We have it on good authority (a co-anchor), that Max Bretos is leaving FSC to join ESPNews. Any hire by the 4-letter of people who have a basic grasp of the game is okay in our book if for no other reason than it increases the chance the Julie Foudy will never again have her face on the WWL. Additionally, Bristol will have at least one person who can pronounce “Tevez” correctly, although going to News means Bretos will have to learn to pronounce “Gbaja-Biamila” (assuming he’s still even in the NFL).
Saw this on ATD yesterday. People seem to hate the guy, but I admit it, I like the guy. He’s over the top, but hell, it’s just a game. Congrats to him – I’d love to know his new role there.
Good riddance.
corky, it’s nothing to do with “fun.” He’s a terrible, terrible broadcaster whom FSC treats like the Stephen Hawking of the football pitch. He regularly mispronounces players’ names (job ONE for being a sportscaster), and his analysis is pabulum at best. Then again, I guess he is a great fit for ESPN.
IF ESPN really wanted someone to pronounce Tevez properly, Chistopher Sullivan was their man. No one over-prounounces Spanish names like that guy.
Agree with Keith, he’s dreadful.
Every game he calls on FSC he’s basically a homeless man’s Gus Johnson, when he gets overexcited far too much, and does it in a much more annoying way.
yyyYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSsssss
Keith(and others) – I hear what you are saying, but I think the soccer community in the US is extremely fickle about commentators. I’m happy that ESPN got Tyler for the WC, but I’d love to see American announcing talent bubble up in soccer. Although all the Brits do a nice job, it would be good to have our own voice. It’s probably not Bretos or JP, but I think a good American soccer play by play guy would be a mix of English announcing influence and Latin American announcing influence in the same way that soccer in our country is a mix of the two. Max is probably too far on the “Latin” side, but I’ll cut him some slack.
And, corky, that’s exactly why when American broadcasters DO break through, I’d prefer that it be someone who can adequately broadcast a match or provide insightful analysis. I’d much rather have an Al Michaels-like (I’m talking vintage Al, not “coiner of ‘he’s out with a knee’” Al of the past 7 years)general-sports guy who knows how to do a game, and is willing to do the prep work to familiarize himself with the game, than a hack broadcaster who saw a niche to fill like Bretos/Dellacamera do the WC. Honestly, I’d rather listen to Foudy than Bretos.
And until we can get that sort of thing, then sign up Tyler, Gray, hell even Tyldesley and let them turn the gigs down before bringing in Bretos.
How is he going to do ESPNews? Will he shout everything at the 86 people who actually watch ESPNews.
It’s a retarded decision by the WWL…I’d rather he stay at FSC and bellow during USL games that I can’t bear to watch.
no one ‘watches’ espn news. it’s just run at bars when there’s no sports on.
arsenal-bolton postponed because of weather. “Safety of supporters around the stadium” is the official story. Meanwhile, Arshavin thinks everyone’s a pussy.
I came for the, “yyyYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSsssss” and left happy.
Let’s get Jon Champion in the WC mix!
I really hope they do something clever like call his segment “MAXimum Soccer!” It really helps to play up the yelling shtick.
@wiz – yeah Ashavin must be having a laugh about this. He is probably out and about in flip-flops and a tee shirt.
@knocsucow00
@Georger
They are all dreadful, the FSC california lot. Awful. Even Nick Webster can’t pronounce the players names right when throwing to commentary. Does he watch games? I honestly doubt it. When you’ve grown up with Match of the Day, nothing else will do I guess.
you know who I want calling games for the world cup? The “whisper-shout” guy that does the Serie A matches for FSC. He gets the pronunciations right, AND he’s hilarious.
Keith- Good one. Love the whisper shout guy.
All I can say is that it can get worse – Dave O’Brien and Marcelo Balboa.
In any case, I hope ESPN takes a chance on some young guy who loves soccer but does baseball or football play-by-play. There has to be somebody out there who’d like to be the American voice of soccer, right?
This is by far the best news of the day. F*cking fantastic.