Let's Play What If You...

This is what I would do if I was a producer of soccer games.

To many people in North America, soccer is a static sport in terms of viewing it. I must admit, as a fan of soccer, if you're not emotionally invested in the game or a team or played the game, it's tough to "get it." It can be an acquired taste.

Part of the problem in the modern age and the arrival of television is how broadcasters approach the game. Rarely is it ever taken from the perspective of the fan and something tells me many people making decisions aren't soccer fans but corporate executives.

One way is to show many camera angles as opposed to the fixed, classic style we see. While as a whole this is probably the most convenient way to show a game, what does it take to place some cameras behind the nets or at ground level? Show different facets of the game from different views.

I have complained of the lack of imagination concerning ticker boards here in Canada. Providing information (without invading the screen or robbing the viewer of their own imagination) is always welcomed. Mind you, for certain sports I think you can get away with removing the broadcaster and color commentator. Most of the time they just get in the way. If you're like me, I often mute the television during a hockey game.

Baseball is a different cat, with the right voice it adds to the experience and football is so intricate it's nice to be explained certain things. Soccer is acceptable when the commentator is toned down, non-invasive and tragically objective.

Without the voices, you can have a screen that provides key information throughout the match. It would take a lot to get used to but over time you'd realize that you have more of your own thoughts than you think.

The other thing I would do is keep the punditry to a minimum. Have the suits behind the desk offer their insights and opinions for a few minutes during the break or intermission. Spare us all the fluff of interviewing athletes with lame "how does it feel to score the first goal" crap. If you're not going to challenge them a-la Jim Gray then it's best to blow that idea out of the water.

The next thing I would do is grab two fans supporting the teams involved and have them give their interpretations of what's going on.

That way we get more involvement from the fans (who have been weeded out of the equation except to be treated as consumers) to go along with the expert analysis.

Anyway, this is just some of my personal thoughts. It could use some refinement I am sure. So could traditional broadcasting. Yawn.