reer as an outfielder with the Mets.Four years removed from his last regular-season snap as an NFL quarterbac l League

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. Nike React Element 55 Kopen Nike React Element 55 Nederland . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. http://www.vapormaxsalenederland.com/ . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Nike React Element 55 Kopen . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Nike React Element 87 Nederland . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. NATIONAL ANTHEM PROTESTSDENVER -- Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, a college teammate of Colin Kaepernick, took to a knee during the playing of the national anthem before Denvers season opener against Carolina.Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem during San Franciscos preseason games , explaining it was to protest racial oppression and police brutality in the United States.Marshall sounded a similar theme after Denvers 21-20 win.Im not against the military, Im not against America, he said. Im against social injustice.Kaepernicks gesture opened a wide debate and put the microscope on a pregame tradition that has, for decades, been routine.Marshall was standing with his hand over his heart during the anthem before a preseason game on Aug. 20.He made no mention of his plans for Thursdays opener but shortly after the large American flag was unfurled, the fifth-year linebacker out of Nevada went to the end of a long row of Broncos and took a knee.Broncos Super Bowl MVP Von Miller said he supported Kaepernick, too. Im not going to kneel for the national anthem but I feel it should be a change. His actions really brought the topic, brought it into the conversation. Im with Colin all the way.SWIMMINGRyan Lochte is banned from swimming through next June and will forfeit $100,000 in bonus money that went with his gold medal at the Olympics, part of the penalty for his drunken encounter at a gas station in Brazil during last months games.The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Swimming announced the penalties Thursday. Lochte agreed to a ban that includes next years world championships.Hell get no monthly funding from either organization, cant access USOC training centers, must perform 20 hours of community service and will miss Team USAs post-Olympics trip to the White House.Agreeing to four-month suspensions were Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen, who were with Lochte at the gas station. Those sanctions, which end Dec. 31, also strip funding and training access and preclude them from the White House visit.Bentz, 20, will alsso serve 10 hours of community service for violating a curfew rule for athletes under 21.dddddddddddd.BASEBALLNEW YORK -- Having flopped with the New York Jets, Tim Tebow will try to revive his career as an outfielder with the Mets.Four years removed from his last regular-season snap as an NFL quarterback, the 29-year-old agreed Thursday to a minor league contract with the Mets that includes a $100,000 signing bonus.He will report Sept. 18 to the Instructional League in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and test his baseball skills for three weeks against players just months removed from high school and college.The Mets then will decide whether he goes to the Arizona Fall League, a winter league or gets personal tutoring to prepare for spring training.Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders and Brian Jordan are the only significant players to have extensive careers in both Major League Baseball and the NFL during the past three decades.PRO FOOTBALLEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has had surgery on his severely injured left knee, the first step toward what will undoubtedly be a long, arduous recovery.Vikings coach Mike Zimmer confirmed the operation took place Thursday, nine days after Bridgewater went down in practice while dropping back to pass during a routine non-contact drill that drastically altered the teams highly anticipated season.Zimmer said he spoke by phone to Bridgewaters doctor after the procedure and was told no major problems were encountered beyond the initial diagnosis of a knee dislocation and complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. The Vikings said after the injury that Bridgewater also suffered other significant damage.Thanks for the thoughts (and) prayers, Bridgewater said on Twitter . Ill be back!The 23-year-old will miss the 2016 season, and the nature and timing of the injury will make it difficult for Bridgewater to be at full strength for 2017, too. ' ' '