Coming in summer 2010, ESPN is happy to bring you ... ESPN in 3-D? Welcome to the future of being a sports fan.

3-D is making a comeback in the new decade. Recently, James Cameron brought us Avatar in 3-D, and now ESPN is preparing to provide us with sports in 3-D. While I thoroughly enjoyed Avatar, I’m a bit skeptical about the idea of ESPN 3-D.

I always knew that eventually ESPN2 would have to be followed up by an ESPN3, and I have to admit it’s kind of cool how it worked out being 3-D. It seems like a really cool idea, but that’s really all that it seems to bring to the table. It’s got that wow factor, but how practical is it?

What really grabs my interest is that, as an avid soccer fan, ESPN 3-D’s inaugural broadcast will be the opening game of the 2010 World Cup. Sports fanatics will get their first taste of sports in 3-D on June 11 when host South Africa takes on Mexico.

Personally, this seems like a genius marketing scheme by ESPN. Take soccer, which doesn’t have a particularly large following in the U.S., and pair it with the launch of your new 3-D network. They could pull a lot of viewers into the World Cup by broadcasting it on ESPN 3-D. The intrigue of 3-D may just be enough to boost ratings for the World Cup.

ESPN 3-D isn’t stopping at just the World Cup; the network also plans to broadcast the 2011 BCS National Championship Game in 3-D, among 85 live sporting events that ESPN has announced. Nothing says football more than beer, hot wings and ... 3-D glasses?

I wasn’t sure if I was in the minority, so I brought the issue to my closest friends, all of whom I regularly watch sports with. It was a unanimous “wearing goggles to watch sports would be really annoying.” We just can’t imagine trying to pound the traditional beer and hot wings all while wearing 3-D glasses.

When I can watch TV in 3-D without those pesky goggles, I will be more supportive of the idea. It’s just annoying to have to wear goggles in the comfort of your home while watching sports.

I admit it’s a cool concept, and it’s definitely going to grab some hype as its launch edges closer, but outside of just being a cool idea, it doesn’t seem like it’ll make my viewing experience any better.

Would it be cool to have a camera behind the goal posts and see the ball coming at you on a field goal attempt? Of course! Will watching your favorite team win be more exciting in 3-D? Probably not.

Even worse, in order to experience ESPN 3-D, you’ll need to have a 3-D capable TV. I didn’t even know they made 3-D TVs until a few weeks ago, and apparently there weren’t a lot of 3-D TVs on the market. Although a lot of TV manufacturers have included 3-D TVs in their 2010 production line, I question how many people will rush to their nearest Best Buy to buy one.

Are the ESPN executives really expecting people to just dump their current TV in order to experience ESPN 3-D? I checked with my dad to see if I’d be watching the World Cup in 3-D this summer while I was home for break. I took his laughter to mean he will be one of the many who won’t be going out to drop hundreds, if not thousands, on a 3-D TV.

Who knows though? Right now I just don’t see the point, but I’m hoping for ESPN to prove me wrong.

Maybe I’ll sit down come June 11 and be wowed by watching the World Cup in 3-D. I’m hoping to be amazed, but I’m not counting on it.

Kyle Diller is a junior in Media. He can be reached at kdiller2@illinimedia.com.