The Wall Street Journal's Stefan Fatsis writes on why ABC-ESPN's coverage has been so crappy.

He includes this interesting passage in today's story...

The relationship [with Soccer United Marketing] has created tension.

Under the agreement, ESPN retained control over the on-air talent and editorial content of the telecasts. In planning meetings last year, ESPN and Soccer United Marketing executives agreed they wanted American voices leading coverage, according to people involved.

That ruled out several U.S.-based announcers with English, Irish or Scottish accents who have called hundreds of European soccer matches for ESPN's international network.

Fatsis goes on to write:

The soccer executives opposed the appointment of Mr. O'Brien. Their argument: Using an announcer unfamiliar with the sport might not help ratings but certainly could hurt them. "Would you ever put a guy who had never called a sport before … in the World Series, the Super Bowl or the Olympics?" a senior U.S. soccer executive says. "Never."

No wonder Univision is crushing them in the ratings.