GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

Even Tai Shan has his own soccer ... err futbol, what's all the commotion about?

In case you live under a rock in the panda house, the 2006 FIFA World Cup starts today. Every four years, productivity globe-wide comes to a screeching halt. Normally well balanced and diligent employees disappear for 3 1/2 hour lunches and are later caught fast asleep at their desks because they'd been up since 3:30 AM. For the next few weeks, millions of people are ecstatic to live like this because, well there's nothing like it!

I don't know rule one about soccer (wait yes I do--don't touch the futbol with your dos manos unless you're the goalie!) and even I find the World Cup totally enthralling. It is similar to the Olympics in that both are games highlighting the spirit of friendly, international competition. And to the winning country? Ultimate international boasting rights for the next four years (more useful than a passport abroad, except it could get you beaten up every once in a while. Well worth it if your country wins!)

But the World Cup is BETTER than the Olympics because it's more focused, there's only one sport to keep track of, and there is only ONE Coveted Cup. No sad silvers to second, no "better luck next time" bronzes. One Goal--One Cup!

Finally, several dozen swarthy, international mega-athletes with killer calves and sexy smiles never hurts a spectator sport either ... (to that end, names to Google: Roque Santa Cruz, Raul (Spain), and a perennial fan fave, David "Mister Posh Spice- aaaahhh" Beckham.) SIGH!

First match is Germany v. Costa Rica @ noon eastern. I'll be at Bailey's. Don't bother me.

World Cup Teams