuff. She's worthless. ESPNFC as a whole is pretty much a mess, all four of the clowns on there spent one of the episodes basically laughing the whole time and essentially playing grab-a$$ on camera. It's better than nothing though....................I guess.
Was there any coverage of ladder climbing or speed moves? Bring back Jack Edwards!!! http://usasoccer.blogspot.com/2007/06/honoring-jack-edwards.html
My problem with the ESPN send-off from Times Square was that on the one hand it was a mini-pep rally. Let's get the team in Times Square, show them our love and support and give them a fond send off to the World Cup. That part was nice -- clunky transitions and interactions included. Then the only person who gave them a chance to advance out of the first stage was Ian Darke. I know the odds are long and all, but you set up the situation so that the question can be answered in a positive way. If I was one of the coaches' of the team, or Sunil Gulati for that matter, I would be livid with ESPN, in public, in front of my team in a venue that was built to support them, to come out so directly and say no, these guys are going to fail at the World Cup. A totally out of synch sentiment with the event.
Since when did ESPN become the PR for the US team. Aren't they supposed to be a journalism organization?