World

Referees

Asleep at the Wheel at ESPN

March 29th, 2006 | By: Aaron | 7 Comments »

Is this really the network that will be showing us World Cup matches here in America this summer? I mean, it’s bad enough that we have to listen to that buffoon Tommy Smyth whenever we tune into the Champions League, but today’s gaffe set a new low in sportscasting production as far as I’m concerned.

While watching the start of the second half between Inter Milan and Villarreal with the score tied at one in the 52nd minute, I could not believe what flashed across the bottom of the screen…UEFA Champions League – Villarreal 1 Inter Milan 2 F. Do the imbeciles at ESPN HQ have any respect whatsoever for their devoted footie fans?! Apparently not!!!

Why on God’s green Earth would they see fit to show us the final score of a match that they were televising?! Do they even want people to watch?!

So when Obefemi Martins scored Inter’s second goal less than two minutes later I knew that there would be no further scoring. That’s when I headed over to the computer to write this diatribe.

On a somewhat unrelated note, does anyone over at ESPN even know that when showing the score of a soccer match the home team is listed first? It’s not like baseball where the home team bats last.

If you’re like me, I hope you’ll drop a line to the good folks over at ESPN so that they get their collective acts together in time for World Cup 2006. I would hate to see them do something as stupid as I saw today during the world’s most popular sporting spectacle.

Tags: ESPN, Inter Milan, Referees, Tommy Smyth, World Cup

Referees World Cup RSS Feed

Comments

By Bob | March 29th, 2006 at 5:09 pm

Yesterday they only showed the second half of the Barc-Benefica match. I think they didn’t take into account daylight’s savings time in Europe. As bad as it is, remember back in the day when Soccer Made in Germany was the only option?

Posted from United States

By pf | March 31st, 2006 at 10:49 am

yeah, I dread this thought…. Well, there is always the spanish channel and these guys do pack the true spirit of televising a game.

G000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000LLLLLLL

Posted from United States

By Jen | March 31st, 2006 at 1:41 pm

TSN picks up the ESPN feed for the Champions League games, and they’re uniformly terrible. I really hope that Sportsnet doesn’t do the same thing for the World Cup.

Posted from Canada

By Steve | April 8th, 2006 at 4:15 pm

Smyth has got the world’s worst commentator prize sewn up all by himself. He is nothing short of a complete idiot and ruins the games for millions of football followers world wide. Please ESPN – get rid of him.

Posted from New Zealand

By fatbaby | April 9th, 2006 at 10:08 am

Please please please ESPN do NOT put Tommy “Onion bag Head” Smyth behind a microphone in GER.

Thank God for Univision ia all I can say.

Posted from United States

By Dan | April 17th, 2006 at 10:22 pm

Smyth aint that bad nethier is Rae and i love their sound together… but yet you guys, it could and will be worse… at least Smyth knows abouthe game not like this ass they’re brining in to do the US games, O’ Brien, he dosent even know the game he will destroy the broadcast… just watch him tear up an MLS match thats just a preview…

Posted from United States

By Arturo | June 10th, 2006 at 6:12 am

Tommy,

I want you to comment on the limited number of places assigned to South America, in view of yesterday’s results.

I think that the South American 5 and 6 teams would be able to achieve better results than Costa Rica or Trinidad Tobago, and might even equal the results of Ecuador.

Comments are closed

Send Your Tips!

Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for World Cup Blog?
Email tips[at]worldcupblog[dot]org

Referees Club Football News

More More Blogs

World Cup Referees
76 Articles | 614 Comments
New Zealand World Cup Team Blog
11 Articles | 30 Comments

Monthly Archives

Referees

Asleep at the Wheel at ESPN

Related Posts

Comments