On a Sunday morning, the Oakland grocery store cashier said, “Looks like supplies for the Raiders game.” “No,” I said. She replied, “The 49ers, then?” I told the curious clerk I’d be watching soccer. But on the way home, remembering that MLS now has an NFL guy in charge — Commissioner Don Garber — I decided to give the NFL a look. With two VCRs I could watch the 49ers game without missing MLS and Mexican league action. I’ve always liked football and even led my high school team in scoring (as kicker, of course). But I found myself frustrated watching the NFL action. Why? The first quarter was interrupted for eight minutes of commercials. By the game’s end — not including pregame or halftime — I sat through 35 minutes of ad interruptions. I wasn’t used to that. I shun network news because jolly fast-food ads following reports on famine make it unbearable. Sitcoms and “Jeopardy” we tape, then we fast-forward through the commercials. And I watch soccer, which gives me 45-minute halves without commercial interruptions. ABC, CBS and Fox have ordered producers to cut down prime-time shows to allow more commercials, but forcing viewers to watch them may become even more difficult. Undoubtedly, people already use the breaks for restroom and refrigerator trips, and channel surfing. Now come Personal Video Recorders, whose digital format makes skipping commercials an effortless process. Networks will try increasing the difficulty of separating advertising from the programs, and here MLS is already ahead of the game. Its on-screen sponsor logos keep the brand in the fans’ eyes without interrupting the action. This is strong selling point for MLS: “Our fans don’t go to the can when you’re on screen!” More importantly, the practice shows respect for fans of a game that can’t be chopped up. FANS, LET’S HEAR YOUR VIEW Click here to log onto (Soccer) American Graffiti. Then click on the topic titled “MLS has a good thing going” and respond to MIKE WOITALLA in 200 words or less. Best responses may be reprinted in Soccer America Magazine. If YOUR View is selected, we’ll send you a cool T-shirt and pin… Because You’re FANATIC.