
<p>How do they do it? When confronted&nbsp;with a dramatic situation for our favorite club or a stressful moment in an engaging match, we usually regress to unintelligible&nbsp;sounds or a series of annoying semi-connected syllables. Broadcasters, conversely, not only need to keep their cool and convey the moment, but transmit the gravity of what is going on. How they do that separates the greats from the greatest.</p>



<p>Whether it’s <em><a href="https:\/\/www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3POtrCehyc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aggggueeeeeeerrrrrooooooo</a></em> or “your boys took a hell of a beating,” the famous calls of soccer history become as famous as the moment itself. It should not be a surprise why. The ability to “sum it all up” (to borrow another Martin Tyler phrase) and capture the moment is not easy for many of the reasons we outlined. For many US fans, for example, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/tv/landon-donovan-on-ian-darkes-call-of-his-2010-world-cup-goal-20221116-WST-408549.html">“go go USA!”</a> still brings up emotions of watching Landon Donovan score even just hearing Ian Darke’s exclamation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Veteran journalist <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/CDEccleshare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlie Eccleshare</a> collects some of the most famous soccer calls and puts them together in a tight anthology entitled,&nbsp;<a href="https:\/\/amzn.to/3Ja31uJ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary</a><em>.</em> Much like the broadcasters he highlights, his prose is brief and to the point. The book takes a famous call and he gives a few sentences explaining why that call is famous.&nbsp;</p>



<p>At around 150 pages, you can pick up this book and read it in about an hour. But if you witnessed many of these matches or are familiar with the calls, it may take a while longer as you relive the memory of the match in your head. With the Martin Tyler “Aguero” call, I paused for a few minutes replaying in my mind where I was when the goal happened and how I felt as an interested neutral.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Similarly, I did the same for <em>another</em> Martin Tyler call – my favorite – from Tony Adams’ 1998 goal. Eccleshare explains why this brief call was so appropriate – the wording reflected the change from “boring boring Arsenal” to the culmination of Arsene Wenger’s stylish play, using two players epitomizing the change. His final line – that sums it all up – really means both the goal, season, and Wenger renaissance.</p>



<h2>The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary: In depth</h2>



<p>The book covers a long time period, going as far back as 1938. As someone not as football experienced as others, I got to learn about some calls I had never heard or seen. A few favorites I discovered included John Motson’s call of Wimbledon’s upset of Liverpool (<a href="https:\/\/youtu.be/U9Kk3C_8sEE?t=363" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crazy Gang v. Culture Club</a>), Kenneth Wolstenholme’s call of England’s 1966 World Cup victory (<a href="https:\/\/youtu.be/6wyLvagyApY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">They think it’s all over… it is now</a>), and Barry Davies’ call of&nbsp;<strong>that</strong>&nbsp;Maradona goal against England (<a href="https:\/\/youtu.be/RP6HzL_b1n4?t=186" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">He won’t need any of them</a>). </p>



<p>Much like the players they are describing, these broadcasters all rose to the moment to perfectly capture what a fan of the game should feel.</p>



<p>As mentioned, <a href="https:\/\/amzn.to/3Ja31uJ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary</a> is a short book but a fun read. </p>



<p>I recommend this for fans who appreciate the coverage of matches and want something on their shelf as a fun soccer book palate cleanser. Eccleshare did a great job of capturing why the broadcaster is important and how they add to those famous moments. And he did it without extraneous wording – just like his subjects.</p>



<p><em>Photo: Imago</em></p>


Reviewing "The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary" by Charlie Eccleshare, a book highlighting announcers and moments they bring to life.

The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary: Book review - World Soccer Talk

The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary: Book review

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<p>A new chapter begins for Major League Soccer (MLS) on February 25, 2023. It’s the first game of a brand-new <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/06/14/mls-signs-10-year-deal-with-apple-tv-in-global-deal/">media partnership with Apple</a> where every game is streamed globally. In doing so, the league is hiring a team of talented presenters and commentators. Focusing on the play-by-play commentators only, MLS needs to pick these 12 announcers for Apple TV, in our opinion.</p>



<h2>MLS, pick these announcers for Apple TV</h2>



<p><strong>1. Jon Champion</strong></p>



<p>Major League Soccer needs one major commentator as their star. The one who brings audiences in based on his name and experience. And that star is named <a href="https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/jon-champion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jon Champion</a>.</p>



<p>With <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/espn-unlikely-to-renew-mls-tv-deal-speculates-industry-analyst-20221207-WST-411622.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN ending its 26-year broadcast history</a> with MLS, the league <em>has</em> to hire Jon Champion as their lead commentator. In doing so, it’s only natural for Major League Soccer to bring co-commentator Taylor Twellman too.</p>


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<p><strong>2. Max Bretos</strong></p>



<p>Spanning a career from FOX Sports to ESPN and beyond, few know Major League Soccer as well as Max Bretos. From this work with LAFC to his infamous goal calls, Bretos loves MLS, and MLS loves Max.</p>



<p><strong>3. Chris Wittyngham</strong></p>



<p>Few commentators have come so far so fast in the United States as Chris Wittyngham. His work for both TUDN and Inter Miami have been exceptional. And he’s a genuinely decent lad who loves Major League Soccer, and is an excellent commentator. With Chris, there is nothing not to like.</p>



<p><strong>4. Jake Zivin</strong></p>



<p>Nationally, Jake Zivin has flown under the radar. But after his work for FOX Sports and the Portland Timbers, Zivin is a prototypical American announcer who deserves to be on more people’s radars.</p>



<p><strong>5. Adrian Healey</strong></p>



<p>From ESPN to Austin FC, Adrian Healey is an ideal fit for MLS commentaries. You’re not going to get anything controversial from Healey. The former New England Revolution commentator ticks all of MLS’ boxes for someone with vast experience calling games from this league.</p>



<p><strong>6. Tyler Terens</strong></p>



<p>Tyler Terens has one of the best voices in American soccer. As the lead commentator for Chicago Fire games, he deserves a chance to be among the dozen MLS commentators on Apple TV.</p>



<p><strong>7. Juan Arango</strong></p>



<p>With the bonus of having a commentator who is as fluent in English as he is in Spanish, Juan Arango is a natural fit for MLS’ broadcasts. Having worked for ESPN, beIN SPORTS, the Argentine league and, more recently, doing studio work for the Al Jazeera Network, Arango adds a much needed Latino flavor to the English-language commentaries.</p>



<p><strong>8. Eric Krakauer</strong></p>



<p>A student of the world’s game, Eric Krakauer’s work for Charlotte FC shows that he has the goods to work well within MLS. His knowledge of the sport outside of the United States certainly would be a bonus during MLS broadcasts.</p>



<p><strong>9. Keith Costigan</strong></p>



<p>As one of the most underrated commentators in the United States, Keith Costigan deserves to continue calling MLS games. With vast experience at Seattle Sounders as well as FOX Sports, Costigan has the ideal combination of reading the game so well in addition to punctuating it with superb goal calls. He is a must-have for MLS.</p>



<p><strong>10. Andres Cordero</strong></p>



<p>If he can make it fit into his schedule and if CBS Sports are okay with him working with Apple, Dre Cordero should be one of the commentators for Major League Soccer. He’s well prepared and has a different type of vocal delivery that accentuates moments of pure brilliance. His experience calling games for Inter Miami is an ideal example of why he deserves the job at MLS.</p>



<p><strong>11. Steve Cangialosi</strong></p>



<p>While he may not be the youngest commentator, Steve Cangialosi is a veteran announcer of MLS games. Experienced, knowledgeable about the league, Cangialosi would be a welcome familiar voice for Major League Soccer.</p>



<p><strong>12. JP Dellacamera</strong></p>



<p>Last but not least, there are very few American commentators who are in the same “league” as JP Dellacamera. His memorable calls combined with his wealth of experience calling this sport in the United States make him a safe bet for Major League Soccer.</p>


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Our memo to MLS: pick these announcers for Apple TV and the 2023 launch of the MLS Season Pass streaming service.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "soccer announcers"

Book Review

The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary: Book review

Apple TV

MLS needs to pick these 12 announcers for Apple TV