I don't know how many times i have heard brits say this, they did it all through the world cup!!! how uninformed can you be!!!
It's a reasonable mistake. Most groups use "association", "organization", "league" as the noun. NF League NB Association NH League F Association EP League It's us screwy Americans with ML Baseball and ML Soccer that mess things up. It's also the source of endless debates over "the WUSA" vs "WUSA", "the MLS" vs "MLS" yadda yadda yadda It does reinforce the sterotype of the Brits as being parochial towards American soccer to the point that there's no need for fact checking.
He's probably very informed.Think he's maybe doing it on purpose? Or he's just yet ANOTHER stupid Brit.
I also noticed that he said "MSL" to Hudson, and Hudson didn't correct him! He said "MSL" for the first few times and then I think someone corrected him, as he stuttered "MSL/LS" and then got it right after that Of course, Hudson did call Spurs a "franchise" (which it is not), before correcting himself, too. So maybe we shouldn't be too severe. Overall, I was very impressed by the homework of the commentator. He knew all the DC players and seemed to know quite a bit of background too.
Yes, he did do a decent job, but there were a couple of questionable comments. Right after introducing Santino Quaranta, he introduced Nick Rimando, saying what a great future the guy has and how he's got definite Nats potential. I woulda thought those comments would be more fitting of Quaranta. Also, he noted that DC United probably hadn't seen such a large crowd in some time (20,000 plus walk-up sales). Well, at least they're not used to playing in such a large stadium, he added. I like the way Ray Hudson pointed out at halftime that DC United draws 20,000 for their matches. And I'm gonna guess RFK Stadium is probably bigger than White Hart Lane.
Then you could call it the MSL and it would make sense - just like the NBA, the NHL, the EPL etc. And it just sounds better to me.
I think you'll find us "stupid Brits" refer to the English top flight as "The Premiership", not the "EPL". In fact, if you asked the average Englishman what the EPL was, they wouldn't have a clue what you are talking about. You all refer to it as the EPL on this site, yet Brits aren't allowed to make a mistake in your league title. Says it all really.
That he could have also added the comment about another player, doesn't make his comment about Rimando questionable. I completely agree with him that Rimando has a great future. The surprise, and what probably prompted him to say it, is that he is very short for a goalkeeper. I still don't know how he gets to some of those shots.
If we called it the ELP you might be onto something but we don't so you're not..To you it is the Premier league in the world.To us....it is the English Premier League.All of the other European leagues call their second division the 2nd division.You think your first league is superior to all the rest and you call your second division the first division. Arrogance or stupidity?
Nobody in the UK believes our league is "the Premier League in the world". That is merely it's name, as in "the best league in the country". Top Leagues in other nations are called Serie A, Primera Division, Eerdivisie, etc. Ours is the Premiership, it's as simple as that. I'm not being arrogant or stupid, it's just that you quite clearly don't know what you're talking about. As I say, it appears you are allowed to make this mistake whereas a Brit referring to your league by incorrect initials is villified as stupid. Sort it out.
somehow, I don't buy that statement. fact is, it may be the premier league in the world, and i'm sure many brits would agree. hell, go over to the world rivalries forum and ask them. they'll tell you.
Its called the premiership. Ive only heard it being refered to as the EPL on this site and by non uk people on soccernet. Its not the best league in the world either.
SPL is the proper anacronym though, the bank of Scotland SPL, the english top flights proper name is the premiership, it is the barclaycard premiership. EPL is just laziness from a journalist standpoint.