Barcon
Well-Known Member
Not sure who's doing the yammerin on my telly but it's not terrible.
Alexi Lalas makes me want to punch something.
Alexi Lalas makes me want to punch Alexi Lalas.
They should talk about Klopp more, shouldn't they? Maybe about the cigarettes he smokes or the toothpaste he does not use.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.
NBC has been great the last year or twoAfter being blessed with NBC and their coverage and commentators, I just can't listen to anything Fox puts out. It's so far behind......besides Kate Abdo. Love me some Kate Abdo.