Envision the following TV sports attraction:
A U.S.-England World Cup game with Dick Vitale talking incessantly, while calling the play-by- play (or kick-by-kick) with the constant hum of 80,000 vuvuzelas blaring in the background.
An audio nightmare.
That nearly occurred Saturday when the U.S. tied England, thanks in part to the gaffe by English goalie Robert Green, whose severed head might soon appear on a plate at the Royal Palace.
I can enjoy watching soccer live, having cheered the talented play of grandson Dylan through the years.
But soccer on television as part of a regular sports menu?
Perhaps it’s an acquired taste, like anchovies. And I’ve learned to love anchovies.
I viewed Saturday’s widely hyped match with mixed reaction.
The pageantry and atmosphere surrounding the game — and Friday’s South Africa-Mexico contest — were emotionally stimulating.
Soccer soars around the world.
And I can understand why nations around have embraced the game as a national sport.
I marveled at the stamina, strength and nimble abilities of the players.
It was refreshing to watch the nonstop action without timeouts to sell beer, deodorants and sticky French fries. And I certainly didn’t miss those car insurance pitches by that little green character from Australia.
While the camera work on ESPN was first rate, I have a nit to pick with how replays of key plays were featured.
Replays too often were mixed in with live coverage without the announcing team noting the replays were coming.
But audio was the major problem.
As devotees are well aware, soccer is a fast-moving game without many fast-moving results.
No driving layups at both ends of the court or 60-yard touchdowns. And look, Mom — no hands!
Goals are infrequent and precious — very hard to come by.
That, my fanatic soccer friends tell me, is what makes the game so intriguing.
Thus, Saturday’s announcers, Britain’s Martin Tyler and the U.S.’s John Harkes, had lots of time to analyze the game in philosophical, almost casual style, as the athletes moved up and down the field in determined fashion.
Their broadcasting expertise was obvious — when they could be heard over the constant blaring of the vuvuzelas.
However, Tyler really raised his British accent several notches after Green bobbled the ball to allow the U.S. score.
“A catastrophe!” he bellowed.
I’ll watch more World Cup on television while keeping in mind my current love of anchovies — now a must on a Caesar salad.
More soccer.
ESPN is not the only national TV outlet providing full World Cup coverage.
Univision (KCEC-Channel 10 or 50) making its largest production commitment in its history, is airing the full-game schedule along with regular features, telephone platforms and a video-on-demand service.
Spanish-speaking KJMN-92.1 FM is providing major local coverage.
Quotable.
“The emotion of the calls is far greater in Spanish than in English. In English, it’s almost like narrating a croquet match.” — Jose Cancela, founder of Hispanic USA, a consulting and marketing team, interviewed in The Miami Herald
Ratings roulette.
The U.S.-Eng- land game provided ESPN with its highest first-round World Cup ratings ever. The three-hour event (including the pregame) reached more than 7 million households and 10.7 million viewers. That’s up more than 70 percent from the first U.S. World Cup match aired four years ago when the U.S. played the Czech Republic.
• Univision’s initial ratings also are high, with coverage of Friday’s South Africa-Mexico tie getting the network’s largest World Cup audience ever.
• The Blackhawks Game 6 victory over the Flyers on NBC reached more than 8.2 million homes — the largest Stanley Cup final audience in 36 years.
Rookie file.
The MLB Network, which covered the winning major- league debut of the Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg last Tuesday, will be in Washington for Friday’s game (5 p.m.) against the White Sox. Strasburg, who won his second game Sunday, is scheduled to pitch.
Longtime Denver journalist Dusty Saunders writes about sports media each Monday in The Denver Post. Reach him at tvtime@comcast.net.
NBC, ESPN to blitz Open coverage
Avid golf fans may feel they’re at Pebble Beach for the U.S. Open, which begins Thursday.
NBC and ESPN have scheduled at least 30 hours of live coverage.
ESPN, on Thursday and Friday, will cover from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., with NBC following (1-3 p.m.). ESPN then returns (3-8 p.m.).
NBC has exclusive coverage Saturday (2:30-9 p.m.) and Sunday (1-7 p.m.).
NBC’s coverage is in HD.
Historical note: Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2000 by 15 strokes.
