Worse Than The US Soccer Team Performance

If there's been one bigger disappointment about the World Cup, than the US performance against the Czech Republic, it's been the broadcast and announcing on ABC. Not only are these clowns proving the America knows little about the most popular sport in the world, but ABC is distinguishing itself for its arrogance and America-first egoism.

Announcer Dave O'Brien who has been working the games broadcast on ABC spent way too much time during the Iran-Mexico match talking about Iran's President, his Holocaust denial and the political issues surrounding that country's nuclear program. He then opined about immigration issues and controversy over non-Mexican born members of the Mexican team. The effect was like the boorish uncle who gets up at the family reunion and starts telling blue jokes about other members of the family.

Yes, Iran's president is a dangerous turd of a politician. Here's a news flash, O'Brien. Iran's not the only country in the competition with this problem. This is soccer, chowderhead. Leave the politics for the news shows. Thank God, ABC also added Marcel Balboa to the broadcast to bring some soccer knowledge and insight to the show.

Adding insult to injury, ABC also reanimated Brent Musburger for the World Cup. How does this guy keep getting work? Does he have incriminating videotapes of the networks board of directors worshipping Satan? I just don't get it. The Burger can ruin any sport he broadcasts, whether it be basketball or American football, why let him kill soccer for any nascent fans who happen to tune in to the WC? Why take the world's most popular, most creative and free-flowing sport and give it the Burger - the most stunted, least insightful and least thoughtful announcer known to man? For those conspiracy theorists out there, here is your evidence that major American sports leagues are trying to kill soccer.

And for God's sake, stop fetishizing over the US team. During some of the earlier games, the broadcast cut away to features on the US team and players - in the middle of games! Crikey! And every break in the action, they're talking about the US team. Focus, people!

Yes, they're our team and we want them to win. But only a complete boob thinks they have a serious chance of going deep in the tournament. Tell us about the other quality sides in the tournament. Focus on the game in front of you, where good soccer is actually being displayed. The US hasn't won anything yet and still has to prove itself among the major soccer powers. Overemphasizing the team, to the exclusion of wonderful sides like Brazil, Argentina, Italy and the Czech Republic undercuts our desire to be a serious soccer nation.

I got so fed up with ABC this weekend that I ended up watching most of the games on Copa Mundial. I know only a few Spanish words (Porteto. Amigo. Nacho. Cerveza. That's about it. Oh, and GOOOOOOOOOOOAl!) but the passion and excitement of the Mexican announcers was enough to seal the deal for me. Plus, if the announcers go off the reservation and start talking politics I have no way of knowing.

Oh yeah, and one final gripe. Stop flashing information in those little bars at the bottom of the screen. Here's a clue: It obscures the field. Soccer is one of those sports in which it is quite useful to see the actual action that's occurring on the field. Thank you.