ESPN's New Broadcast Team

ESPN has overhauled it's Major League Soccer broadcast team, most notably giving Eric Wynalda the boot. Replacing the sometimes-controversial commentator on MLS Primetime Thursday will be former U.S. national team captain John Harkes, though Wynalda will remain with the network as an analyst for European Champions League coverage."I've been covering the game as an analyst for three years, and this is a big change to do Champions League games," said Wynalda. "I'm excited when I look at the schedule."

Wynalda, known for his brashness and arrogance, was the center of a controversy prior to the beginning of the 2007 season when he made some colorful remarks to soccer blog Fulham USA about fellow ESPN talent and notorious soccer hater Jim Rome. The following excerpt earned Wynalda a one-game suspension:

'Jim Rome can suck my d***! And he should be very afraid because I'm the kind of guy, if I get too many drinks in me, I will club his a**'."

He also stirred up trouble toward the end of the season after making comments that some felt were insensitive to those affected by the Southern California wildfires. The incident led to a nasty back-and-forth exchange with popular soccer writer Ives Galarcep.

As for the rest of the team, JP Dellacamera will be joining Harkes in the booth. He will be taking over play-by-play honors from Dave O'Brien, who will move primarily to baseball and college basketball coverage for ESPN. Previously, Dellacamera had been teamed with Shep Messing for coverage of the New York Red Bulls.

Rob Stone and Julie Foudy will return as on-site studio hosts, while Allen Hopkins will continue in his role as on-the-pitch reporter.