In our "Voices of MLS" series we will be speaking with some of your favorite broadcasters from around the league. Today we spoke with Colorado Rapids play-by-play announcer Richard Fleming. Read on after the jump to find out how Richard prepares to call a game and who WON'T win the 2014 MLS Cup.
Total-MLS (TMLS): How did you get into broadcasting?
Richard Fleming (RF): I began working in hospital radio in the late 1980s and – although I edged into newspaper journalism (1989) – always yearned to move full-time into broadcasting, loving the immediacy and thrill of it. During my newspaper days I used to try my hand at radio broadcasting, and this led to me being was eventually head-hunted by the BBC in 1995, beginning a 16-year career with the corporation.
TMLS: How do you prepare for a broadcast?
RF: My preparations begin immediately after the previous broadcast, but truly kick in 48 hours before hand. As host and play-by-play, I have numerous hats to wear on matchday. I receive the running order from Altitude TV and liaise closely with the producers on content, talking points and sound to be used. My commentary notes take about a day to fully complete, as they require research on each individual player of both teams. It’s obviously easier for the Rapids’ players, as I watch them week in, week out, but each game brings a new opposition and new storylines/connections. I will sit by my computer at home, going over previous meetings, previous games, player profiles, stats, interesting facts, formations. I also look at videos of previous meetings/previous games, plus I make sure that I’m up-to-date on all MLS news. It is like cramming for an exam, filling my head with much more information than I will ever need but I never want to be in a position where I am short of something to say. ‘Fail to prepare … prepare to fail.’
TMLS: What’s been your most memorable moment in your career, so far?
RF: Wow! I’ve had so many. Covering the first World Cup in Africa, in 2010. Commentating at five Africa Cup of Nations. Being the first BBC sports journalist allowed inside North Korea (to cover North Korea v. Bahrain – an all-round bizarre experience). This is a career which has afforded me so many memorable moments.
TMLS: Soccer and MLS is growing in North America. From a broadcaster standpoint, what do you see as some important steps for the league to continue its growth?
RF: Mainstream media acceptance. The landscape is dominated by NFL, NBA, MLB, College sport, etc and there is therefore a massive struggle for column inches, air-time, sponsorship. Soccer is hugely popular, played by millions, enjoyed by many more and yet has traditional North American sports stifling growth. The soccer player in MLS is strong, athletic, quick and intelligent. They need to become more technical, and MLS is addressing this, as shown by the workshop involving the French Football Federation last year. Youth academies must succeed, and we are seeing more and more Homegrown Players emerging, which has got to be the future of MLS. A) It brings through young, local players, giving fans ‘local’ heroes and B) It means players are emerging at 17/18/19, as opposed to via the draft at 22/23. Players in Europe have a 5-6 year head-start on MLS in some quarters, with players hitting their peak at a younger age.
TMLS: You’re named MLS commissioner tomorrow. What’s the first thing you do?
RF: Aside from resign?? A tough one. My immediate response would be to raise the salary cap, though I’ve seen how money has soured the sport in Europe – and led to higher ticket prices – but you cannot continue to have some players earning more in a week than teammates do in 5-6 years. There needs to be a better balance. I would also improve the Reserve League, increasing number of games played. Fringe players managing one game every few weeks is not conducive to having them game-ready for the first team.
TMLS: With New York City and Orlando joining the league and Commissioner Garber wanting to go to 24 teams, what other markets do you see as possibilities for expansion franchises?
RF: Miami, Atlanta, San Diego, St. Louis, and maybe Austin as an outside bet.
TMLS: If you could have one player from anywhere in the world join MLS, who would it be?
RF: It would have to be Lionel Messi. Still young, and a sign that MLS will have truly arrived. The league needs to attract the big-time players at aged 25-26, rather than 31-32.
TMLS: What storyline will be all following in 2014?
RF: The FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In MLS, it will be … can Seattle bring home the bacon? Also, the steady stream of ‘stars’ being lured to NYCFC in time for 2015 could be an interesting sideshow.
TMLS: Which team do you think will surprise us all in 2014, either good or bad?
RF: I’d like to say Chivas USA (in a good way), as they are an ‘experiment’ which has yet to work, but I just cannot see them getting their house in order, so I’ll opt for Toronto FC to take the league by storm – if their big buys come off (written before Defoe/Bradley moves), stay fit and do not disrupt the locker room dynamics.
TMLS: Who is one player to watch in 2014 that could have a breakout year?
RF: Deshorn Brown of the Colorado Rapids. He scored 10 goals in his rookie season, which was impressive enough, but finished the season tremendously well and I think he could really take off in 2014.
TMLS: Can you give us one bold prediction for MLS in 2014 and one for the world of soccer in general?
RF: I’m rarely any good at these kind of questions, and yet I can’t help but have a go. For MLS, I believe we could learn a great deal this year, from both a domestic and international stand-point. It’s World Cup year, and that should be used to help elevate the league to even greater heights. It’s also 20 years since the USA staged the FIFA World Cup, and so a good marker to view progress made. MLS will have a new champion in 2014. From a global perspective, expect mixed emotions as a decision is finally made on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Shifting of calendars, or will the soccer world tire of Qatar and the tournament is switched elsewhere? I say the former. The calendars will switch, and we will have a Dec/Jan World Cup in 2022.
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