I hate Eric Wynalda

I hate Eric Wynalda. There I said it. Having just finished watching ESPN's MLS Primetime Thursday game between my Red Bulls and Chivas USA, I can honestly say that there is nothing worse than watching your team lose while having to listen to this guy.

He is supposed to give color commentary on the games, but more often than not he tells lame stories that have nothing to do with the game or makes useless comments like "wow Juan Pablo Angel is pure class" - not really sure how that enhances the viewing experience. The one gets the impression that Wynalda, in an attempt to entertain and excite us, is trying too hard to be the Jim Rome of soccer broadcasting. (Yes I know that its an odd comparison given Rome's professed hatred of soccer and Wynalda's professed hatred of Rome, but life is full of ironies.)

The result is annoying and obnoxious for all at home and is probably turning away any would be fans who are curious enough about the MLS to check out a game. Perhaps Wynalda would be better suited hosting a soccer talk show where his "shock jock" comments would be more at home.

I don't even understand why we need Eric Wynalda; after all Tommy Smyth also provides color commentary and he is far more insightful and far less annoying. To be honest I think sports broadcasting has become too dependent on color commentary when the real focus should be on giving a good play by play call of the game. If color guys wanna chime in when the ball goes out of play or the goalkeeper is getting ready to take a goal kick thats fine, BUT IF THE BALL IS IN PLAY THEN THE COLOR COMMENTATOR SHOULD NOT BE TALKING.

Why television sports broadcasting has gone in this direction I don't know. Perhaps they think that people will find sports too boring without lame anecdote after lame anecdote for 90 minutes. While I can not speak for the masses, I do know that for my money when I'm watching a game the only thing I wanna hear about is the game. You can imagine then how unbearable it was for me listening to Wynalda go on and on about whether David Beckham's shoe was on or off in a game where he spent less time than any other player on the pitch and yet some how had his name mentioned more than everyone else's combined.

I could go on and on but I'm gonna stop the same why I started.
I hate Eric Wynalda.