Can the U.S. rise to the occasion?
Posted by Luke Cyphers
When the U.S. plays Mexico on Wednesday in the thin air of Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, where the Yanks are 0-18-1, the players will need all the help they can get to adjust to the altitude.
"In high-altitude areas such as Mexico City (elevation 7,600 feet or about 1/2 mile higher than Denver, Colorado), most people need a short adjustment period," says the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on Mexico. "Reaction signs ... include a lack of energy, shortness of breath, occasional dizziness, headache, and insomnia."
Not exactly the stuff of peak performance. But the Yanks should resist the temptation to seek aid from a little blue diamond. Yes, they should just say no -- to Viagra.
To find out what the heck Luke's talking about and how the U.S. is planning to deal with the daunting challenge of Azteca, plus other news and notes, you must be an ESPN Insider. 
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
