US Women Soccer
Superstars Victims of Their Own Success
By Chris Lauber
With the
imminent retirement of long-time veterans Mia Hamm, Julie
Foudy, and Joy Fawcett from the U.S. Women's National Soccer
Team, I often find myself thinking how fortunate my family has
been to witness their heroics on the field and their positive
influence off of it.
But the last game we saw in person stands out as a very
different experience from the first game we saw nearly nine
years ago.
Last summer, I attended a soccer match between Brazil and the
United States Women's National Team in New Orleans with my
teenage daughter, Leah. It was a great game with plenty of
action on a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and the U.S. Team won
on a Tiffeny Milbrett goal in the 90th minute. For Leah and I,
it was a bittersweet experience.
It was a wonderful ''dad and daughter'' 42-hour trip from our
home in St. Petersburg, Florida to New Orleans and back again.
We talked, we laughed, and we listened to each other's music
for each of the 20 hours and 1393 miles in the car. During our
short stay, we visited Bourbon Street at night and the Cafe du
Monde for breakfast.
But our journey's focus was to see our soccer heroes in action
again. That's right, I said OUR heroes. Ever since that rainy
night in February of 1996 when we first saw our National Team
play in Tampa, these outstanding women became my heroes every
bit as much as my daughters' heroes.
I remember being awestruck as I watched them for the first
time - their skills, their strength, and their obvious passion
for the game. But it was after the game, that I was won over
as a dedicated fan.
Earlier that day, Nicole, my younger daughter, asked me if she
should bring her Official U.S. Women's National Team Calendar
for autographs. My response: ''This is our National Team with
the best players in the world. I really doubt you will get any
autographs, I said. With the rainy weather, you don't want to
ruin your calendar, but bring your autograph book, just in
case.''
When the game ended, I couldn't believe my eyes. Every single
player came over to the bleachers where about 1,900 spectators
anxiously waited. Not only were they willing to sign
autographs, but EACH OF THE PLAYERS HAD THEIR OWN PENS! They
talked with the fans, posed for pictures, and most
importantly, they really seemed to enjoy doing it. We were
immediately hooked.
Since then, we've been extremely fortunate to witness some of
their most important games: the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal match
in Atlanta, the historic 1999 Women's World Cup Championship
game in Los Angeles, and even Mia Hamm's record-breaking
moment for career goals in Orlando in 1999.
We've had several encounters with the players, including
clinics, autograph sessions, and we even attended a few
training sessions in Orlando. Five years ago, while Leah
worked as a junior reporter for the St. Petersburg Times, she
wrote five features for the weekly X-Press Page for kids.
Along the way, Leah interviewed nearly every team member and
even Head Coach Tony DiCicco. Afterwards, at the age of
twelve, she wrote a book, Soccer Dreams, to share her
adventure, promote the positive values she learned from the
team, and to encourage readers to DREAM BIG! It was published
last year and has earned very positive customer reviews at
Amazon.com.
So our commitment to the Women's National Team runs deep. As a
family, soccer has been a unifying force ever since Leah and
Nicole played on the same U-8 team, which I coached. This
great sport has provided us with countless memories, as
participants and as spectators.
So why, you might wonder, was it bittersweet in New Orleans,
to see our team again after more than four years of nothing
but televised games? Most of the players were the same, and
they all had the same intensity on the field we've come to
expect.
But this time, the team had already broken through. Ever since
the 1999 Women's World Cup, huge crowds cheer them on wherever
they play. In New Orleans that day, they played in front of
15,000 spectators, with a live national television audience
and a horde of media members reporting their every move.
They were enjoying all the fruits of their many years of
labor. Their dreams of just a few years ago, playing in front
of huge crowds, of being recognized, had been realized -
repeatedly.
In the beginning, we wanted nothing more than for these
players to be given their due, for them to enjoy their
success. Now they are living like the superstars they have
always been, with fans hanging out in their hotel lobby and
screaming for autographs wherever they go. Easy access is
probably gone forever. Recognizing and understanding that was
an eye-opener.
Imagine being a Bruce Springsteen fan in the early Stone Pony
days, before he rocketed to worldwide fame and glory. Perhaps
you had a chance to talk to him, maybe even hang out with him.
While you knew he was something special and you wanted him to
reach the rarefied air of superstardom, once he did, your
little secret was out. No more casual chats. No more hanging
out. Now you're lucky to get an overpriced ticket in the
nosebleed seats from a scalper.
But of course, like Bruce, try as they might, our National
Team can no longer satisfy everyone. They still carry their
own pens for autographs after the games, but now there are
increased post-game media demands.
While goalkeeper Briana Scurry did the post-game ESPN
interview that day in New Orleans, forwards Cindy Parlow and
Mia Hamm were the first to be interviewed by the local media,
followed by forward Tiffeny Milbrett, defender Brandi
Chastain, and Head Coach April Heinrichs. The rest of the
players signed autographs, but with 15,000 fans, it was simply
impossible to accommodate every fan.
Leah didn't try to acquire autographs that day. She already
has plenty, and on that day, we also had field photo
credentials. Not only is autograph-collecting taboo for
objective journalists, but our memories of the game will be in
the photos we captured.
After the game, as the players boarded the bus, I saw one
woman approach a team official. She was ranting and raving
that she had driven five hours to bring her daughter to the
game and that her daughter didn't get any autographs from the
players. The team official explained that the players signed
autographs for a half hour INSIDE the stadium, which was true.
Apparently, this woman and her daughter had been positioned in
the wrong place and were headed home empty-handed. As she
stormed off, she yelled, ''BOOO Women's National Team!! I'll
never come to another game! BOOO!''
I am certain other fans left empty-handed as well or
disappointed with just one or two autographs. I am also
certain this woman's experience will be repeated during the
current 10-game Fan's Celebration Tour and at future games as
well.
Our National Team players are victims of their own success.
After working so hard, for so long, to develop their fan
support, it is simply impossible for them to continue to be so
accessible and provide autographs to every fan who wants one.
So if you are lucky enough to see our National Team play this
year or in any other games in the future, go to enjoy the
skill, the intensity and the passion these gifted athletes put
into their effort. If you are really lucky, and do get an
autograph or two, even better.
But you shouldn't be disappointed if you don't get any
autographs. And you should forewarn your kids that it might
not be possible this time around, which will lessen their
disappointment.
Finally, as you're driving home, take advantage of the
opportunity to focus with your kids on the positive values
(hard work, commitment, perseverance) these incredible
athletes exemplify. Those are lessons we should want all our
children to learn.
Chris Lauber is the photographer, editor, and publisher of
Soccer Dreams, written by his daughter, Leah, to describe her
true adventure following the U.S. Women's National Soccer
Team, as a fan and 12-year-old Junior Reporter during the
historic 1999 Women's World Cup. It is receiving excellent
customer reviews at Amazon.com. Purchase Soccer Dreams at
Amazon on November 8th and receive numerous bonuses. To
receive an update, send us an e-mail to WWCSoccerDreams@aol.com
http://www.SoccerDreamsBook.com
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