Any way you say it, I’m excited. I mean, come on … who isn’t? If you love sports, and if you love drama, and if you love a great story–or even one of the three–then you love the World Cup. Today was Day 2 of the 2010 World Cup and I wanted nothing more than to be posted up in front of a television, American brew in hand, watching the USA take on England. Instead, I was standing in the rain on the corner of Augusta and Elston in Chicago, watching a BMX Dirt contest–and watching the game on my iPhone.

THE RED BULL STOMPING GROUNDS CONTEST …

The contest was a lot of fun and part of my reporting for a feature on BMXer Anthony Napolitan. You may remember him as the guy who landed the first double front flip on the mega ramp at the X Games last year. And if you don’t remember him, well, that’s even more reason to read my story. And the soccer game, well, a 1-1 tie is something the U.S. team should be damn proud of–especially for holding an all-star England squad to one goal–and something that will surely keep the English players awake tonight.

I am, of course, rooting for Team USA. But watching the team is even cooler because the coach, Bob Bradley, is the brother of one of my friends and colleagues, ESPN The Mag senior writer Jeff Bradley. Bob’s son, and Jeff’s nephew, Michael Bradley, is a member of the team. I know how excited I was when the Little League team I coached won the 1998 Gainesville City Championship. I can not imagine what it is like to watch your brother coach Team USA to a tie against England. Jeff said he cried like a baby during the National Anthem. I think I’d be crying like a baby just taking the shuttle to the stadium.

Even though I don’t cover soccer, I have been getting in the soccer mindset in a variety of ways this month. A couple weeks ago, I spent 10 days in NYC and bookended the trip with soccer outings. First, a group of my ESPN The Mag colleagues and I went to a Red Bulls game at their new stadium in New Jersey. Very cool, and a fun way to spend a Saturday evening. It was well worth the 3,000-mile commute.

THE GANG, AT THE GAME …

WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T FALL IN LOVE AT A SOCCER GAME? NOT ME!

The following Saturday, I played in the 2010 AdiCup tournament at Pier 42 in NYC with my friend Michelle and her squad from Paper magazine. I was an honorary Paper Shredder, and I must say, we were way better than we thought we would be. The only team that beat us won the whole championship. And man, they were scary good.

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE TOUGHEST — BUT WE DEFINITELY HAD THE CUTEST UNIFORMS …

I am also working on a story for our next issue that we are affectionately calling (for the moment, anyway) “How Soccer Explains the Sports World.” We borrowed that title from the book, “How Soccer Explains the World.” I found big-name athletes in six major sports who grew up playing soccer and who feel soccer shaped their skills in the game they currently play. Before flying to Chicago Thursday night for this BMX contest, I spent two days in Kona, Hawaii, with one of those athletes for a photo shoot and interview. Man, I hate it when an athlete requests that I come to where he is vacationing for a photo shoot and interview. Such a jerk you are, Steve Nash!

STEVE NASH ON THE THROW-IN TO HIS KONA CRUSH TEAMMATES …

ME, IN THE TRENCHES …

ANY KID WHO CAME DOWN THE SWIRLY SLIDE AT THIS PLAYGROUND GOT QUITE A SURPRISE …

[PHOTO CREDIT/LENSMANSHIP: STACEY PRESSMAN]