CityInWashingtonState
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 5 Aug 2017
- Messages
- 2,624
- Team supported
- Manchester City is my team - until I fucking die.
Fox network has broadcast rights in the US for the 2018 World Cup.
And for me - and I think a large segment of US football fans - that's really bad news.
Fox seems intent on building a bigger American audience for "soccer" - and for them, part of that recipe is having a US announcer and a US color man in the booth - and then, copying the US Tackle Football way of things (that is, the sport played with an oblong ball where handling by all and sundry is allowed) - they'll augment the broadcast team with an on-field member as well as a rules expert.
The biggest problem I have with the Fox recipe, is that knowledge of the game has very little impact on selection of broadcast team members.
To wit... Fox hired Gus Johnson - who has zero clue about world football - with the intent of grooming him to be their lead announcer for WC 2018. Time and again, Gus covered important matches - C/L final for example - on Fox, totally ruining the broadcast for knowledgeable fans. Time and again he'd butcher names; he'd make it a point to introduce a player by stating that they were a German International or a French International or, whatever - as if we had no clue where they were from.
And his biggest gift - voice rising in volume to make plays exciting - was laughably wasted. His "catch phrase" for football commentary was "INTO THE BOX" - shouted at maximum volume. For example, Ronaldo would receive a pass and then dribble into the box, covered by several defenders and posing no obvious danger... and good ole Gus would shout at the top of his lungs "RONALDOOOOO!!!! - INTO THE BOX!!!!"
This, and other such gaffes eventually lead to Gus quitting his role as lead "soccer" commentator - thank God! - but I fear that the "let's put American's into the booth" attitude continues.
I'm tired of hearing John Strong butcher names while Eric Wynalda drones on and on about obvious/trite details - providing content free color commentary. And the "on-field" announcements are equally bland - while FIFA rules expert Joe McNamara is just way too condescending/over-the-top.
Here's hoping that Fox wisens-up and just uses English commentary like ESPN did in 2014 - otherwise - WC 2018 is going to be really dire in the US.
And for me - and I think a large segment of US football fans - that's really bad news.
Fox seems intent on building a bigger American audience for "soccer" - and for them, part of that recipe is having a US announcer and a US color man in the booth - and then, copying the US Tackle Football way of things (that is, the sport played with an oblong ball where handling by all and sundry is allowed) - they'll augment the broadcast team with an on-field member as well as a rules expert.
The biggest problem I have with the Fox recipe, is that knowledge of the game has very little impact on selection of broadcast team members.
To wit... Fox hired Gus Johnson - who has zero clue about world football - with the intent of grooming him to be their lead announcer for WC 2018. Time and again, Gus covered important matches - C/L final for example - on Fox, totally ruining the broadcast for knowledgeable fans. Time and again he'd butcher names; he'd make it a point to introduce a player by stating that they were a German International or a French International or, whatever - as if we had no clue where they were from.
And his biggest gift - voice rising in volume to make plays exciting - was laughably wasted. His "catch phrase" for football commentary was "INTO THE BOX" - shouted at maximum volume. For example, Ronaldo would receive a pass and then dribble into the box, covered by several defenders and posing no obvious danger... and good ole Gus would shout at the top of his lungs "RONALDOOOOO!!!! - INTO THE BOX!!!!"
This, and other such gaffes eventually lead to Gus quitting his role as lead "soccer" commentator - thank God! - but I fear that the "let's put American's into the booth" attitude continues.
I'm tired of hearing John Strong butcher names while Eric Wynalda drones on and on about obvious/trite details - providing content free color commentary. And the "on-field" announcements are equally bland - while FIFA rules expert Joe McNamara is just way too condescending/over-the-top.
Here's hoping that Fox wisens-up and just uses English commentary like ESPN did in 2014 - otherwise - WC 2018 is going to be really dire in the US.
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