ESPN PrimetimeThursday crew shift again

Rob Stone {!} will be doing the PBP, with Wynalda and Tommy Smyth as sidekick/color. They start in the media booth at Crew Stadium on Thursday, for the Crew / Revs match.

So Julie Foudy is out... PROBABLY a victim of ESPN micro-managing.

When I was watching WC coverage I realized that Foudy looked like she knew what she was talking about... but only when I had the sound muted.
I have no doubt she knows more about the game than anyone other than Wynalda and maybe Smyth... but, like Smyth, when did she ever share any of that with us?

It's apparent to me that ESPN sees it the same way. It certainly may be that they told her what sort of commentary they wanted from her, and when she gave them what they wanted, they decided she was boring. Which she is.

But, since when is it news that ESPN might be two-faced? Note that Stone is now in the booth, and Eric right there too.... anyone knowing the infamous interview details might find that ironic.

 

That ought to be interesting with Wynalda and Tommy Smyth in the booth together. I will have to check that out tomorrow night.

I have never really thought much about Tommy Smyth though. In fact, if he did not have an Irish accent, I would guess most people would think he has little to offer a broadcast.

 

Re: RE: ESPN PrimetimeThursday crew shift again

Also not pretty: Tommy Smyth. I rather enjoy him on broadcasts, although as Tom points out, some of that might be due to the accent rather than to concrete contributions to a broadcast.

 

Watch for 'Heather Mitts'..... the up-and-destined-to-go-national Sideline Honey.

And I dont agree 'Not pretty enough'... though if you'd said she's boring, then you'd be agreeing with me, so...

 

Doesnt Smyth hold the copyright on the phrase 'Onion Bag'?

I heard he was being sued by.. or suing... some geriatic produce lady in Queens.

 

Foudy = Not a guy.

For whatever reasons (and I'm sure many can think of a few), in sports these days, it is perfectly acceptable, in fact I think encouraged, to have women on the sidelines. But play-by-play is not such a hospitable, nor attractive match.

Heather Mitts roving the sideline. I'd definitely suffer through some MSL for that.

 

Well, went to the game last night and came away with the following impressions:

1. I have to elevate my standards when game watching.
- Both NE and the Crew are playing lights above the standards of the past. The ball handling is crisper and there was relatively little long ball, esp for the crew... what there was seemed primarily across and up long

- Crew still has problems finishing... Virtuoso {future BIG star!} got his goal by deflection off one of the about 8 NE players packing the six yard box. This is why teams play long ball, BTW!

2. Herron's still a thug.
-I didnt see it but evidently he gave Heaps a premeditated elbow to the face, most on the Crew BS board believe he should be getting a multigame suspension out of it.. some want him gone altogether. I saw him getting hassled by Heaps so I dont know how it will come out.
PPS: evidently Waldo's cred has been reduced again... most say he {a Rev's fan, remember} and the others wouldnt stop talking about the elbow, carried on for most of the rest of game.

3. Both Kamara and Ngwenya played very well...as did the aforementioned Virtuoso. And we have a good midfield, finally... but still no #10.

4. Crew had most of possession but the fouls called were lopsided, 17-7 .. that was VERY apparent from the seats, let alone TV. But then Herron wasnt red-carded... so...

The Crew is still undefeated. 0-0-3

Scheloto is said to be first appearing at the May 5 game

 

Herron's elbow was malicious and all, but he is NOT a thug. I met him at a White Sox game last year and he seemed like a down-to-Earth guy. He obviously had a lapse in judgement to make him elbow Heaps, but I am not going to let that one incident make me think he is a thug.

 

Well, Tom... it's like I said, have to reset my viewing params.

For one, I thought Herron was playing well, otherwise, but most of the'regulars' on Crew BS said he wasnt particulary.

Or maybe that's why I never did much more than lurk on BS before Matchnight went away.

One thing that struck me... We were supposed to be playing 4-3-3 but from the stands it looked more like 3-4-3. Given Hejduk, sometime defender, all the time winger, of course... but Pierce (rating 5 btw) was out of it, and flat beaten, too much.