Why ESPN should hire Richard Keys and Andy Gray

If you haven't heard the news I'm here to bring you it as well as give you my opinion on the matter moving forward. So if you haven't heard here's the latest, Sky Sports News just let go their 2 most respected pundits of the beautiful game, Richard Keys and Andy Gray for sexist comments off camera about a female assistant referee before the Liverpool vs Wolverhampton match last weekend. The comments were picked up by a microphone and I'm sure if you are that eager to hear them you can go on to YouTube and find it but I won't waste my time talking much about the comments.

Andy Gray and Richard Keys are without a doubt my favorite pundits, I admire their knowledge of the game and I try to absorb as much as I can whenever I get to listen to them. And in my opinion I believe they shouldn't have been fired because of the fact the comments were off air. Now, I don't condone sexism and I'm making no excuse for Keys or Gray as this incident was wrong but the people who leaked the comments were just as wrong because surveillance is an issue that is destroying the free world. Now that's all I want to say about those comments feel free to argue against me but I'm not here to talk about that.

I'm here to talk about what should be done for the future. More specifically ESPN, yes that's right the World Wide leader in sports. Now if you have been watching ESPN at all for the past 2-3 years you've noticed how much ESPN has invested in soccer and that they have finally figured out that world soccer is a big money thing and they must find a way to get a piece of the pie. Sky Sports News is without a doubt one of their competitors world wide and now that they have sacked 2 of their best pundits, ESPN should be looking to pounce.

I watched during the World Cup Finals last June how great Richard Keys and Andy Gray were for Fox Soccer Channel and this just shows how Keys and Gray love the job and are willing to go to anybody who's willing to supply them with this pundit job. With all the pundits on ESPN, not many are soccer pundits, you can probably even count them on one hand. Now there's a good chance Keys and Gray may not even be interested but ESPN definitely should make a run at them because they have an opportunity they may never get again to expand their soccer coverage to a whole new level. Keys has said that he is very fond of his mate Andy Gray and I read between the lines and thought wow there's a good chance Gray and Keys will go to a certain network in a package deal, and what ever network steps up to the plate has a great chance to improve their quality of coverage.

Now there is a very good possibility that Keys and Gray are not interested in working in the American market full time and they may only be interested in either retirement or continuing to work but with another British network like BBC for example. However, Gray and Keys did work with Fox Soccer Channel last summer and their former Sky Sports coworkers Ian Darke and Martin Tyler have become staples with ESPN. Especially with Ian Darke who is now working full time with ESPN as a broadcaster. ESPN should make a similar run at Keys and Gray. Keys obviously would be great as a pre game or halftime show host or even hosting a weekly all soccer show that ESPN hasn't featured on any of their family of networks. Gray could work as a color commentator or he could work with Keys with a weekly show type of role.

Another good possibility is that ESPN may not even be interested with pundits who have been involved in sexism as viewers might look down at the network for that. I still say its worth it in the end because getting quality world wide respected soccer pundits will always be priceless.

2011 Copa Centroamericana Preview

Concacaf football is back with all it's bizarre drama including diving as well as terrible refereeing, with that being said I still don't know what I would do without it. The tournament will be held in Panama City, Panama, with all matches being played at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez. I'm going to give the best team by team breakdown with my predictions at the end. Please comment if you would like to add to my analysis. With the an odd number of teams there is one group of 4 teams and the other one with just 3. The top 5 teams from this tournament will qualify for the 2011 Gold Cup.

Group A

Belize
Considered a minnow throughout the region, Belize's football passion will be the driving force behind there campaign to bring Gold Cup football to this tiny nation. As for Belize's roster, it's pretty unknown for the most part with most of the players coming from Belize's league. Luckily they don't have to play the Central American giants Costa Rica and Honduras in the group stage so they definitely have a chance to qualify for the Gold Cup. The Jaguars will still have the label of "dark horse" as I'm not sure they have the quality to get results.

El Salvador
Los Cuscatlecos are back again and will be one of the tournament favorites as they always seem to be. Unlike qualifying though they won't have the homefield advantage that Estadio Cuscatlan to help them out. Their counterattacking style will have to carry the day especially with the tough match against host Panama. There are 2 MLS players on the roster with former San Jose Earthquake Arturo Alvarez as well as Chicago Fire defender Deris Umanzor. Arturo Alvarez as well as former Chivas USA Osael Romero will have to carry the attacking load with the young strikers that have been included on their roster. Osael Romero needs to return to the form we saw from him back in World Cup Qualifying as he has been lack luster as of late. Overall, the Cuscatlecos have what it takes to win the tournament and I wouldn't be surprised to see them win, as they seem to always have the quality to punish teams.

Nicaragua
For many, Nicaragua was considered a minnow in CONCACAF, that was until they shocked everyone by beating Guatemala in 2009 to qualify for the 2009 Gold Cup. There they put on a poor showing but there's no doubt there a team to watch. They have shown they can play spoiler and I remember from the Gold Cup how they played very defensive minded and you can expect the same this time around. The one question I have for this team is whether they can find the attacking malice to put the ball in the back of the net. Overall, they Nicaragua may be able to pull of an upset but I just don't see them getting 3 points in any of their matches. They may be able to get 3 draws and maybe qualify for the Gold Cup with any luck, but I just don't see it.

Panama
The defending champion is also the host nation and Panama will be one of the tournament favorites and for good reason they have proven they are a quality CONCACAF nation by being a 2009 Gold Cup Quarterfinalist where they were eliminated by the USA. In 2009 they won this tournament and with them being the host nation they have a very good chance of repeating as champions. At Panama's disposal are 2 very talented strikers, Blas Perez and Roberto Brown. Blas Perez scored against the USA in the quarterfinal of the 2009 Gold Cup. With 2 very good strikers Panama should be able to win this group with 9 points. They will also have the blessing of having 32,000 fans on their side for every match they play.

Group B

Costa Rica
The Ticos are back with a new coach, Ricardo La Volpe the former Mexican manager from the 2006 World Cup. La Volpe is a very good manager and I think he will really help the Costa Ricans this cycle. Costa Rica is a Central American giant and they will be looking to win another title. La Volpe's roster doesn't include the sexy names like Twente's Bryan Ruiz and Alvaro Saborio but the future of Los Ticos will be definitely be on display. New York Red Bulls defender Roy Miller will be the anchor at the back and his play will be vital if Costa Rica is to win this tournament. Without Navas in goal, I question whether Costa Rica has a reliable goalkeeper. Overall, Costa Rica's tournament fate will probably be decided in their opening match when they play Honduras, and they definitely have the quality to win this tournament but it will be interesting how this young team works together.

Honduras
Los Catrachos are back once again after their Cinderella run through World Cup Qualifying. Their showing at the World Cup was plagued by injuries as they were knocked out in the first round. The question for this tournament is whether or not the Honduras' young players can provide enough of a splash to win. I do like the two strikers for Honduras with the speedy Georgie Welcome and veteran Walter Martinez. And with Noel Valladares in goal for Honduras they will definitely have a good combination of veteran and young talent. The question is whether or not they will have the midfield power to get results without the services of Wilson Palacios and Amado Guevara. One player to keep an eye on is Leeds United's Ramon Nunez who will be looking to provide some quality to that midfield. Overall, the Catrachos definitely have the power to make a run but a possible matchup against host Panama in the semifinals looks very difficult.

Guatemala
After failing to qualify for the 2009 Gold Cup, Guatemala is going to try and make a run in this tournament to try and bring themselves back to CONCACAF relevance. Unfortunately, they are on the tough 3 team group with 2 of the Central America's best teams. It's safe to say that Guatemala's hope will rest on the back of Carlos Ruiz aka El Pescadito the little fish. Carlos Ruiz is also known as the biggest diver in all of CONCACAF and it's safe to say he would not be welcome on this blog, but there's no doubting his goal scoring prowess. Guatemala's team is mostly filled with Guatemalan league players with the exception of Ruiz. Guatemala is definitely a scrappy team and with El Pescadito with the squad you never know what can happen but the odds are definitely against them with those two giants in their group.

Predictions
Group A
1. Panama
2. El Salvador
3. Nicaragua
4. Belize
Group B
1. Costa Rica
2. Honduras
3. Guatemala

5th Place Game
Nicaragua vs Guatemala
Winner: Guatemala, In the rematch of 2009's 5th place game this time Guatemala with Ruiz will find a way to win and get themselves back into the Gold Cup and CONCACAF relevancy.

Semifinals
Costa Rica vs El Salvador
Winner: Costa Rica, This will be a very tight game especially with the youth on the field but the Ticos will find a way to win with their quality.

Panama vs Honduras
Winner: Panama, The goal scoring prowess of Perez will be too much for the Honduras defense, and the home crowd will be a big factor in this match.

Final
Panama vs Costa Rica

Champion: Panama, Panama wins to become repeat champions. The home crowd will be a big factor like I continue to say. And Blas Perez will be the tournament's leading scorer.