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KJR-AM still leading the soccer battle

While KJR-AM and 710 ESPN continue to fight for supremacy in Seattle sports talk there is one battle about which my readers will pay the most attention.

Who talks more soccer, with more respect for the game both locally and nationally?

The most soccer talk I have heard on "the official station for Sounders FC talk" according to stadium signage has a rare segment during Colin Cowherd's 7-11A, and even more rare talk from Kevin Calabro about why draws suck, and the need for video replay. Once I have heard a Sounder (Sigi) on the Air.

That other station? The one that couldn't be bribed to talk soccer in the late90s and early 21st? Mitch's producer puts in highlights consistently on Mondays. Softy has Romero on regularly. Gas talks to a player every Tuesday. Groz with Gas talk to Gaschk in interview every Friday. Even their occasional Saturday host Dick Fain is willing to talk the game on occasion (including tomorrow with me in the Noon hour).

One local sports station understands that Major League has been proven in Seattle, the other is stuck in the 90s. It amazes me which one made the mistake of thinking like the old timer.

Demand that your local sports stations treat Sounders like a major sport. The TV ratings and attendance are proving that it is the case.

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Totally agree. Groz (a season ticket holder) spent nearly 20 minutes talking soccer and Sounders with Matt Johnson this morning (Groz sat in for Mitch). I encourage folks to dial up the KJR podcasts – seems like all the hosts sans Mitch are in on the action – they are taking to Sounders players and FO folks quite often. Not to mention the First 90 pre-game show. I wish they’d do a post game show as well – soccer’s best post game, why not?

KIRO has the SFC broadcast rights but is apparently clueless that 50+K folks have been to a Sounders game this year and loved every minute of it…

Dave look forward to hearing you tomorrow, tell them we want it on pod as well!!!

by Kevin on Jun 26, 2009 10:04 PM PDT reply actions  

Couldn’t agree more. Groz and Gas have been great, and I called his show this morning to tell him that.

Speaking of tv ratings, what are they? Are they holding their own?

by Wiggen on Jun 26, 2009 10:43 PM PDT reply actions  

Here’s a question – do they actually spend much time talking about the Sounders, MLS and int’l soccer? That is, actual talk about line-ups, strategy, the standings, etc? Or is the same old tired, “So tell us about this soccer thing”, “What will it take for Americans to like soccer?”, “Wouldn’t it be more popular with more scoring and no ties?” I think I’d rather they ignore it than pump out the same old nonsense.

by wendellgee on Jun 26, 2009 11:59 PM PDT reply actions  

wendellgee has a question that I find very important personally. I get bored of most mainstream coverage of the Sounders because most of it is about “so whats a corner kick” or “are there ‘plays’ in soccer” or “Will the Sounders win the World Cup?” I’m all for bringing in all the new fans to soccer, but when will someone like me actually be entertained (and I don’t mean this in a rude, or mean fashion. I honestly want to know)?

by McKenzie Clark on Jun 27, 2009 1:57 AM PDT reply actions  

There has been talk about Sounders as deep as they talk Mariners or used to the Sonics. Not to the depth of the NFL. No one is breaking down the triangle play like Hugh Millen breaks down the 2-deep zone. Well, not yet.

But there is talk about how to deal with the injuries and cards, who is playing well, how to address certain opponents. Soccer-talk is evolving in America, too often in the past it has only focused on chants and stadium atmosphere.

But I will guaruntee you get more depth of conversation later today.

by Dave Clark on Jun 27, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions  

Last week i heard a half hour show on 710 called sounders fc weekly. It was right before the John Clayton show. It’s the only time i’ve heard it but then again i don’t listen to too much radio saturday mornings. It sounded like a weekly show though. It was pretty good I think the hosts were greg vanney and one of the guys from the Seahawks post game show. I’m probably wrong about both those guesses though! :)

by DarthGreedo on Jun 27, 2009 9:10 AM PDT reply actions  

Having the KJR guys talking about soccer, even if it is not so in-depth, is the start to bringing in the mainstream sports fan. When people hear them talking about the game, then it makes it alright to check out what this (New) sport is all about. These are the sports guys that everyone listens to and if they think it is a quality sport, then that makes it ok. I have to wonder why 710 does not give the Sounders more credibility. The intro says ESPN Seattle. Home of the Seahawks and Mariners. Would it hurt to add the Sounders in that statement? With 30,000 plus a game, I think that qualifies as a major sport in this area.

by TL on Jun 27, 2009 11:34 AM PDT reply actions  

Darth, the weekly show is 8:30 to 9AM on Sats and the usual hosts are Matt Johnson and Pete Fewing and is the BEST program for hardcore Sounders talk on either station. I actually listen each week.

by Dave Clark on Jun 27, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions  

thanks for the info. I thought i recognized the voices and took a stab at identifying them… haha From what i heard the show seemed really well put together. I’ll have to try to check it out more often. Thanks. I just wish they would have advertised it more so i didn’t have to find by chance, due to the UHaul i rented having the radio tuned to 710 when i turned it on.

I really enjoy the coverage on KJR. They started with the classic soccer questions: will this last? How can we make it bett? ect. But you can tell the hosts that have given it chance have really started to get into the sport more

by DarthGreedo on Jun 27, 2009 5:22 PM PDT reply actions  

from what I can gather 710 espn isn’t the flagship of the sounders, 97.3 fm is. The games are broadcast on the fm dial, every so often I have heard players on during the week.
97.3 I heard T. Marshall be interviewed half fluff half interesting.
107.7 the End- has a Kasey Keller blog.

by jd on Jun 29, 2009 2:29 PM PDT reply actions  

Stadium signage refers to 710 ESPN as “your official place to talk about Seattle Sounders FC soccer”

I have not said they are the flagship (as of yet there isn’t one, as they aren’t on an English language radio network)

by sounderatheart on Jun 29, 2009 2:36 PM PDT reply actions  

Keller and Jimmy Conrad will be on with Gasman tonight.

710 ESPN’s soccer guests this week?

by Dave Clark on Jul 2, 2009 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

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Sounder at Heart is a blog about the Seattle Sounders FC, with occasional forays into Democracy in Sports, Roster Management, Soccer Statistics and Life in Puget Sound.
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