Just saw a copy of todays Wall Street Journal, and some writer called Sam Walker quoted Tommy Smyth. Its an article about relegation, and could it work in Baseball. Not sure it made a lot of sense. Its amazing the places Smyth shows up in. During the World Cup PTI, and Tony K radio show. If Smyth can be quoted in these non soccer places, why does MLS or USNAT, not take advantage of his exposure. Surely it makes sense to use someone who can get mainstream press.
Tommy has stated that one of his biggest dreams is to work with the USMNT as an announcer. Perhaps he'll get that chance soon, especially with ESPN losing the Champions league next year. I think he would be a great addition and be our "Howard Cosell" of soccer.
Re: Re: Tommy Smyth quoted in Wall Street Journal ESPN losing the Champions League next year? who's going to get it?
Re: Re: Re: Tommy Smyth quoted in Wall Street Journal I have no idea. My fear is FSW, and Comcrap doesn't have it..... I love taping those Tuesday games coming home and watching Inter or Ajax or Barca (add who you will). Smyth is great. He's a great booster of MLS, too. I'd love to have him do the MLS Cup or the opening match, or anything else.
1. I've been quoted in the WSJ. So take that for what it's worth. 2. I don't ever remember reading anything anywhere that said ESPN was losing the CL. Oliver intimated that it might happen, but it no longer appears on his Web site anymore. Edited to say he updated his site recently and now says ESPN's contract is up and mentions possibilities for ESPN Deportes. Nowhere does he mention possibilities of main ESPN keeping some games.
Is ESPN going to lose the English language right for the Champions League in this country or in the rest of the world? In the former case, it would hardly matter for Smyth since the US market is pathetic when compared with that of the rest of the world.
I know it's at least for the USA. Some Spanish lanquage subscription service will have it next year. Maybe someone knows if ESPN International will still have it.
According to Ollie, ESPN International is negotiating a new contract for all territories outside of Europe. Then again, he also said we'd be watching MLS on Fox Sports World and not ESPN2 last season, so ....
It was good that didn't happen. It would have meant less exposure for the league as FSW is on a lot less systems than ESPN2.
Regardless of whether ESPN2 in USA will show any CL games next season, as long as ESPN International has it, Tommy Smythe will have a job. ESPN International != ESPN Latin America. The CL feeds in Asia, PacRim, etc. are all English commentaries, i.e. Tommy Smythe. It would be ludicrous to show the Latin America feed (i.e. Spanish or Portugese) in Hong Kong or New Zealand. How many people speak Spanish in south east Asia?
I beleive I read somewhere that the champions league will be switched to the new ESPN Deportes channel.