4/7/03: Cheese

I'm trying to remember why we're supposed to hate Grahame Jones.

Couldn't agree more with the MLS-related aspects of his article today. (i just don't have an opinion one-way or the other on the WUSA stuff).

Keough better watch his back. If Lalas retires, ESPN/ABC would be foolish not to snap him up and dump Ty.



I'm still in total disbelief that we have 3 networks/channels covering the league. Granted, many of us won't see 2 of the 3, but still...

 

i totally agree about the ty comments....epsn/abc were foolish not to pick up harkes as the color guy....

i guess ty has a contract....

 

Forget "Monday Night Football." If MLS can package Wynalda, Harkes, Balboa and, eventually, Lalas, Saturday Night Soccer could be the show of the future.

That would be an intersting group.

I was pleased that Wynalda spoke normal, and did not try to give us "some big scoop" that he gleaned from the sidelines. The best thing that he said I thought was when Tyrone Marshall got the yellow card for his hard tackle on I can't remember who now, but Wynalda said that the player who got hurt said that he felt it was a reckless challange, and Wynalda agreed. Too often the sideline reporters try to sugar-coat what is going on. They are down there to gain insight. I applaud Wynalda and hope he does good the rest of the season.

 

Gotta agree on the Ty comments. Though I had no real issues with Edwards and Keogh being pro-US during the WC comments. Granted, they went overboard at times, but they were doing the commentary for US games being shown only in the US. Of course they going to be pro-US. They were supposed to be.

But the glorifying of players in MLS, especially American players, gets laid on pretty thick sometimes. Yes, we understand that Brian McBride is good in the air. But there's no need to wax rhapsodic about it everytime he gets his head on a routine goal kick. Or to swoon over every "70 yarder" that Kevin Hartman or Jon Busch produced. It's so freaking ... immature.

 

from 4/6

Soccer Notebook: MLS starting 2003 season on a roll - Houston Chronicle

Chicago tops Colorado in MLS' Baton Rouge debut - The Advocate, Baton Rouge

 

Someone body-snatched Graheme Jones. Did he get a hit on the head?

"Forget "Monday Night Football." If MLS can package Wynalda, Harkes, Balboa and, eventually, Lalas, Saturday Night Soccer could be the show of the future."

Gotta agree.

How Ty survived while Jack got the boot - I still don't know. Ty's big failing is that he is boring. A color guy is supposed to add some color to the broadcast. Ty brings the color gray.

I want someone to mix it up a little and say something occasionally a sponsor or MLSHQ wish they wouldn't say.

Say what you will - but Monday Night Football would not have risen to the heights it did as quickly without Howard Cossell. MLS may not need someone so controversial, but it needs someone more colroful than gray.

 

Waldo is fine as an analyst, but his interviewing skills are lacking, especially when half or more of his interviews are with people he is way too familiar with.

All the more reason to move him up to the booth, although I like his on-the-field perspective on things like the Marshall tackle and the weather.

 

Hey, we keep talking about how we seem to have turned a corner this season. Maybe winning GJ over is part of that trend.

Later,
COZ

 

Yeah, two Jones articles in a row that I've totally agreed with. I know he's been discussed repeatedly but I can't believe Ty is still there either. Master of the obvious or overstated. You're right, we don't need to be reminded about McBride's arial prowess EVERY time he gets his head on a ball or that Carlos Valderamma's nickname is El Pibe, meaning "the kid" every time he touched the ball.
I like Waldo but I gotta agree with Monster in that his interviewing was a little shaky Saturday. I expect he'll improve as the season goes on. Even Veronica got better last year didn't she?

 

Did anyone else find it quite ironic that Wynalda was interviewing Harkes?

 

Ya, but Wynalda didn't ask the big questions like,
"How was my wife, John?"

 

aaah that's what you were talking about. i forgot about that rumor. Hey? Cpt. 4Life, remember back in '98 when you slept with my wife? Good times ha?

 

I think it woulda been funny if Wynalda woulda handed Harkes a baseball and said, "Strike this ******* guy out."

 

This why I couldn't stand JacknTy.

Particularly Ty -- he can't let his "knowledge" of the game speak for itself. He has 3 or 4 talking points (Example: Brian McBride is the best player EVER in the air, thank Yahweh he came back from everton) and just beats that drum the ENTIRE ************ing game.

Shutup already. That's why Waldo, as annoying as he can come across at times, is more interesting -- he actually talks about the game and not about a meaningless patter.

Same reason Lalas was so good (imo) in Australia. Edgy, witty and talking about the game.




As a total aside, this is why I hate Dick Vitale... It's not so much that he's annoying (which he is), it's that he spends 75% of the game talking about who he had dinner with last night or about his free throw shooting contest or about his summer speaking tour or... blah blah blah.

 

Yea, I think the general sentiment right here is right on.

One thing with Eric, is that even though he was good, he was completely off on the Ruiz goal. Sure, he was very fortunate for cross from Maiz, but the finish was top-rate. JP tried to get that across, but both Ty (I have no thoughts of my own) and Eric trampeled on him. It wasn't until later that JP made the remark about Ruiz finishing his chances that some fair analysis was given.

Listen, I understand people sometimes want homers. However, on national broadcasts it is completely uncalled for. Ty must be paid by McBride. Not only that, but he has also started making innane comments about Buddle's skills. It is ridiculous. I know I am going to put down the volume, every time Columbus or SJ plays because I know Ty is going to be talking out of his ass.


Just give me simple, and unbiased commentary on what is occuring on the field, and not how "justice was served" when Columbus scored. What? Or my favorite, Ruiz using "thug tactics". Jesus. If a player is not American, they get wrecked and belittled.

 

So just because the guys not american it's illegal to call a spade a spade and say he's a thug?

 

I agree for MLS broadcasts, but when Jack and Ty called the US WC games there was no reason for them not to be homers, considering they are American and they wer broadcasting on American TV. Clearly Jack poured the sap on way too much but I think Ty does a fine job keeping national bias out of MLS broadcasts.

 

He lead the league in fouls comitted. Generally, that would mean that he was a thug.

Previous Fouls Committed Leaders:
2001: Matt McKeon
2000: Diego Serna (Matt McKeon 4th!)
1999: Matt McKeon
1998: Richie Williams (Bizarrely, Matt didn't make the leaderboard this year)
1997: Matt McKeon
1996: Geoff Aunger

Lesson: It takes A LOT of effort to beat Matt McKeon at his own game. You give that guy more than 2,000 minutes in a season and he'll do his damndest to take out everyone else on that field.

McKeon only had 29 fouls in 2002, but he also had only about 1,100 minutes. Of those with at least 1,000 minutes in 2002, Matt ranked 9th in fouls per minute!

The top fouling rate of those with at least 1,000 minutes was 1 foul every 31.25 minutes by Oscar Pareja. Ruiz was just behind him with 1 foul every 33.46 minutes!

Thug.

Last year's Mr. Clean among field players with at least 1,000 minutes? Carlos Valderrama

 

Boy that Oscar Pareja is one big thug.

 

SoccerTom, where are you? SoccerTom?? Somebody's not talking nice about McQraken.

Yoo hoo.

 

Wynaldas comment on the Ruiz goal was great. He completely went against Ty's comments about how great Ruiz is, and he basically said that Ruiz got lucky, which is true, it's funny because it was a bit catty and it went back and forth with their different opinions a couple of times. The most interesting thing is that later Ty picked up on Wynaldas viewpoint and took it as if it was his original assessment. Poor Ty belittled by the on field reporter,it was so sad it made me want to cry.
I'm looking forward to many more opionated fights between Ty and Eric. Let the spats begin.

 

Ruiz was definitely fortunate to get the gift service, but the finish was top notch. His clinical finishing is why he was so dominant last season, not because he had a ton of good service. LA is a defensive and aerial team, they're not the most creative bunch.

If Wynalda was a bit of a homer, I don't think it was because of McBride. Wynalda wanted to join LA late in his MLS career, they kinda strung him along, and then never offered him enough so he went to the A-League. He might still be bitter.

Also, Wynalda thinks Kyle Martino is the most impressive young American, and Waldo might be a bit of a homer for rooting for him.

IMHO, Waldo has some problems, like insisting on bickering and taking the hard line opinion-wise, but he has the tools to become a good announcer if he controls his on screen persona a little better. He has the mind (insight), the look, the delivery, and the pedigree.

Frankly, the Crew were unlucky not to win the game. They dominated the first half and outplayed LA in the second half. If the Crew continue to play like that, they'll be in MLS Cup 2003.

-Digital