I have been a big supporter of this lovely tournament ever since I saw the old Thomas R. Dewer Cup being surrounded by DC United in a MLS Merchandize catalog back in 1997. Just getting into the sport you always knew about the league and the Cup playoffs, but never about the US Open Cup till someone informed me what it's about.

It's World Cup qualifying day, and U.S.-Mexico has finally arrived. I don't even know where to begin to round-up all the articles out there on this game, and I'm not sure I could read another one, but I am counting down the hours to the game, despite the fact I'm hardly a wild partisan for either team.

Bob Bradley addresses the U.S. team yesterday at Estadio Saprissa. Photo courtesy of the Men's National Team blog. Head there for more photos and great information.
ESPN has switched coverage of tonight's USA-Costa Rica World Cup qualifier to ESPN2 to avoid a potential run-over by Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox visiting the Detroit Tigers on ESPN original recipe.

Shaka says the Azteca is not that difficult. Janusz says it is. Mind you neither of them ever won a match there as players but hey, most people who aren't Mexican don't. Do you think we'll break the jinx this year? I hope so because if we can't do it now --Gold Cup final aside, Mexico are reeling and the Yanks are stuntin'--we may never do it.

The World Cup is a time of triumph and heartache. Over the last few weeks football fans from all over the world have heard about the powerhouse squads that will likely miss the coveted tournament.

Argentina, Portugal, France, and the Czech Republic are just a few of the excellent squads that will most likely watch the Cup from home.

Throughout my life I've been both types of fan, loyalist and leach, depending on the sport. There is logic and even romance in each. But as I age I'm attracted more and more to the latter, to the Chuck Klosterman sort of sports fandom that resembles musical taste – polygamous and fickle. I think this is common for a lot of modern sports fans, the mass consumers of entertainment that we are.

STARTERS
I am back from Mexico City! Wow, what a trip. More later. On with the show. And remember, stay thirsty my friends.
dN
And I must give a big hello to my fellow travel companions: Kevin, Neal, Andy, Paul, Keith, Sasha, Patrick, Charlie, Tom, Joe, Tate, Regan, Ethan, Adam and especially Andrew who picked me up at the airport!

QUESTION ON MY MIND
Will we ever know what happened in the Charlie Davies car accident? Who was driving? How did the crash occur? What was he doing out past 3am? Maybe he had special dispensation from the coach to be out late. Who knows.
Maybe this info is too private, but I know that these are things the fans would like to read about.

Follow the World Cup draw via a live blog beginning at Noon ET/9am PT/5pm GMT today. Whether you're at work and away from the TV set or you want to join in the discussion online as you watch it on TV, join MLS Talk blogger Adam Serrano as he takes you through the draw and all of the suspense surrounding it.