Given that you probably wouldn't want to put a live mike on most of the drivers on I-15 during rush hour, why would you want to put a mike on a NASCAR driver?

ONCE AGAIN, the problems with the Mountain West's TV deal are not unique to the Mountain West. The Philadelphia News ran a column by John Smallwood berating the U.S. Soccer Federation for selling the English-language rights to the Gold Cup tournament to Fox Soccer Channel.

"If most Americans can't see the U.S. team play in a tournament as big as the Gold Cup, is it really helping to sell the sport? Somebody in the marketing department of the U.S. Soccer Federation is dropping the ball."

It's not the same situation that MWC fans find themselves in, however. Smallwood wrote that FSC is available on his satellite system, but it costs extra.

"I like soccer, but not enough to add more to my already sky-high television bill."

There are a lot of MWC fans who would pay a premium to get The mtn. but don't have that option.

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com