Honestly, of the '94 group that went into broadcasting, not one of them really excells at what they do. Balboa is horrendous! I heard so many great reviews of him on HDTV, but then I listened to him for the first time in the MLS Cup Final, and he was a complete amateur. He was stuttering, and had no poise when he was asking questions. Wynalda was supposed to be that super commentator for American soccer. He is a pretty good writer (sparks tons of conversation), and has concrete opinions (unlike his moron colleagues Ty and Stone). Problem is, Wynalda sounds like an ass when he's right. When he's wrong like most of his comments in the MLS Cup Broadcast? He is almost as bad as Ty at that point. Does anyone remember the "braveheart" comment? Completely unprofessional, especially in of all places, the MLS CUP FINAL!!!!!!! What was he thinking? Then we have Harkes, the one who seems to have the most potential. Problem with him, like the others, is that he doesn't have the voice. JP has a superb voice that complements the game. NONE of these guys do. Wynalda has a raspy type voice, I can't decipher Balboa... This dissapoints me personally, because I thought some of these guys would displace people like Ty, not because Ty is garbage, but because of their own merits. If MLS is smart next year, you take JP away from the Metrostars, and you have him do anything involving MLS and the US Nats. Then you hire Hudson for all MLS games, and add Tommy Smyth in there at halftime with Stone. You do that, and the broadcast of MLS games goes from unbearable to VERY good.
Be prepared for the jackA$$ army who'll be coming to shoot down ANY criticism you could have of the MLS broadcast, cuz we ALL KNOW that MLS is perfect...yea rite
I don't know what bourque312 is talking about...BUT... everyone has their own opinions on who should be doing PbP, if it should be just one or two in the booth, should there be anyone on the sidelines at all, etc... but anyways, heres what i think and i mostly agree with arisrules... JP Dellacamera with Ray Hudson Heather Mitts doing pre-game and half-time interviews (NO MORE COACHES CORNER, let the coaches coach, you can't interview someone during the middle of the game, save it for before, halftime and after) Rob Stone and Tommy Smyth for Pre-Game and Half-Time...
Jackazz Army member #1: I think Wynalda is a tremendous addition to the team and his commentary is 10X more insighful/though-provoking than Keough. This may be because of his position on the field. I think the addition of a sideline reporter, who can chime in anytime they want is an welcome change. (Unlike other people on this board I haven't honed my idea of what a soccer broadcast should be to the way it is broadcast in other countries.)
Jackass Army vs. the Bitch Brigade Jackass Army member #2 I'll take same old tired argument for 500, Alex.
i agree maxim, but it is now the offseason, we'll be seeing a lot of the same *#*#*#*#*# we always see here on bigsoccer...personally i'm waiting for bourque312 to start a thread on why MLS should be using promotion and relegation...
Re: Jackass Army vs. the Bitch Brigade If its so tired, why hasnt anything been done yet?? I've never heard a commentator in my life who sounded as bored, lifeless, & jaded as Wynalda does. The argument will NEVER be "tired" until MLS has REPLACED Eric with someone who actually knows what hes doing.
MLS needs an edge in the media. Wynalda provides that; a fan of the game that speaks his mind. After the "Congratulations, you know nothing about soccer," comment, I can't wait to hear what he says next.
I just wish I knew why when Bocanegra watches Landon run by him and doesn't even make an attempt to pick him up he doesn't get a mention. When Curtin gets beat by one step they are all over him. Both resulted in goals, but Curtin was doing his job and got beat while Boca was ball watching and let Landon Donovan just run free on goal. And until we can get JP accouncing with Alexi on color I won't be happy 8) But at least Waldo sometimes has something interesting to say. Of course we have posters who say the Braveheart comment was unprofessional. I have no clue on earth how that can be construed as unprofessional. Its just a different way of saying "its a war out there".
I like Wynalda, and I think he should be the color man instead of on the sidelines. And I don't understand what was so objectionable about Wynalda's "Braveheart" line. To me the annoying thing was Ty's taking it and running it into the ground. I agree that Harkes and Balboa need some work.
In the press release on the broadcast they called Wynalda's sideline pbp as 'innovative.' I really think it is. To have a guy essentially doing commentary from the feild level with an open mic is very unique. I think it worked quite well during the MLS regular season. I just think the MLS Cup broadcast was a little busy with so many bodies.
Sanguine - no i didn't watch any of the WWC, that type of soccer doesn't interest me, hot chics like heather mitts do though...terrible, i'll take your word for it, but in my suggestion i said she only does a pre-game and halftime interview...I could care less what cliche said player will use during the interviews, I'de just like to look at her, its not like she has to do a good job, shes asking 3-4 questions a game, and she speaks english, it can't be that hard... on other notes... I liked the braveheart comment, Ty ruined it... JP with Alexi would be the best team, I said hudson originally but forgot about Alexi...
HUH?? This happens ALL THE TIME in college football. Very little innovation is involved. _________________
send me a tape of a college football game where a sideline reporter has an open mic to talk at will all game. I'd love to hear it.
to an extent they do it in college football, i've seen it...but its not really the same as what wynalda does, he doesn't just chime in every once in a while, he talks throughout the whole game, and the guys in the booth don't really have to "send it down to him" everytime, he just talks when he wants...so in a way, it is innovative...
Name me the college football broadcast that has a sideline reporter with a mic open throughout the game.
I'll never get enough of Lalas. I still remember in the Olympics when he criticized the US player with: "That's not how you defend a one-two. You have to run with the man you can't just knock him down." or when an opponent dribbled the ball across the end line and then argued the goalkick call: "Someone needs to explain to him what those lines around the field are for." They need to get Lalas back in the booth 8)
Oh, I didnt know what you meant by open mic. It seems a bit more annoying than innovative to me. Theres probably a reason that you dont see college football doing it to the extent that the MLS Cup did.
Why do you waste space on this forum criticizing my grammar? This post wasnt direct to you, so why are you responding? Try reading the entire thread first. Its called CONTEXT