In many cases when an MLS player gets a red card, he spends the next game watching from the stands. That is what FC Dallas defender Bobby Rhine anticipated doing for the Hoops' game Saturday afternoon against archrival Houston, which ended in a 1-1 draw after being ejected in the 43rd minute against Los Angeles last Wednesday.
Prior to sitting out against Dynamo, Rhine had been the only FCD player to have played in every minute of every game this season. </p>
But late last week following a training session, an FC Dallas official suggested to Ray Canevari, the team's radio play-by-play voice, that Rhine join him in the broadcast booth for Saturday's game against Houston. Canevari loved the idea.
But that is only part of the story.
"When I did TV for the game at D.C. United, we were waiting to get on the bus after the game," Canevari said. "Bobby asked me when he would get the chance (to be on a broadcast). I told him when his playing days were over (we could do that). With him sitting out (against Houston) with a red card, it was great timing to get him into the booth."
For Rhine it was an incredible opportunity.</p>
"It (broadcasting) is something I'd like to get into when I'm done playing," he said. "I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to get in the booth."</p>
Watching his teammates play against Dynamo as a broadcaster was a strange experience for Rhine.</p>
"It was difficult to have to watch the guys play Houston," he said. "We had such a heated game against them the last Saturday. It was a totally different view of the game from there. It was disappointing not to be part of it from the field, but it was a good result for us."</p>
Every aspiring broadcaster has current on-air personalities they look up to. Rhine is no different as he is quick to name one member of the World Cup broadcast team for ABC/ESPN and also to laud the Hoops' television broadcast team.</p>
"I think Glenn Davis does a real good job," he said. "I think his knowledge of the game is strong and he does a good job. Brad (Sham) and Dave (Dir) have a good thing going with the two of them in the booth. I think those are guys that do a really good job."</p>
Rhine's Saturday appearance on the broadcast marked his second radio appearance of the week. Just a few days earlier, he had been a guest on the team's weekly radio show, "FC Dallas Weekly" with his appearance coming just a day after getting the first red card of his MLS career against L.A.</p>
How did Canevari rate Rhine's performance?</p>
"He was awesome," he said. "I loved working with him. He's got great potential to be in broadcasting when he's done playing."</p>
Having an FCD player in the booth was nothing new for Canevari.</p>
"I like having players in the booth," he said. "They provide great insight to the game that can only come from being a player. Last year, I had (FC Dallas goalkeeper) Jeff Cassar in the booth with me for a couple of games and he was great."</p>
For now, Rhine's broadcast career is on hold as he and the Hoops (4-1-3, 15 points), prepare for Saturday's game against defending MLS Eastern Conference champion New England (3-2-1, 10 points) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT at Pizza Hut Park.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
