Ok, here we are, slogging away in the office in Ventura, Calif. Exactly one month from tonight, I'll be exactly 6,001 miles away as the crow flies, at Allianz Arena in Munich for the opening match of the 2006 World Cup between host Germany and Costa Rica.

The Germans call the $343 million, year-old stadium, which houses Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich and second division 1860 Munich, the "Schlauchboot," which means inflatable raft.

As you can see, the moniker is apt:

But we don't start our trip stranded north of the Bavarian alps. We start it here in the Ventura County Star's newsroom, on a keyboard, surrounded by a sea of faxes and magazines and books and open browser tabs as I attempt to make some sense out of this tournament as the May 15 roster deadline bears down upon the 32 coaches.

The goal of this weblog will be to expand the Bayern Mundial experience to those unable to spend the summer in Germany. Even before a ball is kicked for real this summer, "Cup o'Joe" will have touched down in Cary, Hartford, Boston, Zurich and Hamburg. And you can be right there along with us with the US and Mexican national teams.

Two summers ago, I shared a villa on the Portuguese shores northwest of Lisbon with 10 of my closest friends for Euro 2004, one of the more exciting football tournaments in recent memory.

This summer, you're all invited.

Joe Curley
Soccer columnist
Ventura County Star