Monday’s top stories, Gold Cup soccer and a video preview of Shaun Hittle’s rodeo school story

Members of the United States national soccer team run drills during practice at the new Livestrong Sporting Park, Monday, June 13, 2011 in Kansas City, Kan. USA will face Guadeloupe on June 14, during pool play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.

I made it through my first day back, but today is the best day of the week. More on that below.

First, here are yesterday’s most-viewed stories and most-commented items in the last 24 hours.

Most-viewed stories

1. 2 missing girls may be in Lawrence area
2. Well, well, well: Chrissie Wellington rallies for Kansas three-peat
3. Statehouse Live: Kansas NOW seeks apology for confiscation of news conference props
4. OTS: What is the most important tool to have when grilling?
5. River City Jules: Men, privates don’t belong in public


Most-commented items in the last 24 hours

1. Statehouse Live: Kansas NOW seeks apology for confiscation of news conference props
2. River City Jules: Men, privates don’t belong in public
3. OTS: What is the most important tool to have when grilling?
4. Brownback announces public forums for input on Medicaid overhaul
5. Survey shows Lawrence crime rate higher than average in several categories


‘Cuz we support the U.S., the U.S., the U.S. and that’s the way we like it!’

Today is not your average Tuesday! Tonight I’ll be going to the CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park (yes, soccer). I’m so excited I COULD TYPE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS!

Members of the United States national soccer team run drills during practice at the new Livestrong Sporting Park, Monday, June 13, 2011 in Kansas City, Kan. USA will face Guadeloupe on June 14, during pool play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.

If you’re unfamiliar with the CONCACAF Gold Cup, it’s a tournament held every two years for national teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Tonight’s ticket is Panama vs. Canada at 6 p.m. and the U.S. vs. Guadalupe at 8 p.m. The U.S. squad features their top players, including Tim Howard (my favorite).

United States goalkeeper Tim Howard (1) celebates their 2-0 win over Canada in a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at Ford Field in Detroit, Tuesday, June 7, 2011.

Also likely to make an appearance is Sporting KC MF Stéphane Auvray. He is the Guadalupe team captain (video).

The atmosphere should be fantastic, considering the rowdy crowd at last week’s Sporting home opener. The American Outlaws are in town, too, and they always add an extra level of intensity to the party.


‘It’s bulls and blood. It’s dust and mud.’

If you’re a bit squeamish, you may not want to watch this video. LJWorld.com reporter Shaun Hittle is working on a story about the Sankey Rodeo School in Rose Hill, Kan. Here’s a video preview of what you can expect. Surprisingly, no one was seriously injured after this incident.

http://www2.ljworld.com/videos/2011/jun/13/34642/