Kremer noted the duo has drawn in American viewers and a steady stream of celebrities to sit down with themHBO
HBO's Bryant Gumbel profiled the "Men In Blazers" soccer broadcasters Roger Bennett and Michael Davies on "Real Sports" this week. HBO's Andrea Kremer said of soccer's popularity in the U.S., "It became the greatest riddle in sports: how to sell the world's most popular game to the world's wealthiest country. Somehow, no one tried the obvious solution: Take two balding, middle-aged British men, shove them in a studio the size of a broom closet and let them talk about whatever comes to mind." Davies said, "We are ambassadors for the game. We are selling the game." Kremer said Bennett and Davies are "credited with helping soccer become more popular in the U.S. than it's ever been before." Kremer added the duo's formula has been "hugely successful, drawing in American viewers and a steady stream of celebrities to sit down with them." Kremer: "The 'Men In Blazers' have gained such a big following that this summer, with the World Cup under way, they've taken their show on the road, selling out concert halls across the country" ("Real Sports," HBO, 6/19).
MAKING A SUBSTITUTION: In DC, Steven Goff reported Fox World Cup analyst Lothar Matthäus has "been dropped" just one week into the tourney. The net said it was "due to schedule conflicts." Goff: "The split did not end well." Fox added Clarence Seedorf to its studio this week, and another addition is "expected soon" (TWITTER.com, 6/20). NBCSPORTS.com's Christopher Harris noted Matthäus was removed "without spending a single minute on set." When Fox announced their studio talent in April, Matthäus was "listed first in their press release touting the star talent that would be featured in their analysis" (NBCSPORTS.com, 6/20).
HI MOM: USA TODAY's Martin Rogers notes Fox WC analyst Stuart Holden "secretly sneaks some random Scottish words into his broadcast when possible, in a touching tribute to his mother Moira." Holden said, "She gives me these words to put into the commentary -- as if it wasn't hard enough to call a game to begin with." At some point during the next month, Holden is "faced with the task of finding a place for 'bonnie,' which means fair or fine, and shouldn't be too hard to implement." Rogers: "Good luck, however, with 'curmudgeon' ... which may never have been heard before in soccer commentary" (USATODAY.com, 6/20).
