Pay to See Losing Teams? Loyalty Only Goes So Far

People often criticize soccer for being un-American.

The Galaxy has become about as American, or at least as Southern Californian, as you can get:

* They have a player (Jorge Campos) who takes vacations during the season, like Cedric Ceballos.

* They have a player (Eduardo Hurtado) who has flashes of brilliance, but who has not lived up to expectations, like Jim Everett or Elden Campbell.

* They experienced an epic “fold” in the playoffs, like the 1986 Angels.

* Their front-running fans have deserted them since they stopped winning, like fans of all Southern California sports teams do (except the Clippers, who never won anything).

* Their coach speaks with a strange accent, like Jim Harrick or almost every King coach.

For better or worse, the Galaxy is now a typical Southern California sports team.

JOHN McCALL

Fullerton

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I’m fed up with The Times’ bad attitude toward the Galaxy.

Last week’s loss to Kansas City was due to Campos being sent off, putting the Galaxy in a situation where it was playing a man short, and nothing else. The Times’ Grahame Jones should join Campos in serving out a one-game suspension. Our team can win without both.

DAN PERSOFF

Reseda

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Steve Springer noted in his Morning Briefing (June 2) that the recent U.S.-Canada women’s soccer match in New Britain, Conn., featuring American star Mia Hamm, drew 6,562. Asks Springer: “Does that say more about the appeal of soccer or women’s sports?”

I’m tempted to get bogged down in details, like the crowd of 17,358 that saw the U.S. women rout England in an exhibition last month in San Jose, or the 76,481 on hand for the U.S. women’s victory over China last summer in Georgia for the Olympic gold medal.

But I’d rather ask Springer’s boss, Bill Dwyre--the guy who ordered The Times to give the 1994 World Cup the comprehensive coverage it deserved--why he allows the likes of Springer, Mal Florence and especially Shav Glick to use Morning Briefing as a forum for cheap shots against soccer.

I’ve never understood the animosity this country’s sports establishment has directed at soccer, but there are now 18 million soccer participants in America. That means 18 million Americans who aren’t driving race cars (Glick), running track (Florence) or playing Raider football (Springer).

MEL GRIFFIN

Altadena