Why I Love This Beautiful Game Part 1: Commentators

When looking for a version of "Ole" on youtube a couple of weeks ago I came across a video of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final. It shows the two goals that Manchester United scored in extra time to beat Bayern Munich.

The video showed up under the search for the song because former Manchester United Striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal. However, what was truly amazing was the commentary done by Clive Tyldesley.

When the first goal was knocked in by Teddy Sheringham, Tyldesley screamed a resounding, "Cheerio," as if saying goodbye to any hope that Bayern may have at winning the game. He follows by saying, "name on the trophy."

How little did he know he was right when he made that call.

From the time I started watching football and started playing FIFA and Pro Evo, one thing has stood out to me apart from the players—the commentary for a football match is much different than many other sporting events.

To properly call a match you need split-second wit and reaction to drop in the phrases that are common in the game.

Not only is the game of football itself beautiful, but the commentary follows it. The passion that has come to be expected from Spanish and Mexican commentators is just one example of how football is set apart.

"GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL GOL, GOL GOL." You just can't streach out "home run" or "touchdown" like that—it just doesn't have the same effect.

There is further buildup to scoring in most other sports. Whereas in football, if you look away for two seconds, the ball might be in the back of the net and you would only know it because Tommy Smyth is talking about how a player just punched the ol' onion bag.

Since I do not get to watch much live football, I depend on commentary to help me visualize what I am hearing and there are simply no better commentators than those in football.

Part 2 will be up soon and it will cover matchday experiences.