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).
