Watched the Seattle game on NBCSports last night and I continue to love the way Arlo White does a game. No jabbering about peripheral topics, just good solid play by play that keeps the fan focused on the game. The Fire's broadcast team needs to listen to these broadcasts and copy them. Carrying on a conversation about something not directly related to what is happening on the field distracts from the action. White talks most of the time and describes what is happening in an interesting way. His sidekick adds comments far less often than most second chairs and that's good, but he also points out tactical points or actions by a player that may help or hurt what is going on. If I want small talk, I'll watch a sport where nothing is happening for long stretches, like baseball. Focus on the action and add to it.
I have watched all three of the NBC Sports Net games announced by Arlo White, and I like him. What I notice is he is prepared. There's not a player who sets foot on the field with whom he is unfamiliar. He didn't just drop in for this game, he thoroughly studied up for it.
That's a little harsh... I believe he's decent. Maybe bigredmachine doesn't know that Arlo was Seattle's TV announcer up until his gig with NBC Sports Network? The bias was obvious last night - that's for sure. It was even worse if you saw any of home (through Direct Kick) Seattle's broadcasts over the years.
I don't actually think the guy is too bad but this is just incorrect, dude talks a lot about non-game things
the fire don't need an arlo white Clone.let the Seattle Anglophiles have their Leicester fantasyland to themselves.the fire need to focus on their actual identity. they should be in the hunt for a quality bilingual announcer.one who is fluent and comfterable in English and Spanish.one who may have announced games in Spanish but is comfortable enough to do games in English. its about creating a bridge and unified message to all the fire fans.it would also be a much truer representation of the club. fanbase and city.it would be authentic branding instead of a contrived gimmick trying to ape English football.
and BTW..I didn't say they need to be Mexican or even Hispanic.just fluent on Spanish and that style broadcasting.
Unless he's going to be doing part of the broadcast in spanish, what would be the benefit of having a spanish speaking commentator doing the english-language broadcast? I guess he could interview players after the game who don't feel as comfortable in english, but honestly they aren't going to want that interview on the english language broadcast anyway. I'm trying to see your point here. I wish they would just get someone who knows how to do the job, knows the sport, and won't talk endlessly about stuff that has nothing to do with the game. Actually I'll give you this: I'd rather listen to a spanish language broadcast than John Harkes.