The China diaries

Shanghai is my jumping-off point for covering the Women's World Cup, and specifically the United States women's national team's attempts to reclaim a title lost four years ago on home soil. But while I'm traipsing around the country, attempting to figure out just how Abby Wambach's toe is feeling and if North Korea is indeed a sleeper or just the most overhyped flop-in-waiting since the Segway, the good folks at Page 2 agreed to humor my attempts at sharing some of the sights and sounds of both the tournament and the country that will host next year's Olympics.