I did a blog item a day ago noting that the United States-Honduras World Cup qualifying match was not on TV … anywhere. It was inexcusable. A disaster. And the U.S. Soccer Federation — anyone and everyone who is not a player or a coach — should be embarrassed … no humiliated … that they are part of an organization that couldn’t figure out a way to get this match on the air.
I mean, it only turned into the greatest clinching match in U.S. soccer history since the Shot Heard Round the World in 1989, the clutch, 1-0 victory at Trinidad that put the U.S. in the World Cup and was the turning point for American soccer.
Anyway, this is one of several e-mails I got from U.S. soccer fans as they attempted to find some sort of reportage of the match. I’m not using a name because I didn’t ask for permission, but the story, I’m sure, is true.
“Man that was some match – regardless of outcome when Pavon stood over the penalty spot that was the most exciting end to end qualifier I ever watched.
“Looking forward to your riff when you get time to post — meantime here’s the short version from somebody too lazy to drive to Carson:
“Started with the NYT Goal blog for lineups. Switched to ESPN.com and Ives’ play by play which was good as far as those things go. A few minutes into it somebody posted web address for a live video feed.
“Now you’re talking – Justin.tv.com had it solid for the rest of the first half then got shut down by copyright holder. Back to blogs, then somebody posted a link to this guy somewhere in the Middle East or Central America taping and feeding live from his living room — no sound, just him intro-ing the start of the second half. He cranked the volume when H scored of course and sounded disappointed each time Yanqis laid one in. Still, his droll play by play was priceless.
“Timeless theatrics of course – the feed stayed up until stoppage time and Pavon’s two suicidal misses. Yanqis still deserved to lose but what’s not to like? What a show!
“Again, best, most-dramatic end to end qualifier ever — and therefore ample ammo for anyone blasting US Soccer Fed for failing to secure rights to broadcast. It can be portrayed as criminal incompetence – if your goal is to showcase your best product – edge of your seat futbol – and this was one of a kind.
“Just another chapter mate – la historia del rumbo a mundial a concacaf – hope it was as much fun for you.”
Yes, it was … but it would have been way more fun if I had seen it live.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Guy McCarthy // Oct 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Right on Paul – thanks for sharing my observations. It sounds like those who went to closed circuit outlets last night had an experience to remember too. That is understatement of the past four years!
What strikes me today is this – no matter how dramatic and decisive Yanqi qualifying campaigns have been the past couple decades – it does not translate to success at the World Cup tournament. The only time they met expectations remains 2002.
That is obvious but I bring it up because the real deal goes down only once every four years – so last night’s spectacle really is something to savor. It could be the preview of much greater things to come, or it could be the high water mark for this edition of U.S. Soccer.
Either way, Honduras 2 – 3 US should also be remembered as lasting evidence of how the USSF should not handle qualifying broadcast deals.
It will be interesting to see whether broadcast teams for Wednesday’s final match against Costa Rica tackle this issue, and whether they seek any kind of accountability.
2 Ian // Oct 12, 2009 at 5:25 AM
I watched at the 810 Zone in downtown Kansas City. There were groups of people there from Denver and St. Louis. They had to close the doors and start a line outside because they had so many soccer fans… and they put the LSU-Florida, Texas-Colorado and Michigan-Iowa games on small TVs in the corners while the U.S. match played on the giant screens.
There was a small group of Hondurans in the corner that went nuts when their team scored the first goal, but they were quickly outdone by the massive U.S. fan group.
It was amazing. Singing, chanting, dancing. The feed sucked and was really choppy during parts of the second half. And the bar manager told me they spent more than $2,500 to get the game because they had to get a special converter box, etc.
Yes, we were lucky. And Conor Casey was absolutely worthless until he became my hero, but damn it was a great time.
When Landon scored, at least 20 beers went flying into the air. The bar manager told me at the end that they had the fire marshall come and make them start an outside line because they had more than 1,400 people in the place.
I hate that it had to be like that, but damn was it fun.
3 Bill N. // Oct 12, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Trying to follow it on the Internet was just as difficult to find someplace showing it because so many people were jamming the sites that they were crashing. The US Soccer matchtracker wouldn’t even load, Goal.com (linked from Yahoo Sports) was slow, balky and wouldn’t load in the final 10 minutes and even the USSF guy posting to Twitter was having difficulties in the final 15.
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