The Kansas City Wizards and broadcast partner Metro Sports are pleased to announce the hiring of on-air personalities Sean Wheelock and Brian Roberts for the 2007 MLS season.
Wheelock will double as Executive Producer of Broadcasting and the play-by-play voice of the Wizards while Roberts will serve as the analyst. Wheelock has over 11 years of experience calling soccer. Roberts spent three years in MLS as a defender with the Wizards.
"With a broadcast partner like Metro Sports that has not only a local but a regional base, it was important for us to assemble a broadcasting team that is up to the challenge of engaging a wide variety of audiences," Kansas City Wizards Executive Vice President Greg Cotton said. "The pairing of Sean (Wheelock) and Brian (Roberts) delivers a combination of experience and enthusiasm that will project our brand into the national marketplace."
Metro Sports, the 2007 broadcast home of the Wizards, expressed their enthusiasm for the hiring of Wheelock and Roberts.
"Metro Sports and Time Warner Cable are proud to be associated with the Kansas City Wizards Soccer Club," Metro Sports General Manager John Denison said. "We believe the broadcast duo of Wheelock and Roberts will bring excitement and passion to each match broadcast."
Wheelock was the voice of the Kansas City Wizards for the 1996 inaugural season and served in that capacity for the next seven years. He rejoined the club during four games in 2006 and is excited to be back with the Wizards for his first full season since 2002.
"I am absolutely thrilled to rejoin the Kansas City Wizards for the 2007 season," Wheelock said. "Having been involved with the Wizards since their inaugural season, I have had the privilege of covering them on the field and celebrating their successes. I am excited with the new direction of this club, and I look forward to watching the team achieve greatness in the future."
Wheelock's impressive resume includes work for the British Broadcasting Company, Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN/ESPN 2. He has hosted "MLS Wrap" on FSC and "MLS ExtraTime" on ESPN 2, among other shows.
For the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Wheelock worked as a commentator for both XM Satellite Radio and BBC. Also in 2006, he partnered with Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad to host "MLS Radio" on MLSnet.com.
Wheelock will continue to broadcast for both BBC and FSC in addition to his duties for the Kansas City Wizards. Wheelock, a life-long Kansas City resident, attended and later coached soccer at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.
Roberts brings a unique experience to the broadcast booth in his debut season as television analyst.
"The experience of having played for three years with many of the guys is going to allow me to provide a player's perspective," Roberts said. "I will bring insight to the broadcast directly from the locker room."
Roberts' professional experience spans four seasons. He played for the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division for one season and the Kansas City Wizards for three.
Roberts grew up in La Verne, California and later attended Yale University where he played for three seasons with current Wizards midfielder/defender Ryan Raybould. Roberts holds a degree in psychology from Yale. He is excited about his new venture and his broadcast partner.
"Getting the chance to work with someone as distinguished as Sean Wheelock is an honor," Roberts said. "He is one of the best soccer announcers in the country right now. I hope to learn as much as possible from him."
The pair will work each game televised on Metro Sports and will have duties on the weekly coach's show.
