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Jon Champion hauled over the coals for calling Saurez a "cheat"
ESPN commentator Jon Champion has been in the eye of a storm over a piece of commentary yesterday during the Mansfield v Liverpool match where he said the handball goal by Luis Saurez was "the work of a cheat".
Full newspaper article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2258474/Jon-Champion-reprimanded-Luis-Suarez-cheat-comment.html
So, is he right to receive a stern talking to from his bosses for this?
I've heard arguments both criticising and defending Champion for his comment. My own personal opinion is that I doubt whether Jon Champion would have made the comment if, say, Jonjo Shelvey did excactly the same thing, and made the comment, possibly a bit subsconsciously, because it was Saurez and he "has previous", as they say. I also think if the wording of his commentary was different and he said that it was "cheating" rather than labelling the individual a "cheat", nobody would have said anything about this at all. While it was a bit unprofessional, I hope it doesn't have an adverse effect on Champion's career, because he is an excellent commentator most of the time.
What is other DS memebers take on this story? Let's try and keep this thread about the actual bit of commentary and the subsequent reaction to it, rather than it descending into discussions as to what people think of Luis Saurez as a bloke, because that'll just end up turning silly.
Full newspaper article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2258474/Jon-Champion-reprimanded-Luis-Suarez-cheat-comment.html
So, is he right to receive a stern talking to from his bosses for this?
I've heard arguments both criticising and defending Champion for his comment. My own personal opinion is that I doubt whether Jon Champion would have made the comment if, say, Jonjo Shelvey did excactly the same thing, and made the comment, possibly a bit subsconsciously, because it was Saurez and he "has previous", as they say. I also think if the wording of his commentary was different and he said that it was "cheating" rather than labelling the individual a "cheat", nobody would have said anything about this at all. While it was a bit unprofessional, I hope it doesn't have an adverse effect on Champion's career, because he is an excellent commentator most of the time.
What is other DS memebers take on this story? Let's try and keep this thread about the actual bit of commentary and the subsequent reaction to it, rather than it descending into discussions as to what people think of Luis Saurez as a bloke, because that'll just end up turning silly.
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Comments
Is there any difference?
Did he call him a cheat during the commentary?
Its one thing if the likes of Thompson and Merson are biased on Soccer Saturday - you tune in expecting that and its part of the reason you watch but the actual commentator on a live game needs to aim higher than Champion did yesterday.
That aside, ESPNs football coverage has the worst group of pundits and analysts so im not exactly shocked by this
No,the press absolutely slaughtered him for it, not just one commentator.
Suarez does have form for handball,let's not forget.
Yes. You may, if generous, consider the first handball an instinctive reaction (although I think he had enough time to avoid it) but when he handled it a second time, his intentions became a little more premeditated in everyone's eyes.
But that's not the point - the press may have slaughtered Suarez for it (I've not actually checked today!) but the point is should a commentator be ok to call a player a cheat, especially over something like this.
It's possibly not a good idea as a professional commentator to call a player a cheat but then it's not a good idea as a professional footballer to put the ball in the net with your hand either.;)
lol
Err yes he did call him a cheat during commentary, unless my ears deceived me last night.
Bloody hell can't believe people's take on the Ghana handball. Pretty much most footballers would have handled in that situation. He got punished for it. I can see why people would have a problem with him being lifted on people's shoulders as a celebration but not the actual act itself. It was instinctive and many many footballers have done it in the past.
Jon champion shouldn't be sacked but his commentary was totally uncalled for. As Cantona said he's there to call the game not call people cheats etc. I also agree with Cantona that ESPN has the worst group I've seen. Craig burley and chris waddle are useless. I love John Barnes but he's not the greatest. Don't mind Kevin Keegan he's the best of a bad bunch.
Many a player would sacrifice himself in that circumstance if it meant avoiding defeat in a World Cup quarter final. There was seconds left before penalties and the score was 1-1. Letting the ball go in meant almost certain elimination. His sin was celebrating the eventual win ferociously which although understandable given his country had just qualified for a World Cup semi final, was tactless to a neutral eye.
What about when Owen blatantly dived to win us a penalty against Argentina? I didn't see any gallows being hastily constructed for that.
There does seem an aspect of him thinking out loud when he said it. I was watching the highlights last night on ITV with my Dad, who were also using Jon Champion's commentary, and when Champion said the line my Dad instantly went "You can bloody say that again, mate!", I bet my Dad wasn't the only person watching it who reacted similarly, so you could argue that Jon Champion was summing up the mood of the nation!
That's the press for you (for the same reason Joe Hart gets an easy ride if he has a poor game)but like i've said earlier Henry got pelters for it
People assumed he cheated. They can't guarantee he did. That's like saying murderer before hearing the evidence. Only Suarez knows whether he handled on purpose or not. If it was most other players I doubt your dad or champion would have been so forceful in their conviction!
Was he called a cheat by the commentators? I can't remember. The difference with Henry is that he absolutely handled the ball to keep it in play purposefully. The ball ricocheted onto Suarez from close range. I'm not saying he didn't do it on purpose but neither can anybody be sure he did. Only him. The footage of Henry is far more damning.
..aye..it's a strange one..does champion reference the hand ball,or is his espn remit to ignore,and not pass comment on anything that may be deemed a smidgen controversial ?...then,if he ignores the " cheating " does he then get it in the ear,for showing bias toward mansfield by pretending the hand ball never happened ?
He definately used the term cheat, but I can't remember if it was "he's cheated" or "he's a cheat".
...if suarez didn't have a history of " cheating " your point may have some merit..it's what they call..being hosted by your own petard
Or so stout in their defence of the most obvious.