WORLD CUP, II: HYPING THE CUP, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE?

          In Pittsburgh, columnist Bob Smizik wrote that the
     "excruciatingly boring World Cup is being shoved down the
     public's gullet by media moguls, electronic and print." 
     Smizik: "A vast majority of the population has very little
     or no interest in this tiresome event" (PITTSBURGH POST-
     GAZETTE, 6/18).  But a WALL STREET JOURNAL editorial, titled
     "In Defense of Soccer," said that the level of play during
     the Cup has been "dazzling."  From the editorial: "And as
     for those sportswriters who still don't get it ... they can
     always turn on the TV ... and watch something really, really
     exciting -- like baseball" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/19).
          I WALKED, I JOGGED, IRAN: Sunday's U.S.-Iran match is
     the focus of USA TODAY's Sports cover story, where Marco
     della Cava writes, "The Match is laced with tension,
     controversy and symbolism.  And a soccer ball has yet to be
     kicked" (USA TODAY, 6/19).  In Philadelphia, Mike Bruton
     writes that this is "one of the situations where sports can
     be the bridge to political reconciliation between global
     rivals" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/19).