ESPN cuts Wynalda loose

First on SBI

 

                                                                    Photo by ISI Photos

Just weeks after ESPN made the decision to remove Eric Wynalda from its broadcast team for MLS and U.S. national team games, the network has completely severed ties with the controversial analyst.

Sources have told SBI that ESPN and Wynalda have parted ways after weeks of negotiations to find a new role for Wynalda. The original plan was to have Wynalda work on Champions League broadcasts but the network and Wynalda could not agree on his role. It is believed that ESPN bought out the remaining year on Wynalda's contract.

Wynalda sparked controversy for several remarks he made, both on and off the air. He was reprimanded by ESPN for comments he made about Jim Rome a year ago and last fall SBI reported on an unfortunate remarks Wynalda made during an MLS playoff game. Wynalda only made things worse for himself when he followed up that comment with his own explanation to SBI of what happened that night. An explanation several sources confirmed was completely fabricated by Wynalda.

Wynalda had his share of fans who loved his brash and outspoken style, but he also had several detractors who hated his over the top approach.

So what next for Wynalda? Don't be surprised to see him wind up in San Jose as part of the Earthquakes broadcast team, assuming he doesn't just take some time off to spend his buyout money.

What do you think of this development? Are you sad to see Wynalda leave ESPN? Are you happy he won't be ruining Champions League matches? Are you eager to see him back on air soon? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Jordan]

I know im going to take heat for this, but im kind of upset about this move from ESPN. I liked wynalda's brashness. He would always defend soccer, which i respected. At least he is interesting to listen to, unlike Bruce Arena who is terrible in the booth

[Jeffrey]

Are you still taking your voice lessons Ives? Certainly you are ready by now.

[froboy]

Wynalda was a heck of a footballer, but not much of a commentator, i'm with Jeffrey, would love to see Ives in the booth and hope Wynalda can find another spot in US soccer

[Pat]

He was very good in the studio but horrible in the booth.

[Joe]

Finally. I find Wynalda to be a grating commentator.

I thought his rush to make an opinion on every call as a sign that he lacked confidence in the broadcast booth. Moreover, his opinion usually consisted of something like- great call, terrible call, etc.- and then he couldn't let it go for the rest of the game. Sometimes it felt like he still looked at the game as a player, instead of a commentator of the game and sport.

This is probably a matter of personal taste- i just prefer more understated commentators who let the game breathe.

I think Wynalda could make a better than average studio guy- perhaps if MLS could get a 30 minute or hour long highlights/commentary show once/week.

[Joamiq]

I'm just happy to have JPDC doing play by play. Although, Jeff's onto something, Ives. You've got a pretty smooth radio or TV voice... maybe you should send in your resume to ESPN for commentary, especially since I'm not sold on Harkes.

[Andrew S.]

About time...even my friends who usually don't watch soccer would say if they wanted to know what was going to happen they would just listen to the exact opposite of what he was saying.

[ejs]

I liked Wynalda and I think the champions league might of fit him well

[Brendan]

He could work for Fox Soccer Channel. However, if he continues to put his foot in his mouth, perhaps not.

[zomg warn]

i kind of liked wynaldas comments, far more entertaining than anything the fsc commentators could muster.

i also liked that baseball announcer i think he was.

i hope they bring on some people who are as entertaining as wynalda, he told it like it was.

[Joe_in_ND]

I am glad he is gone. Terrible for USA Soccer. He thinks he knows everything even though he was a average USA Soccer player at best.

He would have ruined CL broadcasts just like he ruined MLS broadcasts. He is an idiot.

I think the only thing I had his back on were his comments on Jim Rome. Rome is a tool and I would bash him over the head with Wynalda.

[tyler]

oh wow, so he completely made up the living-near-the-fires story? I didn't hear about this.

you stay classy, Wynalda.

[Bob S]

I think he was better in the studio than the commentators booth but its guys like him that MLS and US Soccer needs. He had personality and was willing to stand up for the sport no matter what. I hope his cult status is elevated and one day I can buy me some Wynalda for President shirts.

[cassano203]

Joe_in_ND LMAO @ your Rome/Wynalda comment.

[Nic]

In the studio Wynalda was fine, especially in comparison to Julie Foudy, who nearly every MLS fan detests. As an analyst, he was too personal to provide an objective view of the game. I really got sick of his cheerleading for his boys.

Most importantly, I think this is another example of how ESPN needs to pay more attention to how it covers the MLS. Quite frankly, just about everything in the Thursday telecasts is terrible. The studio analysts, the play by play, color, camera work, etc. doesn't suite the game of soccer.

I'd love for ESPN to send their production crew to Europe. The experience of just watching a game is just so much better.

[turk]

Good news for the improvement of US soccer broadcasts. The people that hate him seem to out number the few people that love him.

All is well in the world.

[cbr]

this is horrible news for Twellman and Razov

[turk]

Also, the controversy could have been avoided completely if he stuck to commentating the game, not giving social commentary or irrelevant statistics.

This is why he is such a bad person for the sport.

[Greifie]

I couldn't stand Waldo on commentary. The crew they had in there last year sounded way too unprofessional. Every broadcast just ended up being a complain fest with Smyth and Wynalda picking on each other like teenage girls. ESPN does a fantastic job with college basketball for the most part. I wish they would treat soccer with the same respect. I also wish ESPN would have used Waldo as an analyst like they use Barry Melrose for hockey. I also agree with Ives that a one or two-man booth is the way to go.

[Tony in Quakeland]

cbr: Funniest comment on this thread.

Joe_in_ND: Average player? hardly.

As for Waldo leaving, I liked that he didn't just kiss butt like everyone else. He could be grating. He could be funny. He could obvious. He could be shrewd. Maybe it is time for US soccer to move on and find a new voice. But in a weird way I will miss him

[Ted]

Wynalda was trash as a color analyst. Whenever he would have to come up with comments on the spot, he would fail miserably. He was also too personally invested in the U.S. national program to provide decent coverage (anybody else happy that his xenophobic comments towards Mexicans are gone?).

His analysis of players was also biased. Every Blanco game he covered reeked of comments like "He isn't really doing much," "He set up those two goals but has been mostly quiet," and "Lucky pass". I'm glad he is gone. I'm not saying Harkes is going to blow our socks off, but I am assuming he isn't going to alienate his network and an entire race of people.

[Matt]

i liked waldo. he will be missed.

[YankatOxford]

I think a network like FSC would be extremely wise to enlist his services in the studio. I think in time ESPN may regret this.

Wynalda's work in that department has demonstrated he can excel in that role. Whether he wants to analyze from the studio is a different matter.

I'm not sure that Harkes is the answer, but his analysis during the Gold Cup last year was quite solid. But that was once again, from the studio. During the World Cup he did an average job in the booth, but anyone sounded better than Balboa-O'brien.

Stalwart American broadcasting teams for soccer are hard to come by, but here's to hoping they emerge with expanded content.

[aristotle]

Goodbye to a know it all and someone who was bad for the sport.

Eric did have his good points, such as a good sense of humor and the willingness to speak his mind. Unfortunately, he did not know when to not speak his mind. He was also a lively commentator, if not a good one, which is refreshing given the choices available to us in American soccer.

Sadly, the bad outweighed the good by a considerable margin. Ironically, I don't have a problem with the comments listed here as being the possible reason for his being let go. As soccer fans surely all of us have listened to some pretty abusive comments regarding soccer over the years. It can be extreme and hard to take. Yet, no matter how bad the comments are, you never see anyone being reprimanded for trashing soccer. In fact, they are usually applauded when they bash soccer, no matter how bad the comments are. So, even though his comments about Jim Rome were extreme, I couldn't agree with him more. Was he supposed to be nice to a guy who enjoyed offending as many soccer fans as possible?

The second comment about the California fires was just exaggerated beyond belief. Does anyone really believe he meant to offend people who were victims of the fire? With all of the offensive things being said by people today, this is what we have to make into a big deal?

The bottom line though, was that Wynalda's knowledge and understanding of the sport seemed very poor considering he was one of America's top soccer players. In addition to that he always seemed to have a bias. As a commentator I think you should be able to be objective, and he just wasn't a lot of the time. He also seemed to portray the game differently than when he actually played it. My memory of him as a player was that he whined a lot and thought he was fouled any time he lost the ball, and if anything, you would consider him wimpy. Yet as an announcer, he was always acting macho and nothing was ever a foul. I won't miss him in the booth. He always distracted me from the game, and we have enough announcers doing that in U.S. soccer!

[John]

Are there any good soccer commentators on espn or fsc? Wynalda is hit and miss but at least it's interesting.

That time he hit some poor intern in the head trying to bend a free kick with loafers was priceless.

The wildfire comment didn't offend me, but I didn't lose a house or loved one in either 2003 or 2007.

[Xiphosis]

"Are you sad to see Wynalda leave ESPN? "

Yes, yes I am.

[deetch]

Thank goodness Captain Obvious is gone!!! Ever since MLS replaced Ty Keough with this buffoon I have hated having to put up with this amateur. You could tell by his comments that Waldo isn't too bright and lacks the subtlety that enhances the game, not detracts from it.

I will say, however, good for Waldo for standing up to Jim Rome who shows his stupidity for bashing a sport I'm sure he has never played.

[Tim Archer]

To quote Bananarama...

Na-Na-Na-Na...Na-Na-Na-Na...Hey-Hey-Hey...Goodbye!

I can't help but say thank God, although I will miss getting to laugh at some of the dumb things that he says. I think that ESPN probably should have paired him with Jim Rome to see how that would have worked.

[J]

As long as Tommy Smyth (with a Y!) still does CL matches, the commentary for those games will always be ruined.

[Graham Fisher]

The outspoken characters always end up getting a bit carried away with their own publicity. In England we lost a pundit, Rodney Marsh, for similar reasons.

They start off by being edgy and controversial, and then they start to be controversial just for the sake of it. When they do that, they are no longer entertaining and become quite sad.

[papa bear]

unless there is a specific clause that forbids it, he'll be covering MLS for FSC in under a year.

[Scott A]

Get rid of Foudy ESPN. She is abysmal.

[Lee]

I didn't mind Wynalda. As others have said though his greatest strength is his willingness to fight for soccer in this country. For some reason many members of the media insist on lowballing soccer in the 2 or 3 times a year they actually comment about it. It's not just Rome, others do it as well.

He wasn't the best commentator but he fought for the sport, so for that I wish him well.

[Bob]

This country needs a color commentator who is going to educate viewers about the game. Wynalda never seemed able to fulfill that role.

Look at what John Madden has done for the NFL -- every week, he explains the game to people. ESPN should hire someone who is willing to do that.

I know that many of us understand the game and don't necessarily want this, but if we want the sport to grow then the average viewer needs to be educated. The Beckham matches on ESPN will be a relatively big draw, and people who don't normally watch the game may tune in. I think it's positive that a negative person such as Wynalda will not be the "ambassador" to new fans.

Buh-bye, Eric.

[BK]

I enjoy the fact that ESPN is finally taking some steps to make their soccer broadcasts professional. Either they're listening to their fans or they hired someone who knows soccer. Supposedly, Arena's not going to be in the booth either. Just Harkes and JP. With Foudy and Stone in the studio. Of course, there's 1000 people better than Foudy and Stone, but we only have to deal with them a little bit. And Harkes might be relatively boring, but he provides insight into the game and doesn't go off on a 30 minute rant over a foul like Wynalda did.

Thank goodness for the change. Now to pray that he doesn't end up at FSC. Put him in the studio somewhere. That's where he belongs.

[pat]

i met him a couple of times at coaching clinics and a college soccer game. the guy is soccer smart and honest and most of all has real game experience at every level. unlike most of our announcers that are apologists for MLS and US SOCCER. GREAT DECISION to let him go!! sarcasm completely intended!! i hope he is on air somehwere - i will flip on the internet to listen to him.

[Jeff]

EW is aweful in the booth. I think a couple of people put it perfectly:

know that many of us understand the game and don't necessarily want this, but if we want the sport to grow then the average viewer needs to be educated. The Beckham matches on ESPN will be a relatively big draw, and people who don't normally watch the game may tune in. I think it's positive that a negative person such as Wynalda will not be the "ambassador" to new fans.

Buh-bye, Eric.

Posted by: Bob | February 06, 2008 at 08:27 AM

He was very good in the studio but horrible in the booth.

Posted by: Pat | February 05, 2008 at 11:51 PM

[Steve]

Whats the guys name that does the commentating w/ Tommy Smyth for the CL matches?
That fella does a good job. Subtle. The Joe Buck of footie commentating. haha

[Dmee]

I'm indifferent on Wynalda. Didn't really mind him that much. But compared to what ESPN offers as far as commentators and color people, I think he was just barely above average.

I think this leads to a larger topic, about the soccer commentating here in the US in general. I think it's terrible. FSC has busch leaguers on the FS Report and doing their game commentary. And Max Bretos?? Possibly the worst person to listen to, ever. I'm muting any games in which Bretos and that Chris dude do.

I'm of the opinion that none of the FSC fellas come from a soccer background but are just there to boost their resume in hopes of being noticed for other major broadcasting spots. Give me Ray Hudson any day of the week. He's brilliant.

Ives, don't know whether you can comment on the current crop of commentators, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially on the FSC dudes.

[George H.]

I agree that Wynalda's style is better for the studio role than as a color guy. His style and opinions are a bit grating. In the studio role, he's forced to use only his top comments and because his exposure to the audience is limited in this role, he doesn't wear out his welcome.

I like him and hope he finds a way to stay on the air in some capacity. FSC could be an option, but their productions are so low budget, I just can't see him going there.

[BrianK]

I personally think this is a sad day for soccer. Wynalda was the real thing. As a professional and former international he brought a lot to the table and always supported the sport and the USA.

Jim Rome? Who is he? what does that half-assed bad excuse for a jockey offer?

The California comment was nothing,...besides, Eric is from Cali!!!

This was a mistake by ESPN and I for one am disapointed Eric is not doing ESPN broadcasts.

[jason]

Ives,

You really need to drop this california wildfire consipiracy theory. It damages your credibility, really. If you don't like Wynalda, just be up front about it instead of beating around the bush.

-J

[HatesBoringTV]

Wow... I'm shocked at the overwhelming thumbs down given to him as a commentator. I hate 99% of all sports commentary on US networks due to its alleged "professionalism." To me it all winds up being boring. I want an opinion, even one I don't agree with. I want someone to say, "bad call" when it's a bad call--or even when they just think it was. And as far as the people doing the broadcast having some responsibility to educate? That's crazy. Do you actually think soccer loses potential fans because they tune into a match and don't get educated? "This looks interesting, but I can't make hide nor hair of it, let's see what's on Animal Planet." Until I see the replacement, I'll say it's a bad move.

[J]

I'll probably take heat for this as well but I think Stone does a good job in the studio. Foudy is terrible. I wish ESPN2 would have a show like "Soccer 2 Night" once a week just devoted to soccer, then when MLS season comes calling, it would focus more on our beautiful game.

[EDB]

I think Wynalda would be great as a studio guy. I think he is mismatched as an analyst.

[BK]

Just so everyone knows, it's not necessarily just his opinions that we hate, it's the fact that he expresses an opinion and then has a conversation about it for 30 minutes while not discussing the game. I can't tell you how many games I watched where him and Stoner got off on some tangent that didn't have anything at all to do with the game. They tried to make jokes and talk about life and what Cobi Jones is like instead of showing us the game and talking about it. That's not commentary. That's studio work. I turn on soccer games to watch soccer games, not to hear those jackasses talk about what's going on in their lives while a soccer game is background noise.

The opinions weren't the problem, it was his dwelling on his opinions for half the broadcast that bothered me.

[Squard]

I am so glad that I won't see this whiny sissy boy week after week. He spends over a half hour getting his hair and make-up right before going into the broadcast booth and everyone thinks he's tough?

Good riddance Wynalda, and don't forget to tuck in Harkes kids tonight.

[aristotle]

jason:

Good point. You have emboldened me. I was going to say something about this in my previous post, but decided it wasn't worth the backlash from the "we love Ives" club, and maybe even Ives himself. Been down that road before. MemRook will probably be here shortly to let me have it. No disrespect to Ives at all. He is the best source for American soccer fans that I know of. So many other sources are just too outdated or just don't give you anywhere near all of the news. That having been said, I thought the first time I saw Ives commenting on Wynalda's so called controversial comment on the California fires, that he must have some personal grudge against him. That comment was such a non event that I didn't blame Wynalda for blaming Ives for magnifying it at all. It was almost like one of those racism witch hunts you see people go on so many times. You know, where a guy says something and is fired for making a racist comment because someone decided to make it a racist comment, but you listen to it 10 times over and you can't see how it could possibly be a racist comment. That was just an example. I have never seen Ives do something like that with racism or anything else like what happened with Wynalda in the time I have been reading his columns. I don't like Eric Wynalda at all, but I thought Ives went looking for trouble on this one. Alright, let the onslaught begin!

[derek Gores]

I wanted to like Eric in there, and I do like that he spoke his mind, but I hated how none of his commentary was about tactics or decisions- it was all "he's off his game" or "he just doesn't have it today." "we'll have to see how this plays out."

I like Stone just as he is. Anyone remember Harkes' humor on display during the little promo bits in '94? I hope he gets to show that side. That is the tough part, showing personality while letting it add to the game, like Madden for example. Foudy has a great personality too, but it doesn't get to show right now.

Ray Hudson could be our Madden/Vitale. Smyth with a bit more cool factor.

Thanks Eric- you'll find a good fit somewhere.

[Mike O]

A lot of good comments on the board. Wynalda got on almost every last nerve I had with his sneering style (he sounded like an overgrown frat boy) but I appreciated the fact that he was a good booster for American soccer without being comically strident like Rob Stone (Soctober anyone? Perhaps on "The Ocho"). I especially agree with the commenter who suggested the ESPN crew be taken over to Europe and shown how they call games over there. Like the play on the field American soccer commentary and analysis lacks subtlety and nuance. Then again American commentators HAVE to be more open and amenable considering the skill level is just not the same in this country. Have you ever seen an EPL or other European announcer after a midfielder misses a SINGLE long cross or a forward shoots off-target? They seem almost personally offended. Heck, in the MLS they'd be reduced to tears by halftime.

If Wynalda has any role it's to rile things up a little bit in the studio. He's sort of like our Charles Barkley, an accomplished player who is smart and occasionally funny and who initially injects life into the party but who's also a whiny, ill-prepared loudmouth who wears out his welcome quickly over a longer broadcast. Of course he also kind of reflects the way that we American soccer players often tend to be a snarky, anti-authoritarian bunch (probably an outgrowth of being ridiculed and picked on by other athletes so long ;)).

Seriously though, it's good ESPN is moving on because the business side of the sport is growing up and the the booth needs to grow with it and show more authority. I've always been happy with JP and I think he'd do a solid, professional job. Foudy and her nails-on-chalkboard voice obscures her unspectacular but yeoman's work in the booth but ESPN can also do better there as well. It seems she's survived primarily on tokenism. At the end of the day the commentary will improve most as the quality of the American game in this country shows more improvement as well. At that point the audience and market will demand that the broadcasting begin to mature past the insecurity of hiring big names for their possible notoriety alone and more into hiring and grooming former players and coaches with better talent in front of the camera. That approach will help the most to solidify the sport's growth and popularity and make the game experience better for everyone.

[paul Lorinczi]

Here is an idea...

I watched EPL fanzone the other night with my Son and we laughed our heads off. I particularly liked it when Bullard scored on the free kick and the Fulham guy says, "Moments ago, I said he should be off the field, I WAS WRONG!" We laughed so hard, we woke my wife up.

I believe there are several audio channels, wouldn't it be interesting to have announcers that were bias for their teams?

So, if you are NYRB fans, listen to audio channel 1, if you are a DC United fan, listen to audio 2. The clubs would be responsible for finding the talent to represent their interests.

Let's face it, the broadcasts are just too damn boring and there is no emotion in the announcers. I am thinking along the lines of the old Michigan announcer Bruford on WJR back in the 60s and 70s - he was biased, he was a fan, and he was funny as hell.

Same thing with National Team broadcasts. I want a Patriot in the booth adding some emotion to the broadcast. A fan of the team, not a monotone drone that likes to hear himself talk.

I know FSC is doing MLS fanzone...maybe the clubs should consider hiring their own and adding a little drama to the broadcast versus the...it has to be boring because that is the standard of broadcasting.

If MLS did this and made it interesting, I think it would attract a broader audience just for the entertainment value. Let's face it, we need more Ray Hudson types saying stuff like, "That ball had red crosses all over it."

Just an idea.

[kpugs]

Wynalda had fans? As an analyst?

Look, he's a U.S. soccer legend. And it's great when sports analysts are not afraid to speak their mind.

However, he was a complete idiot. His genius on the field completely deserted him in the booth. I'd rather listen to Tom Cruise call a game than Wynalda.

[Charles]

I saw this was given as the source on the SI.com truth and rumors page. Great job Ives! Love seeing your website out there.

[aristotle]

Tom Cruise?

[Tim Crawford]

Wynalda was awesomeness. This bites. So now there'll be no Stoner AND no Wynalda doing the games. This was the best soccer combo we had going in my mind. Please FSC, pick him up. No one you have is better than him.

[aristotle]

Rob Stone is gone, too?

[Justin O]

I don't see what makes Wynalda "controversial". As this thread and others shows, lots of people think he's a poor announcer. But if that's the defintion of controversial, you'd have to classify most sports annoucers as "controversial".

The Rome comments were an opinion expressed in a bar - nothing more - and the notion that the California comments were controversial was just bizarre, especially since this is a league with a team (Chicago Fire) that is ACTUALLY NAMED after a disaster that killed hundreds more than last summer's fires. The comments clearly offended no one in California. Any controversy from those comments came only after we were all told we SHOULD regard them as controversial, mostly from this blog, alas.

Anyway, he knows more about the game than I do, and though sometimes he needs to shut up, he at least speaks the English language more more less correctly. (Yes, I know in American sports broadcasting many, if not most, regard that as irrelevant) And he doesn't speak as if he's reading (poorly) off cue cards. So odds are the broadcast quality will now go down.

[JDay]

I am glad he is gone. In another 10 years with the talent we have coming up I think most wont mention his name and his scoring record will not be mentioned anymore because Landy past it and so will our up coming talent. :) Laterz Whine-alda.

[ben]

Wynalda could've been a personality to help bring soccer into the mainstream. His opinionated style really challenged the post-graduate stereotype of soccer fans. Wynalda needs to continue his involvement with the soccer media in this country somehow.

[Matt Mathai]

@Joe_in_ND: "he was a average USA Soccer player at best."

Um, I hate to be the one to interrupt a rant, but until very recently, he was the all-time goal-scoring leader for the national team. There's simply no definition by which that qualifies as 'average'

I was no great fan of Wynalda's. I thought he tended to be overbearing, dismissive, and somewhat contemptuous. I also think that he said things just to get a rise out of people.

However, I'll tip my hat to him for not being afraid. There was never a question as to where he stood on an issue.

I think JP is a major step up in broadcasting class, and I don't find Harkes as abrasive, but I'll miss Wynalda.

Now if we could only find a way to get Foudy to leave...

[Steve]

I'm hoping he'll devote his time to a Mercury Morrisesque campaign v. Landon on why he's still the greatest USMNT goal scorer.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

So only putzes like Rome are allowed to have controversial opinions?

[golfstrom]

I thought Wynalda had interesting things to say, and his unabashed support of US soccer was nice. PbP wasn't his best thing (got really annoyed at those freekick lines he'd always draw...Eric, we know where it's going), but DOB was the real problem in the booth, not him.

And honestly, I didn't think that much of any of the so-called "scandals". They were all blown out of proportion.

[Ed Ho]

Listen, Wynalda is not the problem with ESPN broadcasts. He did his job. Why doesn't everyone watch how ESPN and Fox cover football. 90% of their color commentary guys are over the top.

I'm fairly certain that ESPN instructs their color commentary peopel to offer perspective - and the more controversial the better - rather than just analysis of the game. Even over in the UK, you see former players saying outragous things left and right.

The problem is that Wynalda crossed the line a few too many times for SoccerMom MLS.

I'll tell you this Wynalda is annoying like a train wreck - you may not like it, but you wnat to see what he will say. I'll take that over the human snooze bar Bruce Arena any day.

[erik733]

count me in the "Glad to see him gone" category. I'd been emailing mls and espn for years to drop him and rob stone. between stone's uber fan boy comments and wynalda's inane "cause I use to play the game" comments, it was really hard to listen to the broadcasts.

wynalda, if you're reading, I'm glad you're gone!

[jpc]

I liked Wynalda in the booth. He always spoke his mind, and he knows the game. yeah, I know his abrasiveness wore on some people, but most of the time he was right. With that said I think Harkes will be very good w/ jp, if thats who's replacing him.

[Matt]

I was never a big fan of his work, but really, did anyone actually take offense to the 'looks like California' comment? Totally had the feel of observers looking for a controversy.

[undrafted]

I wasn't a huge fan of Wynalda as a player. But I generally like him as an analyst. His lapses in judgment like bashing a coworker (though Rome deserved it) and the fire comment just weren't worth risking continuing the relationship. Wyanalda seems to have got paid and should land somewhere decent in time. The bigger news is O'Brien stepping back. Though improved, he still near ruined many a game for me.

[eric]

I wasn't going to comment, but the pro-Waldo camp clearly needs another vote.

He could be over the top, but I'd be hard pressed to name 3 guys I like more. Ray Hudson, Derrick Rae (who isn't color), and ... I wish he stuck around long enough to get his style a bit more under control, but our broadcast options are poorer today than yesterday. Come to FSC, Wynalda.

[K]

Bad for the game?

How can someone who stirs the pot in the homogeneous, boring-ass American soccer scene be bad for the game?

Bad boy? You bet. Bad for the game? No way.

[Tim Crawford]

I didn't mean Rob Stone is gone. I just meant he doesn't actually do commentary, just halftime and such.

[josh]

I will not miss him in the booth, but I always liked him in the halftime or pre-game analyst role. That is where he shines, 'cause that is all about opinion. But I also think his color commentary style was hampered by his inability to hide his dislike for Tommy Smyth. And I am no TS fan, but it always seemed petty to have such beef with a leprechaun.

[inkedAG]

Maybe FSC is hiring? I liked/disliked Wynalda. Sometimes he was annoying, sometimes spot on. Maybe a bit better than Max Bretos is. :)

[BJR]

Ives, does this development make you happy? How long have you been waiting?

You did an exemplary job of exploiting his comment.

According to Bueno and Cardenas, you and Wynalda haven't been on the best of terms since October.

[MM]

ESPN IS AFRAID, and maybe they should be. They are under the glass eye, they run from controversy, and they don't want something as small as "soccer" causing issues within their fraternity. IT SUCKS that ESPN is letting Eric go, HE IS my favorite commentator because he's not afraid to say it as he sees it, to stand up for what he believes in, and NOBODY can match his passion in the booth. Good Luck in what's next Eric. You will be missed on MLS Primetime.

ESPN, please don't put the fat englishman in the booth. He maybe a good analysis, but he sucks as a commentator.

[John]

Wynalda is a studio guy, and will get hired by either FSC or Gol (and be a major improvement over their current studio talent).

[Abe]

Thank God - he was atrocious.

[John Godfrey]

The Eric Wynaldas, Rob Stones and Max Bretoses of the world make watching FSC/ESPN broadcasts so brutal -- and make soccer in the U.S. seem so amateurish and desperate. I so enjoy watching the EPL on FSC because the announcers understand the game, comment primarily/only on the game and feel no obligation to apologize/compensate for the fact that soccer is slower and more strategic than, say, basketball.

I really hope some talent can emerge stateside, or that we can import some announcers who don't get in the way of the games.

[Aguinaga]

Good riddance, both of them! I hated their commentating. When will our soccer announcers understand they should be talking about the action as it happens? The game is the draw, I prefer understated announcers that let the game do the talking. JP is definitely the better direction.

[kev13p]

Ray Hudson is MAGISTERIAL!

[A Diddy]

I liked Wynalda.

[George H.]

Hudson's delivery is sharper than a porcupine's backside.

[Tim Crawford]

Umm . . . Stoner and Wynalda are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than one Max "root for the Mexicans (or whoever the Americans are playing today)" Bretos who can't even seem to research an MLS team (other than the Galaxy) before broadcasting a match. LarentoVicz? Really now . . .

[Tim Crawford]

Oh, and I heard Max say a couple of weeks ago Tayran, Eeeran and had nooooo idea what he was talking about. Feel free to tone down your attempts at accents Max . . .

[Clay]

Wynalda brought passion to American soccer, both on the pitch and in the booth. This intensity (widely used by European broadcasters) has yet to be replicated in the U.S. by any other soccer commentator. I think it is a mistake to let Wynalda go.

[Andrew]

I loved how Wynalda spoke is mind. He didn't get along with Tommy Smith it seemed though. I just hope Balboa doesn't get more air-time.

[Jaime Ramirez]

I believe that to be an announcer you have to have professional training in boradcasting. I know many ex-professionals in many sports are given the opportunity to be commentators because of their celebrity. Hoewever, it does't seem like some of them do their homework. I look at Emmit Smith on National Television and ponder, what are they thinking? Wynalda is the same way only with a much more overinflated ego and a false sense of confidence. I don't think he reads enough about soccer and its history. Most of his comments are as if he was actually on the field playing and responding to situations. He often criticise officials which as a commentator he needs to be a proponent of all aspect of the game. Bashing players and officials is not doing the game any favors. Being objective in not in his nature. Yes, he is a member of one of the most successful generations of soccer players in our country but he is a long way from being a professional journalist in the area of broadcasting matches. I aggree with ESPN on letting Eric Wynalda go. I would have done it after the firs season. He's not suited for that profession.

[aristotle]

Interesting. We started out with an overwhelming consensus that Wynalda being gone is a good thing. Now the Wynalda fans are everywhere.

I will say this. A lot of the people speaking up on behalf of Wynalda are mostly correct in what they are saying about his positives. Such as being outspoken, passionate, and the fact that almost no one is that much worse etc., but they seem to want to overlook major flaws. Such as derailing the commentary on the game to make it his own personal talk show, his understanding of the game being pretty bad for someone who was a professional player, his ridiculous bias, and even though it's good to be outspoken when so many in the profession are so dull and pandering, you can't be constantly getting into personal conflicts with your co-commentators during a game. It's one thing for announcers to be dull and clueless, but he was making each game a showcase for his ego.

How many of you loved the "Old Onion Bag" and "I know a lot more about the game than you boyo!" Tommy Smyth vs the "Why is everyone an idiot but me?" and "Hey, Tommy, your making yourself look self look like an idiot with that onion bag comment" Eric Wynalda matchup? As bad as Tommy Smyth is, at least he realized a game was on and tried to stay focused on it.

Then there was all of Wynalda's trash talking about Arena. Then when he gets in the booth with him we hear nothing but "That's a great point Bruce" or "that's a really nice tie Bruce". Wynalda at least had enough sense to avoid conflict with Arena in the booth because despite what some people may think about Arena, Wynalda is a soccer half wit compared to Arena and he would have been embarrassed badly by Arena if he had trotted out all of that soccer "knowledge" that only works on the people he usually shares the booth with, who seem like they just started watching soccer the day before.

I guess the bottom line is that we desperately need better soccer announcers and personalities, but Wynalda, overall, was not really helping.

[Bob]

Not sure I understand all the anti-Tommy Smyth sentiment. I generally like his commentary and he at least has a sense of the game's European roots.

ESPN is not ready for Ray Hudson. People won't understand his genius until a couple decades have passed. And I shudder to think about watching Real Madrid with no Ray Hudson because GolTV's lineup is VERY thin.

[noucamp]

thank god wynalda is gone. he made marcelo balboa look like gene sheperd.

[noucamp]

thank god wynalda is gone. he made marcelo balboa look like gene sheperd.

[Brant]

I really enjoyed Wynalda on the games. I didn't always agree with him, but I liked the way he had an opinion, put it out there, (usually) supported it, and was willing to defend it. Did he get everything right? Nope. But who does.

The laundry list of live broadcast analysts who were worse than Wynalda is very, very long. Dick Vitale springs immediately to mind. Tommy Heinsohn, Joe Theismann, Ron Jaworski, the entire Raycom Sports college football broadcast team, Bryan Gumbel, and that's just in about 8 seconds of thought. No, those aren't soccer guys, but that's my point - in sports where the broadcast pool is much deeper, there are still crappy analysts.

I really enjoyed Wynalda when he used to guest on the ESPN morning shows - occasional sub co-host on Mike nad Mike, and random appearances on Colin Cowherd's show. He was fun and engaging on those shows, and I wish he'd been able to do more radio. Sadly, now that he's cut ties with ESPN, even if he does get on radio, it won't be ESPN.

[Karl S.]

Inspite of Eric Wynalda's contributions to U.S. Soccer, I am glad I won't have to listen to his endless comments anymore. I hope he can get another soccer-related job, but one where he won't be able to insult people's intelligence with his endless offering of personal opinions...
And I hope his replacement will assist me, in a professional manner, in watching the games, recognizing the players, and will allow me to judge for myself whether a pass or shot or save or substitution etc were good.

[RobinX]

Im kinda upset to see Wynalda let go. He was honest and a little cocky but knew his stuff. I never understood why people hated on him all the time. Would you rather listen to somebody with no personality or that sideline geek allen hopkins (i think thats his name) Wynalda was the best ex-player commentator we have ever had in soccer. Somebody had to put Rome in his place and then he got blasted for it. The funny thing is, I couldnt stand him as a player.....Go U.S!

[Elizabeth]

I liked Wynalda - a refreshing change. I hope they don't get rid of Foudie - she is pretty outspoken. I have never liked Rob Stone, why don't they get rid of him.

[shawjoe]

A satire by Joe D. Shaw

[shawjoe]

A satire by Joe D. Shaw
I Dim Wome am wwiting to wefute dhe wumor dat I dewiberatewy avoided being pwesent on my wadio show for dhe interview with Steben Cohen,socca authowity of Fox Football Fone-in on FSC. Dr. Wupert Cownbwatt, my shwink, can vewify that I,King of Bwowhawd Wadio, was under his cawe dat day. He and I awe twying to figuwe out why I go bawwistic about socca;and why I have wecuwwing dweams dat Ewic Wynalda is shooting socca bawws at me while I'm in a stwaight jacket. Not ownwy dat but he is cawwing me a wight wing wunatic and a degenewate cwetin. I admit that I hate wibewils wike Winda Wondstadt and I often have fwunkies caww in to set up a contwibed comedy wiff that wacks owiginawity and any humowous mewit. My pwobwems stem being booted fwom so many cowweges 'cause I could not keep my twap shut. I can't wemembew if I went to Santa Cwawa, Santa Bawbwa, or Santa Cwaus. So fowgive me Steben Cohen, but things would have gotten ugwy if I had been pwesent to heaw youw Engwish accent. Dr. Cownbwatt says I am neawing a bweakthwough...or a bweakdown. Lets twy again next yeaw if it is not a bweakdown.
Youws Twuly,
Dim Wome aka L'l Dim

[Alex]

Give it up on the California comments, Ives. It's all a little ridiculous.

[Thom]

One night with Harkes should make it clear he will be missed. He was terrible and irritating - Waldo was usually just irritating.

Why can't we just hire a quality european and get over the idea it has to be an american? They can learn the players and won't be influenced by previous relationships.

Every EPL broadcast on FSC is better then what we can possibly hope for.

[aristotle]

shawjoe:

Nice.