Headline Looks Negative, but Facts Are Positive

“Poll Finds 20% Know World Cup in U.S.” trumpeted the headline in the Feb. 28 Newswire. The story reported that a Harris Poll found that “53% of Americans said they aren’t interested in watching a World Cup game on television, and 62% said they have no interest in attending one of the games.”

This is the first time a World Cup will be played in the U.S. Shouldn’t the story have pointed out instead that 47% (more than 125 million viewers) wanted to watch a World Cup game on TV? That 38% said they are interested in attending one of the games--despite the fact that all 3.6 million tickets are virtually sold out? Is it any wonder that soccer fans suspect an anti-soccer bias in the U.S. media?

MEL GRIFFIN

Altadena