When Brandi Chastain inadvertantly blurted out an "Oh My God" on Norway's first goal a little over a minute into the game, that pretty much summed up the United States' start to the Olympic women's soccer tournament. Two goals against in a shocking first five minutes and the US never recovered.losing 2-0.
However, the two early goals weren't the most concerning part. The US still had 85 minutes to score a goal and they couldn't. This team was supposed to be more imaginative and creative than last year's team that struggled at the World Cup but I only saw glimpses. Too many shots from distance and long balls without a purpose. I know that all Norway had to do was sit back the rest of the way but no goals against a team that the US had beaten 4-1 in the World Cup, 4-0 at the Algarve Cup, and 4-0 in a friendly - that's pretty surprising too.
The US has until Saturday to recover when it takes on Japan, which tied New Zealand 2-2 on a late goal by former WUSA player Homare Sawa.
Other scores:
Canada 2:1 Argentina
Brazil 0:0 Germany
North Korea 1:0 Nigeria
China 2:1 Sweden
In a scant few days, soccer star Brandi Chastain will arrive in New York to begin her duties as a color commentator for the Olympic soccer broadcast. Brandi, a native California girl, always struck me as every bit the New Yorker--with her sense of flair, moxy, and personality. Below, I share this amazing story of her, from her website: www.itsnotaboutthebra.com, which is the title of the book I co-authored with her (and I am sure you are enough of a soccer fan to know WHY that is the title...). Make sure to tune into the NBC broadcast (disussed earlier in the blog), and in the meantime, savor this:
July 26, 2005
A VERY BRANDI DAY!
As co-author and friend of Brandi, I thought I had seen everything--including the extent of her joy and passion for her can't-live-without-it game of soccer.
But on Monday, July 25, 2005, a swelteringly hot day in Manhattan, the girl proved me wrong.
Brandi always fits in her soccer, that’s for sure. Sandwiched between her meetings and an evening speaking engagement, she intended to get in a bit of training. So, when I agreed to meet her in the city, she asked me to bring along one of my daughters’ soccer balls. OK, I thought, shoving the coveted item in my backpack, which now made me look pregnant from behind.
When I met up with her at a renowned midtown restaurant following her luncheon, Brandi looked down at my feet and said, “What? You didn’t wear sneakers to play?”
Now, dear reader, let’s just say charitably that I’m a “middle aged” mother of two, and while I pride myself on being physically fit, the mere thought that I could play any kind of soccer with one of the best woman players in the world is beyond comprehension.
I couldn’t believe she would expect that.
But then, Brandi is a great believer in all possibilities, which is exactly why when the first patch of Manhattan grass she hoped to play on was blocked off, she hustled back to her hotel to change her clothes, and head to Central Park—a mere mile walk that she did in a pace akin to most runners. I struggled to keep up.
We reached the fields in the Park, where I found my calling as ball server, chaser, goalie and general water girl for Brandi. When I shed my sandals for the job, she set them up as markers for me to toss her balls. Sweating, juggling, her touch as exquisite as any player you’ll ever see, it didn’t take long for a fan to recognize her, and come by for a quick photo. At that point, the homeless man sleeping nearby raised his head, and with his single-tooth smile said, “I thought she looked professional.”
After nearly an hour of work, we headed back toward Brandi’s hotel. But she wasn’t done yet. “Let me take the ball,” she volunteered, which she kept at her feet, dribbling, while she made a necessary call on her cell phone. A pack of young women looked over, clearly recognizing her. They smiled shyly; their body language asking, “Should we approach her?”
But it was too late; Brandi was on the move. We exited the park, she in shorts and a crop top, picking up the dribbling pace. Down Seventh Avenue she traveled, adding a bevy of tricks: a stepover here, a give-and-go with a street seller there. At one point, she threw in a pasa de vaca, too quick for her victim to register his embarrassment at the ball going by him. If you’ve ever seen the Nike commercial with Ronaldo & Co. dribbling through an airport, you’ll know how Brandi dazzled the pedestrians, except this was no act!! She scooted around deftly, evading the kind of crowds that only Manhattan can draw.
She kept it up—weaving in and out the poles of metal construction barriers, kicking the ball off the wall of a Citibank branch. “This is a good workout,” she called out. But more, it was some of the best fun and entertainment you could imagine. People along the street smiled, a few turned their heads, one tried to photograph her. “You have to practice a lot to be that good,” one mother bent down to tell her young son. And remarkably enough, only in New York, a few people who watched her looked unfazed.
Not me. I marveled. The irony did not escape me that we had arrived at the heart of the theatre district—the home of the great Broadway shows. Because that’s what Brandi had put on, a great show. And not for the sake of performing, but as yet another opportunity to explore the eternal love of her game. It was just further proof that love is as enduring and as fresh as the day she headed to the field as a six-year-old, holding her mom’s and dad’s hand, and kicked a soccer ball for the very first time.
And by the way, next time I'll bring my sneakers.
Gloria Averbuch
Brandi Chastain, famed member of the ‘91ers (Julie, Joy, Brandi, Christine, Mia) came to New York City this week on business.
She was briefed on Sky Blue, and while flipping through photos, came upon our own All-American goalkeeper Jillian Loyden. “I heard she’s great--that she deserves a look from the national program.”
Way to go Jill; well-deserved from the woman who held the National Team of China scoreless last June when they played Sky Blue select at Rutgers.
Brandi chatted about WPS, and is updated and supportive. We’re confident she’ll be involved in some serious capacity.
Another highlight was her story about the next “Chastain star on the rise.” Jaden, 22-month-old son of Brandi and her husband, Jerry Smith (Santa Clara University women’s soccer coach), got his first pair of cleats just recently. They were a gift from the Brazilian great, Sissi (now a Bay Area resident), whose 3 ½ year old son Michael showed up in his soccer outfit, complete with a Barcelona (Lionel) Messi jersey. Brandi, seeing the jersey of the Argentinean star, remarked to Sissi,
“You’ve certainly got high aspirations for your son.”
According to the Bay Area Sports drive, the story goes that when Sissi was a young girl growing up in Brazil, when she couldn’t find a soccer ball to kick around, she started using the heads of her dolls. Her mother worried about that. Obviously, no such worries for “Messi Michael.”
Look for the return of Brandi when she comes East again to broadcast the women’s Olympic soccer games for NBC TV and its outlets.
Yours,
SBS Blogger
I hate to give away my age, but I was a teenager for the 1999 Women’s World Cup. A fan who has probably traveled more miles than most for women’s soccer. I hit up the “local” Division I team, Penn State, saw NT games at Hershey, VA Beach, and the Home Depot Center, the “Indoor Celebrations” at Cleveland and Pittsburgh. WUSA games in Philly. Dragged my parents to DC for the 1999 nailbiter vs. Germany. I still remember the first time I met Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain. I’m reluctant to admit I even had a soccer website and was written about in Newsday. (As with Peter Wilt’s blog, some details will not be revealed...)
Now here I am, leaving more secure job offers and better paying professions behind (Whose parents don't want them to be a lawyer?), because I have the chance to be a part of something. Something so exciting and new! Who wouldn’t want to be in on the ground floor?? I think Steve Nash and I agree, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Every hour spent at soccer tournaments or club meetings, pouring over game entertainment plans or maintaining the inventory, are all well spent when I see that little 10 year old get all wide-eyed when she meets Fanta or Jillian Loyden. Maybe I see a little bit of me in that girl; just excited to meet my heroes. She’ll want to do well in school or resist peer pressure because she sees what it means to be a successful female athlete… and more importantly, a successful human being.
When I was young, I was inspired by Julie and Brandi, and now everyday I get to see more and more kids feel the same inspiration from our Sky Blue players.
See you ‘round NJ,
Natalie
PS. Picture above is Penn State vs. UNC circa 2000... Can you guess where it was played?
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