Comments on: Ranking the NASL Broadcast Teams

By: Daniel Blodgett

Daniel Blodgett — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:16:23 +0000

Maybe you guys shouldn’t call the guys who run your favourite team’s webcasts “idiots.” Constructive criticism help and in no way need to be insulting.

By: Darren L

Darren L — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:58:21 +0000

Loved it! Right on the money.

Next time, include a review the eye candy. My votes would go to the Altanta gorillitas and the San Antonio scorpiettes (or something like that).

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:36:03 +0000

Mr. Hayes, you are correct, Edmonton’s broadcast team is clearly the best.

The Scorpions webcast is really bad. However, they are new to the league so in my opinion they have a very short pass. Hitchcock needs to get on top of this quickly and get it figured out. What city is he in this week anyway, doing PMI business?

Ft. Lauderdale’s broadcast team IS very much like listening to a webcast produced by a high school AV team. It’s really embarrassing to the league and to this level of play. This lack of professionalism DOES NOT have Tim Robbie’s normal fingerprint on it. It makes me wonder with the Cantor connection if this doesn’t smack of Traffic putting pressure on the organization for some reason. Is Cantor father connected with Traffic somehow?

I also recall Gol TV’s Juan Arango doing the play-by-play early last year and he was of course very good. I don’t know what happened but suddenly he was gone. Maybe he cost too much? Maybe there was a disagreement? But whatever happened, the Strikers went from one of the best broadcast teams to the worst in a matter of a week.

Get it figured out Strikers. You reflect on the NASL. A league that a lot of people are working hard to sell throughout the country. What’s that saying about a chain and it’s weakest link?

Note to Traffic Sports: There’s also a saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. I hope your politics are not undermining your own goals and ambitions.

By: Lego7

Lego7 — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:34:03 +0000

“PS: I wish a team would pick up John Harkes. I miss him on ESPN. Taylor Twellman is such a lightweight.”

Please! Anything but John Harkes.

His commentary after a goal where he says “Shimmy… Shimmy… Coco-Puffs” was absolutely the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard on live television. He tries too hard to be hip with the kids, but he isn’t fooling anybody. Haha!

By: Slate

Slate — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:43 +0000

As a Strikers fan, before even looking at the list, I knew the Strikers’ broadcasting tandem wold be dead last.

Cantor’s “Pfffttttttt” during the Puerto Rico broadcast (1:08 of the Strikers/Puerto Rico highlights) will stand the test of time as one of broadcastings greatest “WTF?!” moments.

By: thesuperrookie

thesuperrookie — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:27:57 +0000

YB- Thanks. I am right, and all others are WRONG.

By: Yankiboy

Yankiboy — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:14:40 +0000

^Man, do I wish that I had written that! Talk about a "golazo". Loved the "You don’t know where you are bro.” and "hotzone" references. Fuuny, funny, funny. Of course, I'm sure that you just ticked off some people in the league big time with your critiques and humor. [And please, nobody get it "TWIZTED", or get salty with ME, ok! I'm NOT endorsing, agreeing or disagreeing with any of Mr. Haye's evaluations. We differ in our opinions about broadcast teams and production, nor am I condoning the use of "hotzone" or confrontations between technical staff and commentators. I'm just saying that the Dude just put that free kick in the upper 90 coz he made me laugh with his take...]

By: B

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:01:12 +0000

Hilarious and on target regarding the “rec team home video” Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. I am a Striker’s season ticket holder, so I haven’t had the displeasure of watching, or especially listening, to the live stream, but I do have to endure these amateurs’ annoying, inane commentary since it accompanies the web highlights which I do check out regularly. If it is any consolation for those watching on the web, at least you aren’t listening to the stadium announcer who is equally awful and would likely receive the same designation were you to rank him among his peers around the league.
We have an excellent coach who has put together a competitive team that includes many young, local players, and they play attractive, attacking soccer. It is a shame that just about everything else about the club seems more poorly organized, managed and marketed than even some of the local youth teams. Sadly “rec league” describes a lot more than just the idiots on the webcast.

By: bullsear

bullsear — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:46:23 +0000

The quality of these broadcasts is much improved since the USL days, when they were spotty at best (when they were available at all). As a Minnesota fan who uses the service as the primary method of following my team, even the worst coverage has been a godsend.

But I still always mute Stars games. Buzz is just too familiar for my tastes.

By: Art

Art — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:54:08 +0000

Thanks for the positive critique on our Rowdies Soccer coverage. We do try to make things easy on the eyes for our viewers…and Mike is a fabulous pbp man! You didn’t mention that he has been doing these games alone…no color guy to give him a break. He deserves extra props for that! As the director of the webcasts, I found it quite a compliment that you thought we have 2 high cams…we just have 1. We try to cut between our high and low cameras appropriately so viewers can follow the game, yet get some nice tight shots of the action…
and if it appears we are using more cams than we are…I guess we are doing a good job. Keep on watching…go ROWDIES!