L.A. - "capital of the soccer nation" USA

Did you know? Soccer is almost as "hot" in the United States as it is in Europe. According to L.A.'s magazine City Beat there are more soccer aficionados in the U.S. than ever before. Soccer is picked as No. 1 sport by 4,9 million Americans (that's 66% more than in 1987) and is the second most popular U.S. team sport behind basketball. The article call Los Angeles as the "capital of the soccer nation" USA because almost half of L.A. County’s 10 million residents regard soccer as a first sport. That's great. But why do I have to hire Detective Philip Marlowe every time I look for live coverage of the Euro 2004 championship on American television?