Finding flaws in American TV commentary for soccer games has the same degree of difficulty as shooting fish in a barrel. But are we being overly critical? Sports fans are all experts. We’ll forever disagree with some of the commentary. Yet certain areas aren’t subject to subjectivity. Play-by-play men don’t understand their task entails telling us who has the ball, everytime a different player gets it. And commentators have no excuse for their refusal to refer to the rule book when analyzing controversial calls. Real MLS example: A referee whistles a trip and the color man says it wasn’t “deliberate.” Intent, except in handball situations, is irrelevant. “He got the ball” is a favorite refrain. It’s possible to make fair contact after playing the ball, but I have yet to hear a broadcaster remind us that it’s a direct free kick if it is “considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or involving disproportionate force.” And the rules say a sliding tackle is OK only if the referee believes “it is not dangerous.” Tackles from behind are punished inconsistently, but TV experts consistently neglect to remind us that if there is “little attempt” to play the ball, a red card is warranted. Sometimes, the commentators are just plain wrong: “The ball was in the air enough to get San Jose onside.” Statements like that indicate the rule book isn’t being read. The same goes for references to the “last man” on red-card offenses. The ejection is warranted, the book says, when the perpetrator is “denying an obvious opportunity to score.” There’s no mention of the “last man” in the rule book. Here’s my advice: After a controversial incident, recite or accurately paraphrase the rule book. When the viewers see the replay, they’ll have the right information to judge the judgment call. FANS, LET’S HEAR YOUR VIEW Click here to log onto (Soccer) American Graffiti. Then click on the topic titled “What’s wrong on TV” 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.