Lalas leaving ESPN for FOX Sports

So FOX is already off to a bad start. One of the few highlights of the WC commentary was the Men in Blazers. One of the things most people complained about was Lalas.

So, hopefully they will counter Lalas douchebaggary with some humorous group, if not MIB.

I think Fox has the first few US games next year.

It's a huge get for Fox. Alexi is miles better than Wynalda.

Alexi can be obnoxious but he's pretty intelligent when it comes to the sport and bluntly tells it like it is. I don't mind him. Wynalda and Twellman are the ones who actually suck.

Twellman is so much better than lalas it's not even funny. Alexi, Barton, Wynalda, and Wahl?? I think I just threw up in my mouth.

RONALDO MESSI RONALDO MESSI RONALDO MESSI RONALDO MESSI TOKEN AMERICAN PLAYER REFERENCE DOES ANYONE ELSE EVEN PLAY WHO frickING CARES LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR EQUALS RATINGS RATINGS RATINGS!! WATCH OUR OLD CHUCKLING BLOWHARDS BARELY BRING ANY ANALYSIS AS WE SHOVE GRAPHICS DOWN YOUR THROAT!! LOOK AT OUR COOL FOX SOCCER ROBOT KICK A BALL THROUGH A STADIUM IN OUR INTRO! DONT WORRY WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS AS MUCH LIKE OUR NFL SHOWS AS POSSIBLE BC EVERYTHING IS BETTER WHEN ITS AMERICAN!!

That's Fox's soccer coverage. I fricking hate everything they do. Hopefully there's an easy way to watch British streams of the next two world cups. It's so frustrating bc NBC and ESPN approach it such fantastic ways

It would be really interesting to see a Jon Harkes/ Wyanlda relationship on air.

In all honesty I want to see McBride, Howard, and Donovan, but that might be too many old guard to handle. They have to make way for at least two Englishmen, and enough to have a pulse on the rest of the world.

I wonder if Taylor had an idea that Alexi was going to leave towards the end of the playoffs. He had a different smart arse intro for Alexi whenever ESPN would bring him into the booth.

Lalas was great on ESPN's coverage where he was the lone blow hard, pro-America, get in your face, take controversial opinions, change of pace to the rest of the crew. I loved him for that.

But Fox is already obviously high on that style of show and that's the theme they've showed they prefer in the past. We all remember the Michael Strahan "football vs Futbol" debacle of a couple years ago. It's more a lack of faith in fox than a dislike of Lalas. It's like when a talented but kinda flawed player goes to a team like the Spurs or Patriots you're like "wow he's gonna really give them am added dimension they'll figure out how to use him." Versus when a similar player goes to a team like the Knicks or Jets it's more of a "god he's just add more fuel to that dumpster fire." Fox is the Knicks or Jets

ETA: the fact that their "godfather offer" was for Lalas and not Darke or Ley is pretty telling in terms of the type of coverage fox is going for. Which I hate. But if you like it then this is great news for you for the next two WC's I guess

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Honestly, i liked lalas and his mls coverage. Shame hes leaving just before whats shaping up to be a pivotal year for the league.

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Fox will have MLS matches next year.

At first I was pumped that FOX was just collecting all of the worst announcers/pundits and was hoping they bring Twellman over, as well. Then, I would only have to listen to the awful during the World Cups (small price to pay for weekly sanity). However, Fox has the Bundesliga next year, and I was really looking forward to watching it. I suppose the mute button will be used in full force.