When it comes to teams that should make American soccer fans' blood boil, the Mexico rivalry holds enough hatred for places one, two and three.

But as the US soccer team prepares for a friendly in Genoa, it's the perfect time to highlight the team that should receive the next level of the Stars and Stripes' rage: Italy. The US has never beaten Italy, though there have been moments that have lifted the Americans' hopes along the way, only to be crushed or ruthlessly frustrated.

Let's examine recent history, starting with the 2006 World Cup. After opening with a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic, the US essentially needed a win against Italy to have a shot at advancing. It started awfully with an offsides trap failing and Italy scoring on a free kick, but was re-energized when an own goal evened things. Then Daniele de Rossi clocked Brian McBride with his elbow and busted his face open, first earning the outrage of the Americans and in turn, a red card for his actions. De Rossi is notoriously classy, gracious and a pro's pro, but for the purposes of this argument, in that moment, he was the dirtiest of the dirty. "That elbow was absurd!" I shouted at my TV. Off he went.

Of course, the rest of the game was just as infuriating. The US failed to really take advantage of the extra man, and eventually two US players were sent off, capping a game of absurd officiating by Jorge Larrionda. Italy, of course, went on to win the World Cup. And America was that close, and not close at all. Throw in a 1-0 loss to Italy in Rome during the 1990 World Cup, and you've got plenty of World Cup bitterness to work with. Plus, you can be mad about Tony Meola's 1990 mullet further embarrassing the red, white and blue, as well. Still not enough? Don't ever forget that 7-1 drubbing in the 1934 World Cup. That one still stings.

The Tuesday Lineup thinks every NASCAR race should be on Monday nights. Also, it had enough explosions to be a Michael Bay flick with Megan Fox as Danica Patrick. That'd work, right?

Must Reads Of The Day
It had fire, rain and wrecks. Just another run-of-the-mill Daytona 500. Dan Wetzel recaps the strangest night in a while in NASCAR, and how it all wrapped up. Yahoo! Sports >>

The Daytona 500 was supposed to jump start a season of serious anticipation for Jimmie Johnson and Danica Patrick. That ended with a wreck right after the race started. Yahoo! Sports >>

And Jeff Passan continued his deadline fury with another piece on Brad Keselowski making a little history during the fire delay by tweeting. Yahoo! Sports >>

It's a busy time of year with NASCAR, NBA, NHL and NCAA basketball all in full force. Tough to fit all of them in one show, sure, but ESPN completely ignoring the NHL trade deadline? Ouch. Awful Announcing >>

Cool story by Hunter Atkins on Andre Emmett, and the perilousness of the 10-day NBA contract. The same sort of situation that led to Jeremy Lin's breakout. New York Times >>

The Friday Lineup is here to soak up all of your outrage over Ryan Braun escaping the clutches of MLB, it's time to get it all out, people. There can be no PED rage carrying into the weekend and ruining it for everyone else.

Must Reads Of The Day
Jeff Passan makes the Braun situation impossibly clear in the midst of a mess that is immeasurably hazy and chaotic. Yahoo! Sports >>

Not happy with the verdict by the arbitrators in Braun's case? Convinced he was guilty and got away with it? Sorry, can't help you, says Danny Knobler. CBS Sports >>

Cincinnati could have crumbled following an early season brawl with Xavier. Instead, the Bearcats have flourished and their coach has evolved. Yahoo! Sports >>

Check out the signature shoes that many of the NBA's best players will be wearing during all-star weekend in Orlando. The Score >>

Speaking of sneakers, one crowd in Orlando wanted a Nike release so badly last night that riots broke out and the police attempted to corral the insanity. Orlando Sentinel >>

Earlier this week, A.J. Burnett was traded from the New York Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates. His mercurial performance while in pinstripes, and even before, has been well documented.

While the dust has largely settled following the trade, one question still remains: Why did Burnett veto a trade to the Angels, the most competitive option of the three (Cleveland, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh) that were most discussed?

The answer? The most common reason that popped up was that Burnett's wife has a fear of flying, so it speaks to reason that multiple trips from the family home in Maryland to Los Angeles would be an immensely stressful experience. Some bloggers deemed this a perfectly rational explanation. Others chose to immediately call the pitcher "foolish."

Now, I'm not going to expend an immense amount of energy espousing the virtues of Burnett. The man is not without his flaws, with attitude and work ethic typically maintaining a steady hold at the top of the list. And I don't know who he is at home as a husband or father, nor do I think that knowing that changes the context of this debate.

The idea that his vetoing a trade to Los Angeles somehow reveals the weakness of his inner warrior, somehow connects to his poor attitude or inexplicably reveals a deep desire to escape New York and hide in mediocrity is a pretty hefty leap.