What in the World Was That?

Someone should write that the reason U.S. Coach Bruce Arena kept his opening lineup a secret was because of its ineptitude, that Landon Donovan should walk the walk before he talks the talk, that Brian McBride knows how to stand in one spot and must have a very good publicist, that DeMarcus Beasley no longer plays with the abandon that made him the best player during qualifying games, that Kasey Keller may be too old to play at this level, and that, with two or three exceptions, the team played without heart.

TOM MURPHY

Paramount

*

Having been bombarded with the relentless World Cup hype, I tuned in to the second half of the Brazil-Croatia match to satisfy my curiosity. Wow! The action! The offense! The defense! The scoring!

Uhhh, no.

Fortunately, and thankfully, immediately after the match and subsequent recap, ESPN2 aired the 2005 World Domino Tournament, which snapped me out of my soccer-induced coma.

CURT HONINGFORD

Newport Beach

*

I turned on the World Cup the other day and saw the best diving exhibition that I’ve ever seen. I don’t think Greg Louganis could medal against some of these guys.

DAVE ENG

Thousand Oaks

*

Regarding your readers who went out of their way to proclaim their fanatical apathy toward the World Cup, I wonder, if they’re so apathetic, then why even bother to write a letter to the editor? Sure seems oxymoronic to me, or maybe just moronic.

JOHN FESSLER

Chino Hills

*

To all of you, like Mr. Stevens and Mr. Turnage in last week’s letters, who have nothing better to do than bash the World Cup, I’d like to say one thing: The day your insignificant sports put together a TV audience of a billion and a half people, you can start talking. For the time being, keep your insecure comments to yourself and accept that your taste, although acceptable, will always represent a minuscule minority.

MANU APPELIUS

Los Angeles