It has probes disney on ice tickets become a disney on ince defines rite of summer in the United States the last few years and shows no signs of dissipating. Visitors from overseas invade our shores, eager to spread their message, display their world-renowned talent and try to conquer another piece, albeit a large one here in America, of soccer fandom. The takeover continues this weekend when two of the world's leading club teams -- FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC -- show up for high-profile exhibitions, including one at the Coliseum, where all 92,650 tickets already have been sold. Locally, Barcelona, the reigning Spanish and European champion with its star-studded roster, will kick off its three-game tour of the U. S when it takes on CD Chivas de Guadalajara at 6:30 p. m Sunday. The game will serve as the main event after a Major League Soccer undercard of Chivas USA and the New England Revolution at 4. Today at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. , two-time defending English Premier League champion Chelsea, with its own stable of world-class talent including new additions Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, takes on the MLS All-Stars at 3:30 p. m. PDT. Real Madrid, which played the Galaxy at the sold-out Home Depot Center last summer, also has a two-game tour planned for Seattle and Salt Lake City. "It will be interesting because I know from experience that it is always difficult to play against these kinds of teams with the big crowds and the great atmosphere," Barcelona Coach Frank Rijkaard said. "But it's an excellent challenge and I hope we can play some nice games. "Barcelona, which also has matches scheduled for Wednesday in Houston against Club America of Mexico and Aug. 12 in East Rutherford, N. J. , against the New York Red Bulls, has brought a 30-player roster that includes Ronaldihno, Lionel Messi, Rafael Marquez and Samuel Eto'o, as well as recent acquisitions Gianluca Zambrotta of World Cup champion Italy and Lilian Thuram of runner-up France, although the latter two won't play Sunday. The importance of Sunday's game, at least as far as prestige, has not been lost on Chivas de Guadalajara, which will send its first team to Los Angeles and use reserves for the opening of the Mexican league season the same day.

Jose Manuel De La Torre will try to coach both games, using a chartered jet to make it to the Coliseum in time. disney on ice ticket . Good news for the Lakers: all but two of their players practiced Monday. Bad news for them: their top two players were still out, and Kobe Bryant didn't hang around to say why. With exactly two weeks to the season opener, Lamar Odom (shoulder) sat out Monday and Bryant did not practice for a second consecutive day after asking Coach Phil Jackson if he could rest his legs, Jackson said. Bryant was not made available for comment afterward and has had minimal contact with reporters since Thursday's exhibition game in Honolulu, the same day that news broke of owner Jerry Buss's comments regarding the possibility of trading him. The team flew back from Hawaii last Friday, and Bryant did not speak to the media after practice Saturday, Sunday or Monday dysney on ice . (He granted an interview Monday to local TV analyst James Worthy, but it was behind closed doors. )"Kobe asked me to rest his legs," Jackson said Monday "He wanted to get a massage and ice his legs disny on ice . I said that's all right today. "Bryant also has had tendinitis in his right knee, the same one he had surgically repaired before last season. He was believed to be unhappy that Buss released details of a conversation they had in June in which Bryant reiterated his demand to be traded. Bryant's clipped words to reporters last Thursday: "I don't have anything for you guys diney on ice . Zip, zero. "At the time, Bryant referred media members to a statement he released earlier that day in which he acknowledged Buss's publicizing details of their Barcelona conversation.

Bryant ended the three-sentence statement by saying, "I have nothing further to add and look forward to the upcoming season with my teammates. "The Lakers declined to comment Monday. Disney On Ice tickets On the court, Kwame Brown scrimmaged in half-court sets and could play for the first time Saturday or Sunday in exhibition games at Staples Center Disney On Ice - go . He has been out since undergoing off-season surgeries for his ankle and shoulder Disney On Ice - go . "He was really active, beat guys to the ball," Jackson said mystery on ice . "His timing's a little bit off on his shot. "Maurice Evans also practiced after sitting out last Thursday's game because of a strained hamstring, and Ronny Turiaf was back after leaving practice Sunday because of a strained neck. Odom, however, has still not returned from off-season shoulder surgery incredibles on ice . He and Jackson sounded hopeful that he would be ready when Houston comes to Staples Center on Oct 30. "I think he'll want to start it," Jackson said Disney On Ice . "He may not be in the optimal, 100% spot, but I think he'll want to get it going. "Odom seemed to agree, saying, "I'm a gamer.