While listening to the Rock this morning I hear Mr. Stewart talking about how he is in Denver covering the Wiz. Next thing I know JD is ripping on the sissy boy game of soccer and Dave says yes it is Johhny I know. Well if this person is so great for the team for media exposure then why the hell is it ok for him to make these comments?
When you're no. 3 out of three sports and you have to buy your TV time, you take what you can get. Unfortunately what we get is Dave F'n Stewart.
I used to think Dave was cool...the fact that he sucked ass at announcing soccer didnt bother me much, because he seemed to like it. Like on metrosports talk he might slip in a comment about the wizards (even when it wasnt a wizards segement)...but I guess hes not. Maybe he doesnt wanna be made fun of by his other radio/tv buddys. haha
Lighten up on Dave's random comment. Dave has done more positive for our team then anyone else in the local media. At least his interviews are insightful and meaningful questions that don't warrant the same "we're going to take it one game at a time" type answers from the players. He knows the teams histories/rivalries and has a basic understanding of the teams momentum, tactics and personality conflicts to add to any coverage he does. Everyone else pretty much reports the box score if they report anything at all. And if it mattered, I'm pretty sure anyone on the Wizards bench could pummel Dave. (even wee Preki) If Johnny Dare wants to call out soccer as a "sissy boy game" fine, I'm sure a sport say like Baseball is loaded with so many badasses as well (Pedro Martinez puts the butt kicking fear in so many fans). I know, let's see Steroid Barry Bonds vs Zach Thorton or Derek Jeter vs say a Peter Vermes like body type and see what happens. (Probably a pretty even scruffle) In Baseball they rarely even make contact. The only one v one matchups there are start from what 60 feet away when one guy throws a ball at another to miss him. Anyway this thread was about Dave. I appreciate the guy and the efforts of MetroSports. In fact I'm logging off now to leave and go watch a very pivotal game for the Wizards on MetroSports and annouced by Dave and Sean. I know, I know, Sean's good but it is Dave's first year and although not ideal he's getting better. GO WIZARDS!!!! BEAT THE CRAPIDS!!!
DS is a quality sports guy ill suited for soccer. Three things really bothered me about the calling of the game on Metrosports' broadcast. 1) Stewart's comment on the mascot definitely not being Wheelock in drag because he has seen both in diferent spots at the same time. Then he expected SW to pick it up and run with it. SW just sits in silence and waits for the moment to pass. What else can he do really? This happen at least twice a game. Rediculous. 2)DS' tendency to expound on some statistical tangent or situational anomole as he misses action on the field completely. I like numbers and quote stats often in my posts. I don't do it during the run of the game! This happens every game many times, without fail, consistently! I'm sure it happens occasionally in soccer no matter the quality of pBp guy. Still, it shouldn't be every third drive towards goal. I'm jumping up and down about a run, just barely missed by a cross in the 85th minute, and he's still talking about Gansler's pre-game thoughts. Call the game. It's like he's never watched a game as a fan. He calls a game the way a girlfriend who likes a sport but doesn't understand it completely might watch it at a large social party; just having conversations and tuning in after something happens. Drives me nuts. 3) When Stewart calls the game, rarely does he add anything approaching insight. At best it's a quote from somebody. At rare moments he will state something to SW as if uncertain and needing SW agreement to back him up. Make a bold statement and let SW get his opinion in. It's OK not to agree with SW. We viewers can think for ourselves and figure out if we agree or not. If we didn't want to do things like that occasionally, we'd turn the sound down, hello! To sum: We're not getting the actual call of many important moments until after they materialize, yet what we do get are superficial things anyone hired should be capable of relaying after spending an hour with the team and watching a few recent games. Additionally, there is little chemistry between the two. Can we please get someone whose main/only focus is KCW? Stewart knows sports and is experienced...fine. It's obvious that his wealth of experience and knowledge isn't tranlsating over to the Wizards' booth.
I should ask Sean who's idea it was for him to move from PBP to color. Maybe they wanted two guys in the booth, but couldn't find anyone else knowledgeable enough to do color, so the new guy (Dave) had to do PBP by default. Just a theory. I wonder why the Wizards don't get Ron Newman in the booth. He did color during WC94, and took over for Ray Hudson in Miami when Ray moved from the booth to the sideline. Heck Ron Newman on color with Sean Wheelock doing PBP would rock.
Get his ass out of the booth. Andy- That's exactly what happened. The Metrosports guy decided that Stewart didn't know enough about soccer to do PbP.
Re: DS is a quality sports guy ill suited for soccer. Wizardscharter: I don't usually agree with some of your posts. But on this I agree 100%. I was yelling at the tv so much last night my daughter suggested I mute the sound, which I really hate to do. He is the worst announcer I have ever heard. Let Sean do it alone. You don't need two guys anyway.
He is improving though... I only saw one goal kick all night that he called a corner kick. (But damn, even Bobby Day gets those right..)
Don't get me wrong I don't think Stewart is any good in the booth. My statements were directed more towards his interviews and specialty pieces during the highlight shows and what not. I think it's obvious that MetroSports had to get as much mileage out of him after what they spent to woo him over and with the Wizards being the biggest thing they cover you better bet their top guy is going to be involved somehow. I mean what else do they get exclusives on Chiefs preseason in whereverville Wisconsin. Watching Baldinger do that is painful (ps. get a haircut). Sean is great in the booth. Dave isn't, but he's getting better. We'd rather have Sean alone, that's a given; but what we get is better than nothing at all. I believe MetroSports will run it that way for a while to continue to get value out of Dave. Dave is best behind his desk doing highlights.
You know, at the end of the day his quality of PBP means little in comparison to bad mouthing soccer on the most listened to morning show in KC. Granted, the whole show is one big joke, but it can't help. And when it is your job to work for and support the Wizards, you should not make statements like Stewart did. Assuming Spoon got an email, Dave reads the boards, so I say Dave: If you take a job in television for a team, it is your job to work towards the progress of that team, league and sport. The team or sport may not be your passion, but remember that it is the complete passion of your audience.
Excellent point, Andy. These two would be money over the airwaves. Sean knows the technical ins-outs and calls a great game (anyone catch him on Fox Sports doing A-league games?). Newman is Ray Hudson off the caffine. Sure, maybe he's not entertaining the entire match, but how can you not love that accent. Plus, I think they have a decent relationship since Sean was around during the Ron Newman Era, and surely worked with him on numerous occasions. Dave Stew-I appreciate the effort, and like your enthusiasm on MetroSports, but I have to say the play-by-play is lacking some times. I'm sure it's not easy being live on the air, but can we at least get players' names correct?
Its still better than Max Bretos calling of the Wizards central midfield vs. the Crew: Kerry Zavanyin and Matt McKeeon.
KC @ LA pbp thoughts Well during the game last night I was on fire with the inept commentary. For the love of God Dave do you not know the differance between Igor and Preki? Here is some help for you. Look at their boots, sorry shoes. Preki's are white Igors are black. Quill was also known to be Preki last night. The worst thing is EVERY fricking game Dave has to go into his little story on how Chris Brown is such a great finisher in training. No SH$T, you have told us that the last 10 telecasts. It is a pitch or field not a floor. Much props to Sean for being able to put up working with him all year.
Another thing that bugs me is his pronunciation of "Simutenkov". He always says, "Simutikov". Of course I'm assuming Sean is pronouncing it right.
According to Dave the "playoffs are aggregate goals" and "Mike Burns was on our 2000 Championship winning team". thanks Dave!