THE ZAPPER

John O'Keefe

June 11, 2001

Americans are trying to learn to love soccer, but it's not always easy, especially when, as happened last Saturday, ESPN2 peremptorily decides to show an MLS game between the Mutiny and the Wizards on tape-delay 90 minutes after it was supposed to have presented the game live. The kicker: In the second half of the tape-delayed telecast, ESPN2 flashed the final score on the ticker.... Score one for Ahmad Rashad, the NBA on NBC host whose friendship with Michael Jordan paid off in the Sunday scoop that (contrary to reports) His Airness would not play summer-league ball.