Fans of domestic soccer had mixed reactions when MLS announced in June that the AppleTV app will become the exclusive means by which every single one of the league's games is available for a 10-year period beginning with the 2023 season. One the one hand, Apple's big-money gamble (reportedly worth $2.5b over the life of the deal) is another sign of MLS' continued growth, and that's a good thing for our league. On another, though, the move signaled the end of local broadcasts, and as such, the swan song for a number of iconic broadcasters.
Close to home her in the greater D.C. metro, that means that Dave Johnson won't be on the call for D.C. United any longer. The ebullient Johnson, known for his signature "It's In the Net! It's In the Net!" call for the home team's goals, is the only play by play announcer the team has ever known, starting his job in 1996 when the team and league first took the field.
IT’S IN THE NET!
— D.C. United (@dcunited) October 31, 2021
When you hear that catchphrase, there’s only one person that comes to mind: @davejsports. With more than 20 years in the broadcast booth, Dave Johnson has become part of D.C. United tradition.
Out of Many, One presented by @CocaCola. pic.twitter.com/cELLI8BgEb
I've met Johnson on a couple of occasions, most recently when he served as the emcee of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Leesburg stadium that's home to D.C. United's United Soccer League (USL) affiliate. He had no particular reason to be nice to me, but he was gracious and kind. Apparently that's on-brand for him. When I reached out to Shlara to ask if she'd had much interaction with him (he's also been the play-by-play announced for the Washington Wizards for 26 years, where his path crossed that of several FOG:TBs) just in case I was inadvertently celebrating a dickhead, she said, "Yes! Great guy."
Which is good enough for me.
As the video above demonstrates, Johnson is inextricably intertwined with the team that gave him his start in the play by play business at a high level. He's as much D.C. United as John Harkes or Andy Najar.
The same story is playing out in other markets across the league. Real Salt Lake fans started a petition to keep Brian Dunseth and David James in their analyst and play by play roles. Former USMNT striker Charlie Davis and Brad Feldman said their farewells last week as the New England Revolution season ended. Matt Lawrence and Glenn Crooks are out at NYCFC as soon as the defending champions end their playoff run.
Several eras, indeed, are over or soon to be.
What will likely last long in the memories of D.C. United fans, though, is that signature call.
It's In the Net! It's In the Net!
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