Comments on: CONCACAF Gold Cup: FSC Drops the Ball

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:58:32 +0000

FSC has gone to $hite. But then I expect little else from the folks who gave us Faux News and the moneygrubbers in CONCACAF.

Great post, and hope some one at NewsCorp takes heed, but I doubt it.

I’ve been wondering for a while why MLS doesn’t mandate English SAP on their matches broadcast on Spanish-language channels. Those channels are already a part of a lot of cable and satellite plans. The ratings boost would be a boon to both the netwroks and the league.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:10:03 +0000

Mexican football, Spanish sucks and Portuguese rules.

anyhow…i was little pissed that FSC didnt even show the opening cermonies. they had a pre game show but didnt show the opening cermonies of the game like the national anthems. but anyhow…i like seeing the EPL and Italian Serie A re runs but they should shedule them when thier isnt something on live like during the CONCACAF tournament during the week day…Leave a opening space for them show a live game.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:21:28 +0000

I agree on pretty much everything you said except your comments about Max and Christopher. Terrible announcers and the less we see\hear from them the better.

By: Joe in Indianapolis

Joe in Indianapolis — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:20:14 +0000

Totally agree. FSC should be the one channel that actually does this. Maybe it’s time for a new soccer-specific channel to come along. I’m still waiting for ESPN-Soccer. One day it will happen.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:38:29 +0000

Agree with Lars and Kartik.

CONCACAF has made this tournament a joke by allowing the US to add 7 players to their roster that can stay with their clubs until “called in” and by allowing Mexico to add Guille Franco as the tournament begins. It seem like CONCACAF will bend or even rewrite rules to benefit the two superpowers in the region.

FSC is a joke, but we knew that already. CONCACAF however is showing that $$$$$ is still all Jack Warner cares about.

By: Lars

Lars — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:29:49 +0000

FSC almost dropped the ball as much as CONCACAF did with it’s ridiculous bias against non-US/Mexican teams…

By: John Harris

John Harris — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:19:59 +0000

FSC is simply EPL TV in the US. But the majority of football fans in this country don’t watch the EPL. The two most popular brands in this country are the Mexican National Team and the US National Team. Now the club game is different- there the most popular brand is Man U and then Liverpool. Real Madrid is high on the list also.

FSC’s inability to realize the international game, ie national teams drive interest in this game here is why they are always hard up for $$$ airing informercials at odd times of the day. ESPN shows MLS and now La Liga but they understand the national team and international soccer, including the Euros, Confed Cup and World Cup are what sell.

Americans in mass don’t get the club game. It’s too complicated and “foreign,” whereas international soccer makes sense- it’s like a year round constant Olympics. Mexico vs Germany makes more sense to most Americans than Hull City vs Birmingham City.

FSC will remain a small niche premium channel unless they step up their game and build it around American brands, or brands that appeal to large swaths of the American public.

By: The Gaffer

The Gaffer — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:16:33 +0000

All CONCACAF Gold Cup games are now available via MLS Talk sponsor OmniSport. They’re the official online partner for the Gold Cup. Each match is shown online for $5.99 and are available world-wide.

Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/mnboug

Thanks for supporting MLS Talk.

Cheers,
The Gaffer

By: adam

adam — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:05:42 +0000

This piece is so good I forwarded it verbatim to FSC’s comment email address. They need to read this and react.

By: Mexican football

Mexican football — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:56:44 +0000

Kartik, stop. Just stop right now. It is infinitely BETTER to watch football with Spanish commentary than with English commentary. It is better for you to learn Spanish to enjoy the beautiful game. You should be happy that you have a reason to broaden your horizons and learn the most spoken language in the Western world. C’mon, man. Think of all the benefits for you in learning Spanish. More football enjoyment. Plus, all the new Miamians you could meet. Don’t be a lazybrain. Learn Spanish. You can do it, and your life will be better as a result.

Just look at the difference between Spanish and English commentary here in the USA…

Spanish: “Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes!!!!!! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOALASO! GOALASO! GOALASO! GOALASO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ASO! ASO! ASO! ASO!!!!!!!!!!!”

Then he’ll crack jokes like “I don’t think Bill Guadette wants to defend this last penalty kick! He doesn’t seem to want to walk to the goal. Calling Guadette! Calling 1-800-Guadette, will you please report to the goal?!”

or during the Goats-Tigers game last week, “That Tigers defender just said “Gimme the ball or I’ll tell my mom on you!”"

or immediately after the Miracle on Grass… “I have seen the Miracle of the 21st Century!!!! And it has Red, White and Blue all over it!!!” Plus, you should have heard the Goal Call after Dempsey’s goal to put the usa up 2-0. I have never heard it more passionate and emotionally overwhelming. MUCH better than ESPN’s snooze call on that same goal.

English commentary is more like: “and there’s the goal”. “he scores”. Or the excruciatingly annoying Bretos “Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

If any Anglo here refuses to enjoy football in Spanish, he is only cheating himself. Football in American English is a borefest. In Spanish, you will have a ball. Learn the language, then enjoy your football. That’s the best thing you can do for yourself.