As usual, we don't get a chance to comment on the television coverage of games because we don't get to see the game on TV.
Just wanted to get some thoughts from you guys about the Galaxy-Chelsea game and what the coverage was like, both pre-game, during the match and afterward. This game was very hyped up and while the game exceeded my expectations, just wanted to see if the TV coverage also lived up to the hype.
11 comments:
For a soccer fanatic like myself, ESPN's coverage was just tortue. We basically heard everyone talk about his ankle for 90 minutes.
In my opinion, the ESPN's coverage was pure unadulterated crap. I had to switch to Telefutura in the 2nd half.
I don't know what target audience did ESPN try to please by having endless discussions about Beckham's ankle or by interrupting the game to show Jennifer Love Hewitt and Eva Longoria. Granted, they are both great-looking women, but still, not during the game, please:)
Plus, the quality of TV commentary, is horrible. I am not even talking about silly factual mistakes. But can anyone get Winalda, O'Brien & Co. to shut up for a minute, or at least to focus on the game at hand?!!!
While FSC's coverage of MLS games also needs some work, by comparison, their coverage of Blanco's first Fire game was much more palatable.
Goff's short comments in an earlier post today were spot-on regarding the usual inaccuracies.
I actually didn't mind the short in-game interviews with Love-Hewitt, Schwarzenegger, and Drew Carey; while they might annoy the purist, from a marketing perspective the exposure is good for the league.
Overall, it was ridiculous. However, there's something to be said for the exposure and professional camera work that ESPN can bring. The sky cam, a packed house, a beautiful night and a beautiful setting--all these things are good for MLS.
So while I was constantly tormented by the *actual game* being reduced to 2/3 normal size so that the "Beckham Cam" could show Becks' left boot going on and off (not to mention the commemorative stitching that ESPN highlighted for us, over and over), I was overall perversely intrigued by so much of the ridiculous muck surrounding the actual football.
The telecast was kind of like an NFL playoff game in that regard: oooh, here's Beckham getting out of his car--he drove himself (gasp)!--here's his wife, who has Superman-like vision and can see through the darkest of shades, even at night!--there's Katie and little Suri--Tom is flying as we speak from location in Germany to be here for tomorrow's welcome party--co-hosted by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, mind you--here's Shaq and Gretzky and blah blah blah.
I felt then, and still do now, that much of the media gave LA a pass. The Galaxy hung tight the first 30-35 minutes, and yes, they created some excellent scoring opportunities that should have been finished. That being said, they were pretty much manhandled for the bulk of the match, clearly outclassed. This isn't a huge deal, as most club teams in the world would have difficulty with Chelsea.
However, I think much of the reportage, last night and today, is giving LA some kind of moral victory that isn't deserved. I could be up in the night, but it appeared to me that Chelsea simply played a big ol game of monkey-in-the-middle for the last 20 minutes or so, content to mercifully run out the clock instead of putting the hammer down...
I often wonder if I want really want soccer to become very popular in this and allow it to be thrown to the uninformed masses. The game last night was a frightening insight to what it may become.
It was an interesting moment when Drew Carey told ESPN to put the camera on the game and stop showing him. Thanks Drew for representing and being a real fan. I hope you get your MLS team in Cleveland. There is already a great soccer academy there started by Brad Friedal. Long live the spirit of the Cleveland Force.
I think all three of them (O'Brien, Wynalda, and Tommy) have to go. I think Stone and whats-her-name also need to go. The only one that has done a decent job is Alan Hopkins, reporting with his sideline view (pun intended).
I don't mean to be unrealistic here, but my dream tandem would be Ray Hudson and JP Dellecamera in the booth, Alan Hopkins on the field, and O'Brien and Shep Messing doing pre-game.
If ESPN does it this way during the next game they show, that will be fine. They get a pass, even though I agree with these posts. But no more celeb interviews during the play. (What if they start telling us which sponsor brought us which interview...)
American soccer fan are strange. We root for the sport itself and will forgive those who promote it. Why am I so touched by an Adidas or Dick's Sporting Goods ad? Because I want to silencd the Jim Romes in my mind. We also worry about international prejudices against Americans who aren't supposed to know anything. We need to lay off both of these habits but it is for the sake of the sport that I want this Beckham (and Blanco) move to work.
This game (and the special before it) was a chance to sell the sport and explain why Beckham (and Essien and Terry...) are so good. Instead we were sold on Beckham's celebrity, which wasn't necessary for those who tuned in. I don't mind teaching moments from ESPN (the golden arrows showing passes, etc.) but they should leave the celeb stuff to Extra.
I like Tommy Smith, even if three manic announcers are too many. Someday, I hope we get to choose b/w announcers, with the option of just a miked crowd and pitch.
I watched on Telefutura. :::hopelessly weeps:::
I desperately want Pablo Ramirez fired. :::hopelessly weeps:::
His stupid little puns and stupid little way of saying the players names. He had a field day with Malouda last night. :::hopelessly weeps:::
I'm still not over his infatuation with Vagner Love at Copa America. Hell, still not over Simão Sabrosa at the World Cup. :::hopelessly weeps:::
Still, not a lot of celeb shots on Telefutura, save for Posh at the very beginning. And some minor discussion of the Beckham celebness.
Just please, someone, fire Pablo Ramirez. :::hopelessly weeps:::
That Sabrosa pronunciation was a complete disaster. During a World Cup game, the guy is pronouncing it like he's some cheap DJ. That was pathetic.
Lalas continues to disgust with his continue play on the Hollywood marketing of the Galaxy. He was interviewed at halftime on ESPN and not once did he mention that the job is about putting a WINNING team on the field. He kept talking about the product and putting fans in the seats but it was all about the celebrities and the Hollywood starlight atmosphere that was going to bring them. It almost seemed that he meant that it doesn't matter if we lose, they will be coming for Becks, Posh, TomKat,Eva Longoria, and Arnold. Hey Alexi, how about a simple "I want to win" quote.
The coverage was a bit much. A bit too much.
On another issue, I wonder how the other Galaxy players felt at the Sunday "Welcome Bash" Hollywood put on for the Beckhams.
Exactly. Pablo Ramirez wants to be on K-LVE. I say go for it, Paulie!
Nobody finds him amusing, right? He loves to aks hypothetical or leading questions that make players look like jerks, and ... gah! I just loathe him.
Why did Univision decide to ride the short bus and let Cantor go (along with Longo (qepd) and Losada?)?
Ramirez is worse than Joe Buck, people. Joe (Condescension) Buck!
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