I agree with Mr. Hammer that American football and basketball have lost virtually all the appeal they once held with much of the blame due to the ever increasing design of the events exclusive for the benefit of TV and the likes of Anheuser Busch and GM, etc. (Hammer, “Why Does America Hate Soccer?” July 18-25). I have had one too many TV shots of Peyton Manning standing on the sideline while wearing his brand new baseball hat. God only knows what the founders of American football would think about what a TV production the sport has become.

I completely disagree that America has no interest in soccer. Let’s see, David Beckham was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazines in the past week, every game he is set to play in is sold out and the popular sports ticket broker site Stubhub.com has a separate category devoted solely to David Beckham. No other athlete has such a category on the site.    

The 2006 soccer World Cup final between France and Italy had a higher TV ratings across the U.S. than any single game of the 2006 baseball World Series. No, David Beckham is not a savior of soccer in America, such a thing is not necessary. More young people play the sport of soccer than any other and its American future is assured.

I find it very confusing that NUVO and or Mr. Hammer would play into the same line of thinking as espoused on a regular basis by The Indianapolis Star and their lead sports writer Bob Kravitz regarding soccer and sporting events in general (such as F1 racing, etc.) more popular outside the U.S. and/or the Midwest. Such statements only reinforce parochial attitudes that any “world-class” city (something it seems many residents of Indianapolis think of their fair city) would desperately want to avoid.

If you know a sport more popular than soccer please tell me some other things about the planet from which you come.

Gabriele Hysong
Indianapolis