https://www.dispatch.com/sports/202...-stepping-aside-from-columbus-crew-broadcasts I figured this deserved it's own thread. Perhaps the only original crew "employee" remaining. A true legend of the club. Farewell, Dwight!
Clevelanders force out club's last remaining original employee! New owners are trying to black out Columbus Crew history!!! What's next, a rebrand!?!?!?!
A bit weird timing but appears he's doing it for health reasons. Glad he recognized that. He should be celebrated at a home game at some point this season and maybe a little cameo on the broadcast for that game. That being said, a change in the broadcast has been a need. Hopefully we're not moving forward with Solo Sika.
Give Ale Moreno the big bucks and bring him in. I know a lot of people here are Chris Doran fans, but he just doesn’t do it for me.
I wish Dwight well, and hope to see him wandering around Mapfre, enjoying the game. That said, I always felt Dwight was a better play-by-play guy than a color guy, and I never cared for the Sika/Burgess partnership. I'd love to see us bring in someone who can elevate our broadcast presence. Honestly, I always preferred Sika on the radio, where I thought he was fine. This will be interesting. The club seems very willing to spend real money on players, coaches, facilities. But, personally, I'll be surprised if they do much more than bring in another warm body for the booth. I hope I'm wrong, though.
I like Doran on the radio so I considered that but I think I'd prefer him staying where he is. Seems like radio is a one man job and he does that well. Moreno was the only other name that popped in my head. If we can work out a timeshare with ESPN for him (assuming he likes the variability of commenting on the soccer world as a whole that he does there), then sure I could see that. But at best, still seems like a pipe dream. I doubt we're moving on from Sika too so we'll have to find someone who works well with Sika. Sika/Dwight had a weird dynamic with Sika taking the PBP role but dipping his toe into the Color Commentary role that was Dwight's. I wonder if that had to due with Dwight's health issues affecting his ability to do color at 100%. Maybe with some new blood in the booth, Sika reverts back to a strict PBP. Bonus, maybe the new guy has some fashion sense and knows a tailor who can help Sika out with his other major flaw, ill fitting blazers.
Ale Moreno is a good dude. A really really good dude. He is a solidly below average broadcaster/analyst in my opinion. Thank you to Dwight for his multiple decades of solid work, which in my view was largely underappreciated by many.
Team photographer Greg Bartram is the last original. I believe he was hired in 1995 and was there when the first signers and trialists took the field in preseason.
I’ll never forget riding shotgun in my dad’s 86 mustang and cruising around the hills of Athens/Hocking county for a place that had good reception just to hear Dwight broadcasting away games.
Alternate Headline: Doc Edwards buys teams, forces out only other remaining 96er in Highlander Situation.
Will miss Dwight! In the early days of the Crew when the team was playing out of town and we could not receive the Crew radio broadcast in Middletown,we would drive about three miles to a business park in Franklin. It's higher elevation along I-75 enabled us to receive the radio broadcast, if we were parked in just the right spot!
I'm not clicking the link to the Dispatch, but is there anything in there about him continuing to coach at Wittenberg?
Having a professional broadcast production is essential. The sloppiness of the whole thing graphics, sound, camera work, on-air talent, direction, etc. the last few years is inexcusable. 30+ games last year and I'd say Burgess had mic trouble on a third of them. If you want people to watch, especially casuals, you have to provide a pro level experience. If it looks like a twitch stream of a FIFA game of a guy with 3 viewers, you're only going to get 3 viewers. I am sorry that Dwight is ill, but this is a much needed change. I hope the entire broadcast set up is overhauled.
Yes, their voices are also too similar. At times, it's hard for me to tell one from the other, especially if red wine is involved. This is similar to Alex Chilton and Chris Bell from Big Star, although my wife laughs at my inability to distinguish between those two.
Could be an opening for Dante, or maybe to bring Duncan back. Best wishes to Dwight moving forward, he's always been a class act.
Well, Dante already has a job with the club. But Dunc's name just came up in a "watercooler" conversation about this situation here at work.