Dave O'Brien doesn't know what he's talking about

While many of you probably didn't, I spent my Sunday afternoon watching the second half of Brazil-Australia and then the France-Korea match. ESPN/ABC, long the nemesis of insightful commentary had me baffled. The second game was a joy to watch. The announcing team of JP Dellacamera and John Harkes seemed to have the game broken down under a microscope. This was in stark contrast to the first game, which was called by Dave O'Brien and Marcello Balboa.

People who have watched games with me know the lack of respect I have for Marcello Balboa, a 3-time World Cup finalist and MLS veteran, but a shoddy color man. But here, I gotta give the man credit, because at least he knew what he was talking about, and rightly called out Dave O'Brien for not having a clue what he was talking about.

The Exchange: About the 70th minute, Australia is only down 1-0 against Brazil, and has been pushing forward most of the second half, having missed the post by about a foot on the previous play.

O'Brien: And now....it's starting to sink in for the Aussies (dramatic pause) that they are simply playing against a far superior team.
Balboa: What are you talking about? They're hanging right with them!

Several other poor calls by O'Brien further convinced me that he didn't have a clue, but this was the most memorable...probably because it was the first time I can remember hearing a color man more or less say on the air that his play-by-play partner was full of shit. I decided to check ESPN to see why O'Brien sucked so much and made ridiculous outlandish statements like the one above. Likewise, why was JP Dellacamera so much better? I found it. Their credentials.

JP Dellacamera (Play-by-Play) - One of the leading authorities on international soccer in the U.S…has worked with ESPN since 1985…the 2006 World Cup will mark his sixth straight participation in men's World Cup play-by-play plus the last three Women’s World Cups… he has worked as a play-by-play commentator for two teams in the MLS, the Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls (formerly the MetroStars).

Dave O’Brien (Play-by-Play) - play-by-play commentator for ESPN since 2002 handling Major League Baseball telecasts…added soccer play-by-play responsibilities for ABC Sports and ESPN2’s MLS and U.S. National team telecasts in 2006…making his FIFA World Cup debut …was the voice of the Florida Marlins from the team's inaugural year in 1993 through 2001…provided commentary for Major League Baseball's international coverage of the World Series since 2004… television voice of the New York Mets on WPIX-TV since 2003…won Achievements in Radio (A.I.R.) award for Best Play-by-Play for his call of Mark McGwire's 59th home run in 1998.

So it's now been confirmed. Dave O'Brien is a baseball guy and doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to soccer. This likewise is probably the reason why ESPN has their play-by-play man for the three USA games (which the most people will watch), listed 8th on the press release out of 10 personalities covering the World Cup.