Gomez… Torres… What's the Dif?
We’ve been generally complimentary of EPSN’s World Cup coverage. And why not? The occasional pairing of Gullit and Martinez has been fantastic; and even Alexi Lalas has been a little more focused in his analysis and, somewhat startling, started saying things we agree with (hat tip for him having the stones to point out that, up until the goal yesterday, Donovan was a ghost in the second half of that match).
But twice, on two different highlight packages of the US v Algeria match given by two different anchors, the 4-letter made a bit of an egregious mistake. On the disallowed Dempsey goal they credited ‘Francisco Torres’ with both the first shot that was blocked, as well as the rebound-assist to Dempsey.
Thing is Texas-born, Mexican-league-playing Jose Francisco Torres was on the bench. That makes it a low-probability event that he contributed to the play in any way. California-born, Mexican-league-playing Herculez Gomez was the guy who took the shot, then fed Dempsey. Oops.
We understand that the guys in South Africa aren’t putting together the copy for the anchors in Bristol, so we don’t want to lump what’s happening there (again, generally excellent) from the production being done in the US (kind of a sidegrade). This error made it to air at least twice and with a significant time-gap between them (I saw it on a highlight package on ESPNNews last night, then again this morning from Josh Elliot on live SportsCenter).
Everybody makes mistakes (we have small fear of the day someone starts fact-checking every word we write) and if it had happened but once it would have fallen down the memory hole. But you really couldn’t catch that one with about 12-hours between them? If nothing else, Torres is like 5’5″ and Gomez is pushing 5’11″, not to mention they wear different numbers (oh, and one was on the bench… did we mention that?).
We’re hoping ESPNDeportes doesn’t make the same mistake. Or maybe they confuse Bradley and Dempsey over there.
While ESPN’s coverage has been excellent from everyone in South Africa, you can tell the Sports Center anchors still don’t give a f**k.
except Josh Elliot.
Right, isn’t Elliot one of the guys that really likes soccer? I thought so, but wasn’t sure, so didn’t want to make that part of the post. Maybe they’re just so programmed that they flip off the thought part of their brains and just read what comes up on the prompter.
We do not think all brown people look the same. We can usually tell all three brown people apart.
1) Mediterranean brown – Sleazy greaseballs who will try to sleep with our women. (Greeks, Italians, Portuguese, Spanish)
2) Mexican brown – They took our jerbs! Paradoxically, lazy and shiftless. They also sell drugs. (Anyone from Central/South America)
3) Arab brown – Terrorists. Nuke ‘em all. (Everyone else. If you aren’t sure which brown person they are, default to this one. You can be never be too careful.)
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Since Gomez and Torres are both clearly “Mexican brown”, I see no error on ESPN’s part. And neither does America.
@LE
Where do Africans/Black Americans come in this spectrum? :)
@Goosie: We’re not idjits. No self respecting American would confuse a black with a brown. Everybody knows they’re the welfare cheating criminals with illegitimate children. And they have AIDS.
I can’t to hear Roberto Mancini’s take on this subject.
@LE Hahaha. My apologies. It’s good to know that Americans don’t think I’m brown. I have my own category. What about the Indians?
Dots or feathers?
@Goosie: Indians = Arabs. If they’re not already terrorists, they’re thinking about it. All this call center business is just a front.
To make it easier –
dots = IT or doctor
feather = alcoholic and gambler
@LE That must mean that Microsoft is secretly run by Al Qaeda, right?
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@Dan True true.
Josh Elliot loves soccer. He did a long interview with The Big Lead a while ago where he talked about it. He really wanted to go be a studio anchor in SA, but ESPN took Fowler and Tirico instead. Fowler, BTW, has been excellent. Between College Gameday and WC, he might be the best studio host around.
hey, that’s awesome. glad to know ESPN thinks we all look the same.
jesus, who does the research for SportCenter’s highlights –
the Arizona state legislature?
@Marcamps. It’s actually the Arizona governor herself who does the research.
Goosie: that sounds about right.
This line of commenting is just begging for a Roberto Mancini showing.
I’ve hated Fowler so far.
I think Roberto Mancini is too busy cornholing Joe Arpaio and then repenting of it.
I can honestly say the only ESPN coverage I’ve watched was the USMNT-Slovenia post-match. Otherwise, I watch Univision. It’s just too much fun. And there are loads of bewbs.
Phil: that includes the games, too, right? granted, ESPN has better HD than Univision, but the latter has waaaay better commentators (surprise surprise).
their main announcer has a lot of fun pronouncing certain names and has these routines ready for certain plays.
and in the B-team, they’ve got Jose Luis Chilavert. Chila-motherf**king-vert! Mr. spit on Roberto Carlos/punch out ballboys/score penalties & free kicks/prolific goalkeeper Chilavert.
i’d like to see John Harkes top that.
@MArcamps: Indeed it does include games. And yes, the playing with stress on Kaka’s name, the singonsong “TSHABALALA!” and flirting with “maricon” when saying “Maicon” is very enjoyable. On the whole, I find the Unvision guys seem to have a lot more fun doing the broadcasts than the English and American guys. Sure the ESPN picture is better, but I enjoy the Unvision coverage helluva lot more. And there are loads of bewbs.