1. Do these idiots realize that virtually no non-U.S. player will have honed his game in "college" (or the equivalent)? The way NFL players introduce themselves on their broadcasts does not carry over here. 2. It's an international game. Even in MLS there are often more foreign-born players in the two starting lineups than U.S.-born ones. Why continue to play the Star Spangled Banner? Don't get me wrong I love America and I love the anthem, etc. etc. and I'm all for it in football and baseball. But even the NHL plays "Oh Canada" as well as the U.S. anthem. Either play all anthems for all starting players or none of them, I say. Or play the Canadian one as well. One of the 14 teams is in Canada. OK #2 has nothing to do with ESPN2. But it still needs to be addressed IMHO.
GTFO. The Canadian anthem is only played when Canadian teams are playing. In America we play the national anthem before all our games.
No it doesn't. You're just being obtuse. You know what does need to be addressed? Moving this thread to another board.
They acknowledged the international presence by informing viewers that there are now 46 nations represented in MLS. They know it's not some good ole 'Merican game like AYSO. I don't think they even have Capri Suns in Gambia.
Because it's tradition, and we're patriotic. 75% (maybe more) of the players in the NHL aren't American (either canadian or European) but we still play the national anthem before every hockey game. They don't play "Oh Canada" unless it's a game in Canada. It's our league. Play our anthems. But, that's just my opinion
Not every player in the NHL is American or Canadian. Should they play the Russian, Ukrainian, etc. anthem before each game as wel? Nope.
I see this thread as a positive thing. ESPN keeps on improving on the things most bigsoccer posters complain about so they have to find trivial & irrrelevant things to bitch about.
Very true!!! I never thought of it like that before. Maybe I should give trivial whiners rep now rather than criticizing them. Brilliant!
I'm still waiting to hear the Dominican, Venezuelan and Japanese national anthems in baseball. It's a crime then do that now!
The games are played on American soil in American stadiums built by American workers and American materials due to American owners' money in front of American fans and broadcast initially on American TV with advertisment from American companies and serving food made in America at the concession stands. Other than that, there's no reason to play the national anthem before our games.
It is so refreshing to have two PBP guys who know the league and the sport, and the only thing anyone can do is whine about the national anthem. ESPN coverage has come a long way IMO. Some of those low sideline shots looking up at the stands in Chicago were outstanding.
I'll agree that ESPN sucks but not for the originally-posted 2 reasons but these 2: 1. 25% of the screen is covered in bulls***. 2. The constant cutting around to a thousand different zoomed angles ensures that you can't see what the hell anybody's trying to do. For example, if they were zoomed in on Donovan's contact lens when he played that ball to Beckham, you wouldn't see how brilliant the vision and idea were to play it through the two defenders. 2a. Why do I EVER need to see a reporter on the sideline, much less with action going on in the final third behind them? Flip over to the Fiorentina-PSV game on FSC and watch a nice wide angle with minimal crap on the screen.