More on the contest later, but first:

*Reporter Phil Collin has the reaction from all the local players selected to the preliminary U.S. roster. (Well, except Landon Donovan who pulled a Beckham and decided not to deign to talk to the media until Thursday, presumably to coincide with a new sponsorship deal).

*Let’s not overlook that Fulham hotshot Clint Dempsey is poised to make history today when he becomes the first American to play in a major European final the day after his inclusion on the preliminary World Cup squad. The game airs live at 11:45 a.m. on Channel 461.

*Finally, if you click the new button at the top right of this blog you get transported to our brand-new World Cup contest page.

Check out the latest World Cup news (here’s the Mexican roster, for instance), predict the results of World Cup games and check out the predictions of three “celebrity pickers (since I’m one of them I use the term loosely, but at least we’re a cosmopolitan bunch with a native Englishman, a Mexican who is married to an American and a gentlemen I’m just guessing is originally from Germany).

Chivas USA has provided an excellent grand prize and I’m told that venerable Alpine Village (perhaps the best place in Southern California to watch games involving Germany) has expanded its beer selection just in time for the World Cup.

Cheers.