es, batting .256 with 16 homers, 45 RBI, 46 runs a

Something about the city of Boston has always fascinated Erick Colin Mena, a 36-year-old born and raised in Mexico City, so he began following the Patriots. During the NFL Fan Fest over the weekend, he wore a sweatshirt that read: I might live in Mexico, but my team is in New England.Mario Hernandes, 26, was decked out in a full-on Raiders costume, mask and everything. His mom gifted him a Raiders-themed backpack at age 17, and ever since then hes been hooked. A similar thing happened to Jose Antonio Bohon, a 50-year-old who watched Fran Tarkenton as a kid, believed him to be ahead of his time and is now as big of a Vikings fan as you will ever meet. Then there is Josue Alvarez, 22, who first began following the Packers because he really, really likes cheese -- seriously. Alvarez, of course, was wearing a foam cheesehead hat.The Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders are about to play the first Monday Night Football game outside of the United States at the distinctive Azteca Stadium, a highly anticipated matchup that will be contested in front of a sellout crowd and will prompt millions of others throughout Mexico to watch from home.In the days leading up to it, tens of thousands of fans came through the NFL Fan Fest at Chapultepec Park, displaying their adoration for American football in their outfits.The passion runs deep. -- Alden GonzalezRaul Parrales, 37, son Raul Jr., 8, and daughter Sofi, 5, Oakland Raiders fans from Estado de MexicoI am a lifetime fan, and when my son told me that he wanted to play football, we discovered that the closest team to our house was [called] the Raiders, [so] he became a Raiders fan since then. My wife is my makeup artist. I try to go with makeup to all of my sons games so I can cheer him [on].Karina Rodriguez, 23, a Green Bay Packers fan of five years, from Mexico CityI became a fan because one of my favorite uncles, the oldest in my mothers family, he is a Green Bay fan. Because of him I caught the football and Packers fever.Francisco Caballero Campos, 49, a Pittsburgh Steelers fan from Mexico CityMy team is the Steelers. Im a fan since the 70s, since Franco Harris time. The big Steel Curtain impressed me. In that time, I had to stay up late at night to watch the games. ... I watched them with my dad and my brothers.Fabiola García, 18, a Baltimore Ravens fan who plays football for the Aggies at Deportivo OceaníaI have been a fan for the last 13 years. I became a Ravens fan because of Michael Ohers movie The Blind Side. Oher is my favorite player. ... I like his strength, his ability and how he stops the rivals.Diego (top), 20, and Isaac, 39, Raiders fans from Mexico CityDiego: Mexico should keep hosting NFL games because here we have a lot of diversity. Mexico and the U.S. have a very tight relationship, and we are great hosts.Aramís González, 36, a Denver Broncos fan since 1992, from Estado de MexicoI became a fan in a very weird way. When I saw Denver lose [the AFC Championship Game] against the Buffalo Bills, I was moved by seeing them sad. My favorite player is John Elway, of course. I saw him as a very passionate player. He never gave up, and I liked that he was named the Comeback Kid.Daniela Ruiz, 26, a Raiders fan from Mexico CityMy dad has been a fan for 50 years, and he inspired me to become one. Now Im pregnant, and I hope to do the same with my baby. ... I remember beating the Broncos -- actually that day during the game -- I felt my baby move for the first time.Juan Carlos Victoria, 24, a Dallas Cowboys fan from Mexico CityI admire very much Emmitt Smith. His last run that made him a legend made me fall in love with the Cowboys, but Terrell Owens is my favorite player. His explosive game was amazing.Samuel Soriano, 35, Liliana Aguilar, 35, and son Samuel, 2, Philadelphia Eagles fansSamuel: My dad is a Cowboys fan, and the rivalry between his team and the Eagles is a big tradition. I wanted to be part of it, and thats why I decided the Eagles as my team.Itzel Carreto, 38, a Patriots fan from Mexico CityIm a Patriots fan since Ive known my boyfriend -- nine months ago.Gabriel Gonzáles Arellano, 39, and son Leveao, 2, Houston Texans fans from Mexico CityGabriel: My dad loved football; he introduced me to the sport. Soon Warren Moon got my attention and made me fall in love with the [Houston Oilers]. My love for the Houston Texans started when the Oilers disappeared.Daniel Acosta, 16, a Kansas City Chiefs fanIm a fan of Kansas City since I was 5 or 6 years old. My parents transmitted it to me. I watched the games, and I started to like it. I bought this poncho in Cancún. Not [a lot of people have] it; it is very special.América Gonzáles, 19, a Miami Dolphins fan from Cuautitlán IzcaliMy favorite player is [wide receiver Jarvis] Landry, because 14 is one of my favorite numbers. My dad is a Raiders fan, and my mom is a Seattle Seahawks supporter. I love the NFL because Im an athlete, and also because its the first time to see something like this in Mexico.German Robles, 39, a San Francisco 49ers fan from Mexico CityI am the president of Club 49ers Mexico. ... The NFL must expand in Mexico since there are so many fans -- the supporters and players keep on growing.Miguel Garcia, 73, a Raiders fan from VeracruzI am a fan because of my father. He used to play at Instituto Politécnico Nacional. In my house we used to talk about football, and my brother and I followed with the tradition. Some of my fathers family members moved to the U.S., and when we visited them, we decided which was our favorite team. And by this time my family said that I was naughty and some type of bad boy -- thats why I chose the Raiders. A long time ago I had the chance to watch the Raiders at Los Angeles. It was a dream for me. Finally I think that dream is coming back. I have my ticket, and Im not going to miss this game.The Díaz Noriega family, from left, Rodrigo, 15, Alan, 9, Mínica Noriega, 36, Andrea, 7, Jordan, 11, and Rodrigo Díaz, 36, of Mexico CityRodrigo: I started playing football when I was a kid. I liked it because of the toughness of the sport. Monica: Im a fan since junior high. I loved watching the games, even the college games, from Mexico.Giovani Ortega, 28, a Raiders fan from Mexico CityI designed the Aztec Raider to give a Mexican touch to the Black Hole from the U.S.. I wanted to do something different and to show the love I have for my country, something to create a link between Mexico and Raiders. I made all this by myself.Marco Antonio Morales, 39, a Dallas Cowboys fanI became a Dallas fan when I was in primary school. I used to watch the games with my dad, and I was attracted by the uniforms and helmets. My all-time favorite player is Troy Aikman, for the leadership he used to have, the way he handled games. He never gave up; he was very precise. I think the NFL is a big show, and we were missing it.Christian Ríos, 26, and daughter Alexa, 10 months, Steelers fansMy love for the Steelers arose to contradict my dad, who is a 49ers fan. We bet a beer or a meal when theres a match between our teams. My wife and I buy dresses of the Steelers for [Alexa]. Her aunt bought her a dress of the Patriots. She will choose her favorite team when she wants. I hope that it will be the same [as] mine and my wife.Joel Arévalo, 41, and son Gamaliel Enrique, 9, Raiders fans from Mexico CityGamaliel: I love their roughness. They never follow the rules. Sometimes I dont follow the rules. Yankees Jersey Authentic . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Derek Jeter Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. http://www.yankeesshoponline.com/don-mattingly-jersey-cheap-clearance.html . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Don Mattingly Shirt ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Mariano Rivera Jersey .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. A look at whats happening all around the majors Wednesday:---LUNCH-HOUR HARDBALLFour games are set to start at 1:35 p.m. EDT or earlier, including Nationals-Indians and Phillies-Marlins at 12:10, Padres-Blue Jays at 12:37 and Tigers-Red Sox at 1:35. The West Coast gets to play in the sun, too, with Rays-Dodgers starting at 3:10 p.m. EDT and Reds-Giants at 3:45.STRASBURG VS CARRASCONationals ace Stephen Strasburg (13-1, 2.83) seeks a bounce back against Cleveland and right-hander Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 2.31) after suffering his first loss in his last start. Strasburg allowed six runs in six innings in a 6-3 defeat to the Dodgers after winning his previous three outings in dominant fashion. Carrasco threw six scoreless innings and only allowed one hit in an 11-4 victory over Kansas City in his last start.LONG, STRANGE TRIPFollowing a circuitous jaunt to the Canadian border, new Toronto outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. is expected to get his first start for the Blue Jays against San Diego. Upton was traded by the Padres on Tuesday when they were already in Toronto, but joining his new team was much more complicated than walking across the field. Requiring a work visa to enter Canada as a member of the Blue Jays, he drove to 1 1/2 hours to Lewiston, New York, and back to Toronto before Tuesday nights game. Sat at border patrol for a little while, jumped in the car and came back, Upton said. It all went pretty smoothly.dddddddddddd Upton grounded into a fielders choice as a pinch-hitter Tuesday. He was having a resurgent season with the Padres, batting .256 with 16 homers, 45 RBI, 46 runs and 20 steals. Hes hit three game-ending home runs.BIRDS OF PREYSt. Louis tries to extend its recent power surge against Logan Verrett (3-6) and the Mets at Citi Field. The Cardinals have homered in 17 consecutive games, their longest streak since a club-record run of 19 games in 2006. They lead the NL in long balls and have already surpassed last seasons total of 137. The last time they topped the league was 1998, the Elias Sports Bureau said, when Mark McGwire hit 70 of their 223. Part-time infielder Jedd Gyorko has been a steady power source lately, with seven home runs in nine games.NEED SOME SUPPORTYu Darvish looks for a little help when Texas plays Oakland. Darvish is winless in two starts since coming off the disabled list, but the Rangers have scored only two runs combined for him in those games. The right-hander from Japan struck out 11 in six innings against Kansas City last Friday. He is 1-8 in 10 career starts against the As. Rookie lefty Sean Manaea makes his fifth start for Oakland since coming off the DL, and in his last three, the As have scored only one run in his 20 innings. ' ' '