WORLD CUP NOTES: TEAM USA READY TO AIR DIRTY LAUNDRY?

          In Boston, Frank Dell'Apa reports that U.S. Soccer
     coach Steve Sampson "will soon be gone," and whoever takes
     his place "must move the team in a different direction." 
     Dell'Apa: "The lesson driven home in this World Cup is that
     soccer is not a nice sport. ... There is no place for
     amateurs and volunteers" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/24).  In DC, Amy
     Shipley reports that "dissatisfaction with the strategy and
     decision-making" employed by Sampson "surfaced today" in the
     U.S. camp, and that the "discontent may erupt" following
     Thursday's game versus Yugoslavia when some players "plan to
     voice their displeasures about a variety of Sampson's
     decisions."  Alexi Lalas: "Everybody's ready to explode. 
     You can get ready for it" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/24).
          NOTES: In Toronto, William Houston reports that despite
     a decline in U.S. ratings, World Cup TV ratings in Canada
     are up about 30% from '94.  TSN has averaged 340,000 viewers
     for the first eight matches, an increase of almost 100,000 a
     match from the first round of '94 (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/24).
     ...In L.A., Scott Moe reviewed the official World Cup Web
     site, www.france98.com, saying that it "is loaded with
     everything a soccer World Cup fan would ever need to know." 
     Moe: "This site is headers and shoulders above any other
     offering World Cup coverage" (L.A. TIMES, 6/23).
          LAUGH TRACK: NBC's Jay Leno: "Do you folks know the
     three different stages of sleep?  First there's R.E.M., I
     guess that's when you dream. ...  Alpha sleep is where you
     sleep really deep.  And then the final stage --  World Cup
     soccer sleep" ("Tonight Show," 6/23).  David Letterman:
     "Boy, I want to tell you something, ladies and gentlemen,
     we're all very excited, all very proud here at CBS.  We now
     have the exclusive broadcast rights for Iranian soccer." 
     More Letterman: "I'm very excited.  And talk about luck -- I
     own Kodadad Azizi's rookie card.  I knew that wouldn't do
     anything, I just like saying Kodadad Azizi" (CBS, 6/23).