They’re the soundtrack to players’ greatest achievements, and fans’ purest joy. And broadcasters spend years of their lives practicing and preparing to nail them — though it doesn’t always go quite as planned.
We asked upwards of two dozen MLS television commentators to share their favorite or most memorable calls on the mic, whether an incredible goal, iconic personal achievement or trophy-clinching final whistle, and how and why they stand out.
They delivered, harking back to some of the league’s most memorable moments. Here’s a selection of the best.
John Strong
MLS Cup, Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders - Dec. 11, 2016 (FOX)
“Stefan Frei’s save in MLS Cup 2016 is probably my favorite individual play-by-play call of my career.” — John Strong
Luke Wileman
Toronto FC vs. LA Galaxy - Sept. 15, 2018 (TSN)
“Zlatan’s 500th career goal, the one at BMO Field with the crazy karate-type thing that he did … This is a guy who is known all over the world, one of the game's greatest strikers, and he's achieving a moment like that, 500 career goals, and he does it in trademark Zlatan fashion. I mean, who would try that? And the home fans are even standing to applaud. And you have the privilege of being on the microphone for that, to try and call the goal and do it justice." — Luke Wileman
Frederic Lord
Montreal Impact vs. Pachuca - March 3, 2015 (TVA Sports)
“Oh, Cameron Porter, the goal against Pachuca in the [Concacaf Champions League] quarterfinals … last minute of the game, Calum Mallace just gives a ‘hail Mary’ to Cameron Porter and he just scores an incredible goal … It was at the Olympic Stadium and I think some of our microphones even broke because the crowd was so loud, actually. At the end, I said ‘the Big O just exploded.’ It was just amazing. The game makes the call, the call doesn’t make the game.” — Frederic Lord
JP Dellacamera
D.C. United vs. Orlando City - Aug. 12, 2018 (FOX Sports)
“When Wayne Rooney made that pass to [Luciano] Acosta, was one of the best calls of my life, I would say. Because I was at Audi Field, and I could see it as it's happening. Our press box is pretty low there, and I can see Rooney running back to the ball, and I could see the determination on his face. And I'm anticipating: There's no doubt in my mind he's gonna win that ball. There's no doubt. I could see it on his face. And then the rest of it, I'm just following the play ... the way it finished was amazing. That's one — I don't usually go back and watch games or highlights, not usually — but I went back that night, and I kept watching it because I thought ‘wow, that was a special goal.'” — JP Dellacamera
Nate Bukaty
Sporting KC vs. San Jose Earthquakes - March 17, 2018 (FOX Sports KC)
“I know one that most fans remember the most: ‘Graham Zusi for president,’ because it ended up on the Audi commercial. The funny story behind that, though is, I don’t have a goal call. I don't like to say the same thing every time there’s a goal … It’s kind of scary because a lot of times whatever comes out your mouth is just whatever comes out of your mouth. And I don’t know why that came out of my mouth when I said it.
I immediately put down the talk button with my producer and I knew he was gonna make fun of me for it. And I said to him, that was so stupid. I was pretty embarrassed about the call, to be honest — I don’t know, I thought it was kind of corny or cheesy or whatever. And next thing I know it's on a commercial and it’s playing before and after every MLS game I watch. On the one hand I was like, ‘wow that’s pretty cool’ and on the other hand it was kind of embarrassing … I wouldn’t call it my favorite, but it’s the one that I hear from people the most about.” — Nate Bukaty
Max Bretos
NY Red Bulls vs. LA Galaxy - August 18, 2007 (FOX Sports)
“Red Bulls-Galaxy, which ended 5-4, at Giants Stadium. It was just electric and we were there and just to be in it, it was a fun ride from the jump. And just the particulars that were involved – not so much David Beckham but Carlos Pavon had these two goals, Jozy [Altidore] scored, big John Wolyniec scored, Juan Pablo Angel scored the game-winner. The 22 players out there were so interesting.” — Max Bretos
Raul Guzman
Playoffs, Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City - October 29, 2015 (UniMás)
“It was crazy – all the penalty kicks and the way it ends? It was crazy. My throat was killed.” — Raul Guzman
Rob Stone
D.C. United vs. MetroStars - July 5, 2003 (ESPN)
“I think it would be Eddie Gaven’s goal [for the MetroStars]. He was playing for Bob Bradley and he went into goal, and then got subbed out of goal, and then went down the field and scored this crazy goal [Note: At the time, a fourth-substitute for goalkeepers was permitted, and then-MetroStars coach Bob Bradley exploited that loophole to get Gaven into the game as a timely sub at the start of overtime on a sweltering summer afternoon at RFK Stadium] … it was just me reacting to the chaos unfolding in front of me at that moment.” — Rob Stone
Dave Johnson
D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew SC - Oct. 16, 2012 (Comcast Sportsnet)
“The one that that jumps out in my mind is Lewis Neal, scoring the goal that secured the playoffs for D.C. United in 2012 … I just remember that being an emotional feeling inside the stadium, because it was our return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. And it just felt like that was a moment that put us back where we belonged.” — Dave Johnson
Rodolfo Landeros
LA Galaxy vs. LAFC - March 31, 2018 (FOX Deportes)
“There was a huge play-by-play announcer, Fernando Marcos, who said, 'me pongo de pie' (I stand up), like giving a standing ovation [for a goal]. It was way back in the day. And I started to imagine, what could be even bigger than giving a standing ovation? And I went outside the box and said, ‘no me pongo de pie, me pongo de rodillas' (I’m not going to be standing up, I’m on my knees) admiring this goal. The first time I came up with it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first game with the Galaxy. He scored this out-of-this-world, unbelievable goal. And that's how I stuck with that, that phrase. But it just came to me on that same day, it was not something that I prepared.” — Rodolfo Landeros
Adrian Healey
Philadelphia Union vs. NYCFC - April 14, 2017 (ESPN)
“It was one of those games – it had been a thoroughly unremarkable game. I think New York City were 1-0 up and it was in the 90th minute and it was just kind of petering out. And then all of a sudden, David Villa, who later admitted that he was too tired to actually run. So he just launched one from the halfway line and beat [goalkeeper] Andre Blake. It really was one of those moments where I said what my internal dialogue was reacting to, and I said ‘I've seen it, but I don't believe it.’ It was the first time I’d ever said that as a goal call and it was like ‘oh, that actually kind of worked perfectly.’ … It was later picked up on by some of the New York City fans and they had a banner up there on David Villa’s farewell game with that call on it, so it obviously resonated somewhere.” — Adrian Healey
Alejandro Berry
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire - May 18, 2019 (Univision)
“One of my favorite and most memorable MLS moments … was when, when Chris Wondolowski broke the all-time MLS scoring record. For some reason, I had been doing a lot of San Jose games during that season. So I'd been on Wondo Watch for a while; it was kind of building up. And it ended up being a 4-1 win against the Chicago Fire with four Wondolowski goals. And I was broadcasting that game and it was history being made. So it was a special moment, for sure.” — Alejandro Berry
Peter Schaad
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Toronto FC - March 19, 2011 (TEAM 1410 Radio)
“I think if I had to go back, one of my favorites personally was [Vancouver’s] very first goal in Major League Soccer in 2011, when [Eric] Hassli scored. They just [re-]ran the game again the other day and that was like the christening of the Whitecaps’ MLS ship as it started its journey, and I got the privilege of being along on that boat ride, which was really cool.” — Peter Schaad
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