I actually thought Mia's comments about it in the post-game interview were quite touching -- she said how Nomar has brought her such joy, and how she wears the name with pride. There was nothing inauthentic about Mia's comments -- it really came from the heart. You could tell from listening to her how much she loves him, and how much he loves her. It left me with a warm fuzzy feeling...
Excuse me for having a buzz on, and your from Boston and don't even have the Rev's on your profile? what the hell are you doing on a soccer site when your a Red Sox nation? Dude get your sport priorities right!
I completely agree with everything you have written. I feel really fortunate to have been sitting with some of the friends and family of the USWNT players during the second half of Wednesday's match when Mia actually debuted her Garciaparra jersey and have to say that this was a very special moment indeed. I agree too with Khansingh that Mia and Nomar will likely have "some gorgeous" and very athletic kids. During my three WUSA excusions to the Raleigh-Durham area I had several BigSoccer regulars tell me privately that they thought Andy Mead was the "dourest" Carolina Courage poster of them all so his typically negative comment doesn't surprise me in the least.
Actually Mia will be changing her name. She has set it up to do so. Her foundation site is now "the Mia Foundation.Org. the Hamm has been droped. Coming out in the second half with the Garciaparra Jersey was her way of marking a special moment. her way of saying once this is over it is over. I leave one life and begin another. While she will still remain active in the sport She is dedicating herself to her family. It would have been impractical to change her name while she was still playing because of all the red tape involved. But she has found a way to do it that makes it much easier. By simply using her first name in an official capacity, she can take Nomar's last name without creating any legal issues. I think what she did was a beautiful thing. I think Mia was sending a very personal message to a man who changed her life, and I think we should concider ourselves fortunate that in a small way she was willing to share that moment with us. A few years ago that would not have happened. Mia has slowly come out of her shell, and it has been such a joy to watch her emurge. Finally people get to see Mia without all the walls and guarded responses. What makes it kind of sad is that it happened within the last two years of her career. She is clearly Happy. And I want nothing more for her then that. Thank you Nomar.
i just think it's too bad when a woman drops her last name, famous or not. but i'll defend her right to do so to the death.
i thought it was awesome the way mia came out with garciaparra on the jersey. but, i dont think she will change her "hamm," for the same reason other famous women dont. and if you know the answer, please share like kelly ripa, kelly preston, jennifer aniston, jessica simpson, and tons more. i guess it's because everybody knows them as them before they were married. mia hamm-garciaparra? nah, too long to sign for autos! or just keep the MIA instead of the last names, everybody screams MIIIIAAAA and not HAMMMM or MIIIAAA HAMMMM. know what i'm sayin?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actually if you go to the site itself it is the Mia Hamm Foundation. But if you type that in the addy bar you will get nothing. the Addy used to be WWW.MiaHammfoundation.Org. Now it is simply WWW.MiaFoundation.Org. This is a very recent change. Mia is in Many ways an old fasioned girl. It is not at all surprising to me that she would not only be willing to change her last name but want to change her last name. She is a complex personality. In so many ways she is very progressive. Someone who sets unprecidented bench marks. but on the other hand she holds close the ideals of Family, commitment, vows, dedication. Perhaps for another she would not have been willing to give up her last name. But; maybe it is because he did not expect it, nor ask for it that she wanted that much more so to do it. She sent alot of messages that night. All of them good ones. One was certainly that I can put this name on my Jersey but I am still me. That doesn't change. She is not threatened nor intimidated by the idea of taking on her husbands name. In fact i think it shows strength of charector in that she does not feel she will lose herself in the process of doing so. Before someone gets upset. I want to point out that I do not think it is wrong not to take your husbands name. I too think it is every womans right to decide that for themselves. and I do not think less of those who don't. But; I think in Mia's case she is looking forward to being Mrs. Garciaparra. I think to a degree it is a part of her transition from "player #9 Mia Hamm" to Wife and Mother "Mia" No doubt she will continue to be active in promoting the sport and encouraging young women in sport. But I think her focus will be more on family now.This is what she wants. I think there are two Mia's and she left one of them to a degree on the field that night. and I think in many ways the Garciaparra jersey was symbolic of that.
Mia was married before and did not take her husband's name. Famous women often keep their name in such situations. It was the same with female opera singers, movie stars and athletes 50-60 years ago. Eileen Farrell, the greatest soprano of her time, kept her maiden name. On the other hand famous female athletes such as Fanny Blankers-Koen and Babe Didrickson Zaharias went the hyphenation route. In this case Nomar's name is more famous than hers, so you don't have the I married Mr. Nobody situation where a famous woman might want to hang onto her name. Either way is fine with me. I wish them the best of luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------T.F. get a real job will ya?! what is the matter with you?! I said Quoteerhaps for another she would not have been willing to give up her last name. suggesting she was previously married. I know far more about her then you do so do not pretend to educate me on Mia Hamm. For instance you said her Father was a brigader general. I let that go but it is not true. her father was a colonel. Mia and her family did not have alot of money. her mother took in alot of kids and strangers. Mia's mother said and I quote. "I will never be rich, but I have a wealth of compasion and I can do alot with that" Mia had to throw together cherity games and go door to door to collect the 50 Grand for her brothers Bone marrow transplant. Mia and her family were not wealthy. So do not speak unless you know what you are talking about. Adn frankly I have not seen anything yet that says you know a damn thing.
Never said she was wealthy. I think you are correct and I was incorrect. Her father was a colonel not a Brigadier General. Still a big deal but not as big a deal. I don't know these people but my hunch is the decision to take Nomar's name came from the heart, and it was not some kind of marketing ploy. The percentage of women keeping their own names after marriage has plummeted in recent years so Mia is part of this trend. I read an article that said that 90 pere cent of the women who graduated from Harvard Business School 10 years ago and had married had taken their husband's name. An incredible change over 15 years ago. There are several Founders I do not care for but that animus is not directed towards Mia who I always liked as a player and a person.
Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps she has been playing soccer as Mia Hamm but signing her checks "Mia Garciaparra" for the length of their marriage?