OPENING DAY . . .

. . . is just under 12 days away. I'm itchin' for soccer my friends, chomping at the bit, rarin' to go, and any other hackneyed cliche' you can come up with:

* I've got my brand new Dallas Burn scarf hanging in the closet, ready to go.

* My Major Fantasy League Soccer team, FC Real Edmond City United, has been chosen; no money remaining under the salary cap, but a killer starting XI and a solid bench.

*I've got tickets for the April 10th MLS exhibition match (K.C. Wizards vs my beloved Dallas Burn), which is taking place about two miles from my house at the Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma. I also picked up one of these shirts from Wally's very excellent MLSinOKC website.

* I reordered MLS Direct Kick, so I can see just about every televised MLS game this season.

* And last but not least, plans are being made for a road trip to Dallas on April 28th to watch my first ever live U.S. National Team match. We're taking on Mexico at the Cotton Bowl, and I can't think of a better opponent or better venue for my first cap.

Have I forgotten anything? Nope that's about it.

I do want to put in a plug for ThreeSixOne: The American Soccer Magazine. It's laugh-out-loud-funny for those who are knowledgeable about the American soccer scene, pretty-darn-amusing for those who have a basic awareness of MLS and the USMNT, and at-very-least-somewhat-interesting for everyone else. It's the creation of Kenn Tomasch, a soccer writer/broadcaster from Chicago.