Re: Re: Ty Keough should apologize, then resign Dude, keep up. That's why I singled out Gary Thorne as someone I would like broadcasting soccer games
the following quote should be read with impression of ralphys voice from the simpsons- "ty keogh makes my head hurt" any of matt groenings cartoons could bring more intellect to the broadcasts, at least the jokes would be funny
Jack Edwards Originally posted by sch2383 What about the hockey announcers on ESPN? ----------------------------- Jack Edwards is a hockey guy. Are you sure that's what you want?
Sam Rosen from the Rangers and MSG is a good announcer of games as well. I'm not talking about any sugar-coated "analysis" of the terrible Rangers over the last six seasons from him or JD, I'm talking only about announcing the game. Especially always telling you who has the puck, as if he were doing radio. As far as the ESPN2 game specifically is concerned, half the time we weren't told which Venezuelan guys had the ball or any info about them. These broadcasters are supposed to do their homework.
Right on. The avg american sports fan knows Venzuelan athletes as baseball players. Do all their nats play in a domestic league? Why did Arena call them the "most improved" COMEBOL side? I would have liked to know. We got one graphic saying some guy played in Germany. Unless I missed it, I don't think they ever said where Noriega gets his paychecks. In fairness to Rob and Ty, though, ESPN has a research staff to handle such things.
Re: Re: Ty Keough should apologize, then resign Andres Cantor (the big fella) was born and raised in Argentina, but lived in California for a good chunk of high school. He and the studio guy with the big mustache over at Univision are clearly trying to get Spanish-speakers fired up about the U.S. as "everyone's national team" (essentially arguing that if you're Salvadoran living in the States and the U.S. is playing Mexico it makes a lot more sense for you to root for the U.S. than for Mexico). They both go out of their ways to mention Latin roots that some of the players have, including JMM's stint in Mexico and Cobi's in Brazil -- and that's a stretch. Cantor spent a good part of the beginning of Sat's game talking about how good it was to see JOB back from injury, and that he starts for a Champs League QF team. During either the Argentina game or the Jamaica game he also stressed how glad he was to see Olsen back from injury. He also gave mad props to Keller, Friedel and McBride for how things are/were going for them in England. The color guy who works with Cantor, whose name is Norberto Something is a complete bittera$$ jacka$$ who cannot get over the whoopin' we gave the Cri at JK02. I can only interpolate that he's Mexican (he has no discernable accent) from his inability to accept that the U.S. is currently the class of CONCACAF (or TFC or TLC or NSYNC or whatever they want to call themselves now.) Cantor also did Olympic coverage for NBC, Telemundo's new parent, during Sydney... in English. It was pretty good, although it was also clear that he is used to thinking in Spanish during soccer matches and that made his play-by-play a little stilted once in a while. Still, better than any play-by-play I could ever do in Spanish. I like him. He seems like a good guy. Ty doesn't make me want to through up as much as Jack did. He simply does not, however, add much to the broadcast. I would argue that it is constructive to point this out, as I contend that there are plenty of people who tune in casually that could become more enthusiastic with some really top-notch announcing.
After reading your great post about Jesus of Nazareth (for those who've not read it, check the thread discussing LD's goal), I assumed you were sharper than Ty and Rob. Even if they want to speak to the newbie, they could expand the range of comments to point out what is happening off the ball, especially when the strong diagonal run up front or the hustle to provide defensive cover happens at the edge, or off, of the TV screen. In other US sports coverage, you hear good color commentators in baseball point out how the outfield shifts for a hitter, or in basketball how a post defender holds position. This will make the viewing experience more enjoyable for the soccer newbie (and me). A bit hard on special-ed teachers. Among other things, these teachers learn that, when one approach isn't working, you have to try a different one. Ty gives us same old, same old repeatedly.
Norberto Longo is also Argentinian. If he appears to be the number one fan of the Mexican national team, it is because for the last fifteen years his paychecks have been signed by heavily pro-Mexico companies such as Univision or Telemundo.
GREAT THREAD! Okay my input is simple... Tommy Smyth, and JP should do the US games... These guys do champions league, ect.. For ESPN International.. Rob is a good sideline precence and seems to get along w/ the US players.. But he's got no juice in the booth. He's just bad! Ty Keough is an idiot. The worst analyist ever! He has no knowledge of any other national team beside the us.. Usually over prepares US stats but never has any info on other national teams.. I remember most recently the US Argentina game, "D'Alessandro is the man Argentina will look for come Qualifying!" (forgeting about Aimar, Gallardo, Riquelme!, Horrible!) I just can't stand him... He get worse every game. And should be fired! In the Venezuela game he made a stupid statement about the forwards last names, refrencing their names to drug dealers, and communists! Cantor and Longo are great.. I love them.. Cantor more than Longo but I'll watch them anytime! Except when Mexico plays!
Tommy Smyth is often just as blind and wrong as Ty when it comes to offside and other observations. TS also tends to have a bias toward UK teams.
Agree. However, Smyth often says insightful and intelligent things about the match. Ty just about never does that. I can imagine myself having a good time shooting the breeze with Smyth. I wonder how many will say that about Ty.
What's the spanish word for hyperbole. Bocanegra was offside, but it was a tricky play and he really wasn't a ton offside since McBride led with his head. I've seen worse no calls today much less in international history.
I initially decided to read this thread because I thought the title was hilarious, but I've enjoyed the observations and comments of a number of you posting here. Great analysis. Better than I could have explained it. I like Cantor, too, and I hate Longo. HATE. He's a total putz. I dislike him because, while knowledgeable, he's arrogant and very biased. Typically Argentine, I suppose. I can understand a certain level of bias, but he's just out of control. Very annoying. (BTW -- no accent? He's got a very thick Porteño accent, as far as I can tell). Cantor, on the other hand, generally maintains an objective viewpoint, and tries to balance his color man's bias, or at least not add to it too much. Poor Ty. You gotta feel for him. I honestly believe he's a nice guy, but my goodness is he bad. I admit that occasionally he does inject an insightful comment, but I would propose that it stands out because of the volume of inane crap he's otherwise continuously spewing. In my opinion he's lazy -- in that he doesn't seem to do his homework when it comes to really knowing the game. Compared to Cantor or Longo, he's WAY out of his league. Bob Ley would be worlds better than Ty. Now that some of the post-Ty-era players are starting to retire, I think his days are numbered. Guys like Marcelo, Alexi, and Tab are a much better option, for a number of reasons.
From the New York Times (Friday 4/4): BALBOA RETIRES AFTER 13 PRO SEASONS "Marcelo Balboa, who played on three consecutive United States World Cup teams, retired two months after being cut by the MetroStars of Major League Soccer... He will become an analyst for HDNet's broadcasts of MLS games."