Julie Foudy replaced Eric Wynalda as color commentator in ABC's booth for its season-opening MLS broadcast on Saturday, Colorado's 2-1 win over D.C. United. Wynalda was serving a suspension for using obscene language about ESPN's Jim Rome on the blog Fulham USA, according to USA Today.
Wynalda, in a long interview that was posted on www.fulhamusa.com, had said, ''Jim Rome can suck ** ****. And he should be very afraid, because I'm the kind of guy, if I get too many drinks in me, I will club his ***.''
Wynalda's apology statement was: ''These remarks were not meant for public use, but that's my mistake. I totally regret this. I'm embarrassed by it. I have personally apologized to Jim Rome, to ESPN and to my family. I also apologize to others whom I have offended. This will never happen again.''
Rome, the host of ''Jim Rome Is Burning'' on ESPN, is known for making derogatory comments about soccer.