That's what SoccerAmerica is reporting in Thursday's MLS Confidential email newsletter. No mention is made of how much of the coveted frat boy/high school male demographic the broadcasts expect to lose. Rob Stone and Ty Keogh will call the games. Veronica may contribute some halftime reports once she gets through throwing a fit in the makeup trailer. At least it's a fit they think she's throwing; they can't quite make out what she's saying.
I think it's a big mistake. They should put both Vero and Waldo in the booth and get rid of the other guys. That would be interesting.
It would be nice if we could find a satisfactory middle ground here. Perhaps Brandi Chastain or Heather Mitts? J/K It'll be nice to see Waldo moving up the ladder towards a color commentary spot. Even though I'd prefer to see him on the field again.
Has anyone actually seen Eric and Veronica in the same room? You know, if you cross our the "v" "on" and "a" from "her" name, it read "Eric." Hmmmm.
what about that blonde chick at the US vrs Germany game?? wearing the same thing she wore at the 2002 world cup game and dont forget the hat
I never minded Paysee (unlike many folks here I thought her communication skills were just fine). However, it makes a lot more sense to have somebody who really knows soccer doing the sideline reporting/analysis. I thought Wynalda did pretty well during the World Cup broadcasts, although the constant sniping with Chinaglia was a bit of a pain in the ass and seemed to have more to do with his above-mentioned love of the mirror than with anything of substance.
I put the blame for that on ABC. They broke one of the cardinal rules of sports broadcasting: Never put more than one condescending assh0le on screen at a time. It could have been worse. They could have hired Chinaglia. C in SJ
Good change. I never cared for Veronica's reporting. Wynalda has the potential to be a very good compliment to the Stone/Dir/Keough group (notice how I worked Dir in there ), but he definitely needs to learn to keep his ego and attitude in check. If he can do that--and that's a big if--then he should be pretty good. I think they should try to get Hudson in the studio for more pre-game stuff as well. I realize he's a coach and all, but he's just too good of a showman to not have in front of the camera. -Tron
Did anyone else see the game last year when ESPN went to a three man booth with Stone, Keough, and Wynalda. I thought it was pretty good hearing Keough and Wynalda exchanging thoughts back and forth. I wouldn't mind if they did that permanently but I'm at least glad to see someone taking over for Veronica. Now just replace Stone with JP and that would be great.
No Dave Dir anywhere? That sucks. We've at least got to get the man a regular column on MLSnet. He brings a lot of fascinating, coach style, Xs and Os insight to the game that the others don't. Would have preferred Dir for Keough, Wynalda on the sideline is fine. Depending on what happens with Harkes' playing career, he'd be a good choice as well. And of course, whenever Alexi hangs up his boots (again) he's a must for the broadcasting booth.
I agree Dave Dir did an excellent job in the USA/Argentina game. He would fit in nice for Soccer Saturday.
All sports commentators are paid to babble like idiots. I tune them out. Veronica, however, was like soft porn, visually arresting all the while you're laughing at her. And you gotta admit her sideline presence at games, just waiting to go on camera, was arousing. I thought MLS was lightly, wisely turning up the babe factor. I hope Veronica sticks around somehow.
All this talk about Veronica reminds me that MLS should have cheerleaders. I know we don't need them, but why not, they wouldn't hurt anything. Right now MLS doesn't have any extra money to do it. Maybe in 5 or 10 years they could afford a some girls, like the ones modeling the new Rapids jerseys. -VON
Extra money, WTF are you talking about? Pro sports cheerleaders get paid jack shit for games, the only reason they do it is for the exposure and future career opportunities, which MLS is probably lacking at this point. You'd have to put about a pretty good package to get any hot girls to cheer for MLS games.
With both Stone and Wynalda covering the games I wouldn't be surprised to see Dir handling half time from the studio.
Waldo was/is my favorite player(I sound like I'm 12), so it's good to see him continuing his broadcast career. I didn't have a problem with Paysee, she was nice eye candy on the sideline, but having a guy who's played at a high level might be able to offer better insights on the game. I also thought Dir did great work on the sideline during the Argies game, so I'd like to see him more often. And unlike most people on the boards, I don't have a problem with Stoner or Ty. As long as soccer is on TV, I'm happy regardless of who's in the booth.
this blows it's nice have wynalda working the games... but the two best non pbp guys are not both working mls games... at least during the game... as i'm betting dir does half time ty and stone have maybe this year... then they will be gone... they are incompetent, not professional dir and wynalda will make the game a pro event, which contrary to jack, ty and stoney... it is good riddance to jack, i'll be looking forward to stoney and ty getting the heave ho at the end of this season of course, now mls has a huge problem... they needa competent pbp guy, and where they hell are they going to get one?
Now, that, my friend, is a good idea. What's the chance that there will be a national, centrally broadcast MLS halftime report provided to all the regional games this year? Especially if MLS does plan to package whatever games don't make the regional or national broadcast packages for FSW? Sweet.