You were either watching it at Qwest or watching
college baseball. Aaron Weinberg / NSS
I am fortunate that I have season tickets because if I wanted to watch Wednesday's game live with my friends in a pub or at home, I would have been out of luck.
On behalf of the Seattle, DC United, MLS and soccer fans that could not attend last night's match in person, I just want to provide a huge "thank you" to ESPN2. Your planning and scheduling was absolutely brilliant. I mean scheduling a College World Series baseball event live right before a live soccer match - who would have thought of that? Not me, not Sounders FC or DC United fans.
To Continue...
To the brass at ESPN: Oh, you didn't know? Baseball does not have a clock. Baseball uses a thing called innings and... oh, I won't bore you with details but here is the thing. If the game is tied after 9 innings, it goes to extra innings and if one team is ahead the other team still gets to bat which means that if the team that is up to bat ties the game, it keeps going. An average baseball game can last from two to 2 1/2 hours. Even longer if it is a pitchers duel.
You following me here so far Mr. Camera guy? Last night's game went what, 12 innings? Which means that the game went at least an hour past the viewing time. Hey, I am just trying to help you guys out here just in case next time you decide to schedule a live baseball game before a live soccer match again.
A slap in the face
Don't get me wrong, I love baseball. The College World Series is important but I thought you had a contract with MLS to televise games from start to finish.
When a team like Sounders FC's match is scheduled nationally, fans are relying on you, ESPN2, to show the match in it's entirety because you have the broadcasting rights and therefore, our local stations KING and KONG are not televising it. It's all on you. Just thought you would like to know that, you know...for next time when you prempt an MLS match.
Wednesday's baseball overlap is an indicator that you view and treat the MLS like a tractor pull event. No offense to the tractor pull nation. Many of my friends are farmers but it is not exactly the world's game.
You could have switched the baseball game over to ESPN Classic or vice versa. But to put the game on approximately 65 minutes into the match is an insult.
Where is the match?
I know several fans that went to pubs and had viewing parties at their houses only to have to wait over an hour into the match to see any of it live.
Sure you threw the fans a bone by telecasting in it's entirety after the match finished but I think I speak for most of the fans when they say they want to see the match live. I know a lot of the fans in DC have to work the next day and most likely don't want to stay up past 1:00am (EDT) to watch a match that they should have been able to watch at a decent hour.
Get it right or get out
You already lost the Champions League to Fox Soccer Channel, which will be in high definition by the end of the year. Fox and FSC values the relationship that they have with the MLS and does their best to present and promote the product in the best way possible as often as possible.
It is apparent to me and other MLS fans that you do not. You are not the only game in town anymore. Whether you like it or not and with or without you, soccer and MLS will continue to grow in this country but guys, could you at least pretend to care the sport and MLS while you still have a contract with them?
Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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