Not Ronaldo, not Mourinho, not Juan Pablo Carrizo-- the MVP was more of a dark horse candidate.

It was:

That's right, it was beer. Excuse me--it was Guinness Black Lager. How can something that looks like coffee be refreshing? Let the man tell you, as Gin Wigmore, an artist whose music I enjoy but whose song "Black Sheep" I may avoid now, wails in the background.

The commercial and others like it aired about every commercial break during the inaugural contest, in case we forgot that the Guinness International Champions Cup was sponsored by Guinness. 

There's just something about black. 

Now excuse me while I refuse to ever drink it. 

(In other news, Real Madrid seems to have signed Miley Cyrus. I know, I know, the joke was old before it got started).

"Party in the USA!"

Lovingly created, crappily created.

"Official Logo"

Some are good. Some are bad. 

It can be said for many things, but it's especially true for soccer commentators.

And in this case, some just don't know how to say players' names. 

I watched Chelsea take on AC Milan last night in the Guinness International Champions Cup. They played in the stadium that the NY Jets and Giants (American football teams) play--which, I'm sure, was a welcome environment after playing games in baseball stadiums.

I opted to watch the FOX Soccer coverage instead of the more biased Chelsea TV coverage. What can I say? I like a little "impartial" opinion in my Sunday night footie. Here are the things people are talking about the day after, since Chelsea won 2-0.

5) CAN EL-SHAARAWY AND BALOTELLI PLAY TOGETHER?!

4) Jose Mourinho's return to face Real Madrid

3) The actual game

2) Fernando Torres tripping after a great run

1) The commentator's mispronunciations of "Andre Schürrle," "Stephan El-Shaarawy," "Kevin De Bruyne" and several other names--not to mention their completely incorrect headline under a photo of Schürrle.

AS is a Chelsea player--and they didn't even get the other team right! Inter Milan was not playing last night. Chelsea played AC Milan, and Andre joined from Bayer Leverkusen. Thanks to chelseafc on reddit for photo.

You would think that, as professionals, you would want to make sure you are saying these players' names right. Sure, you're not going to get angry calls from parents like you would if you were announcing a high school game, but you are on a national network, commentating as a representative of a country that is a little behind on the soccer game, and you are calling a young man "Andre Shurrly" instead of his actual name, which he would be very happy to say for you.  That might make you seem like a bit of a fool, eh?

Don't call him Shurrly (or Schurrey)

The Dutch pronunciation of "De Bruyne" may be tricky to say, as well, but come on guys-- the producers should care enough to make their announcers not look like idiots. 

The announcers might want to do their own research...just in case...Shurrly, there's a computer or iPhone nearby that an intern can use to look up a pronunciation for you?? Shurrly, if you know the guy's stats, you can figure out his name? 

Perhaps it's a good thing that FOX Soccer is shutting down, and the rights to Premier League games going to NBC -- which may have a little more credibility as the Olympics network. They have to pronounce foreign names quite often, right? Shouldn't that make me hopeful for better pronunciation next year?

Guys?

...guys?

Let's hope that soccer commentators on the new FOX Sports 1 and on NBC take their time to get the names right now that they're not under the Shurrly grueling pressure of covering the sport all the time. 

All right, sorry. No more Shurrly jokes.

Be sure to Cech out my other posts, my friends--and remember, in the game of announcing, how you say it Matas. 

I warmed the bench through my two-year college career and part of my three-year high school one as a concussion-prone goalkeeper, and was the big bully on the field on my select team during my last few years of high school. I didn't get into soccer as early as some, didn't play through my full career, and am now warming an office chair while hungrily getting back into the sport--and wishing I had spent more 90-minute periods on the pitch.

The two club teams I follow, I follow from the back. Petr Cech of Chelsea and Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus are goalies I particularly respect and admire. I follow Chelsea the closest, and catch the white and black boys when I can.

I listen or watch whatever I can-big clubs, small clubs, national teams. By nationality, I support the United States. By blood, I also root for Italy. And because I love several of the players, I'll cheer Spain on if they aren't playing any of the other two.

I'm hoping to have some good, quality thoughts and discussion on this blog--not rumors, necessarily, but thoughts on the sport and the culture.

Looking forward to it.