Tommy Smyth

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Thomas Michael (Tommy) Smyth (pronounced Smith) (born in Knockbridge, County Louth, Ireland) is one of the most recognized soccer commentators in the USA. He is a color commentator for ESPN, which he joined in February 1993 as a football analyst. He provides co-commentary or in-studio analysis for major soccer events. He also commentates on Gaelic games, horse racing, and harness racing for ESPN.

[edit] Playing career

Smyth moved to the United States in 1963 following a brief football career with a local Scottish team. In America, he played with the Shamrock Club in the German American Soccer League.

[edit] Commentary career

Smyth was the voice of the MetroStars of Major League Soccer from the team's inception in 1996 to the early 2000s, when his ESPN contract prohibited him from working for the MSG Network.

He currently commentates regularly for ESPN International covering matches weekly for La Liga, Serie A, International matches and the FA Cup and is one of the regular panelist on ESPNSoccernet PressPass which is hosted by Derek Rae. He also commentates matches from the UEFA Champions League which coverage is taken up by ESPN stations around the world including ESPN2 in the United States. In 2007 he joined ESPN's MLS broadcast team and has also done a few World Cups for ESPN, including 2006, where he partnered with Adrian Healey. He commentates on the UEFA Highlight show on Thursdays and Fridays. Mr. Smyth will occasionally be a phone-in guest pundit mostly during the UEFA Champions League campaigns on the CSRN radio programme, The 2 G's, sharing his opinion regarding the upcoming matches.

During ESPN's coverage of Euro 2008, Smyth shared commentary duties with Andy Gray, the two of them generally alternating matches.

[edit] Style

Smyth's trademark is analysis adding color commentary to Derek Rae. Smyth is known for signing off when commentating as "Tommy Smyth... with a Y" and for his description of a ball flying into the net when a goal is scored as "a bulge in the old onion bag." He also is known for saying "a peach of a goal."

[edit] St Patrick's Day Parade

Tommy M. Smyth was the 2008 Grand Marshal of the 247th St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City. He is also the co-host for WNBC coverage of the New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade from 1998-Present.

[edit] Personal life

His affections for the New York area were apparent on a June 12 episode of ESPN First Take, where Smyth stated that he was a New York Knicks fan.

[edit] Popularity

He is rated as one of the most annoying commentators according to football fans: ^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Tommy Smyth on ESPN
• Listen online to a song about Tommy Smyth by Irish Country Artist Aine Woods
• BME Talk Podcast interview
• September 2007).mp3 Revolution Recap radio interview
• A website by and for soccer fans who cannot stand Tommy Smyth