there was a time back before 99 when us seeing even one girl in person was just a dream. i siriously had dreams about meeting the girls and wanting to so bad that my stomach hurt. 3 years later most of us have had atleast one encounter or story involving the girls and of course we all shared them as soon as they occurred but now lets share them again... - i gave the girls beanie babies at the germany wwc game and tracy sent me an autograph & letter that i received on the day of the final - my first was toys r us with mia & a surprise from tracy and then getting hooked up with post game reception passes where i met all the girls - march 2000 i ran away from home and went to the training camp in florida where i saw tracy and met all the girls and sobs & frenchy gave me gum and i got their used ankle tape and water bottles - stacy and i went to the unc soccer camp and have countless memories from that - tracy sent me a uswnt jacket for my 19th birthday - the coolest thing ever - i met siri and akers at the discovery store and bought them coffee and pretzels - maria (missouri), stacy (washington state), & i (ga) met up in chapel hill the next summer and attended games and went shopping on franklin st. - but the most random of them all: chris ducar and i ran into each other in the lobby at a hotel in clemson - and he recognized me
My favorite USWNT memories(some include old/new NTers): - sitting right behind the US bench at the quarterfinal game against Germany and having Saskia Webber wave to me - getting my first autographs at the Cleveland indoor game where Julie, Tish, TR, Julie Murray, and Charmaine Hooper all complimented my crazy hairstyle - When i met and talked to Christie for the first time at halftime of the PSUvsUNC game with Nicole, Inge, and Darci - When at the Gold Cup game in Hershey, the entire US bench turned around (one at a time) and gave props to me and these 2 girls for our cheers. - When I made jokes to Lorrie Fair and Christie Pearce while they were signing autos. - When Christie Welsh recognized me at a soccer game and called me by my name - at a Philly Charge game, I had full convo with Michelle Demko, Charmaine Hooper, and Wendy Gebauer on three seperate occasions And THE COOLEST OF ALL TIME FOR ME: - When I spent 3 days at the PSU soccer cmap with Christie who I had full convos with and on the last day gave me an PSU soccer shirt just for "being cool"
I went to a post-game reception in Milwaukee just before the WWC, and met them all. Carla talked to my cousin and I like she was our best friend ad had known us forever and Brandi actually asked me if I wanted her autograph. That was pretty darn cool. They were all so down to earth, hanging out with all of us like it was normal-of course, it was for them, but, for me, its not everyday I get the chance to hang out with pro-athletes. Another time (can't remember what year) the USWNT was up here for a game against S. Korea, and it poured like you wouldn't believe, there was only about 50 people left by the end of the game, but it was the most fun I've ever had at a game. Jay
The only cool times in my wnt fandom and wusa fandom was meeting sa... I was freakin out for like 2 weeks later. AND getting my letter from sa. I think I cryed. lol i'm such a dork.
The indoor tour is when brandi took a t-shirt and gave it to my nephew and told him to take off the jursey he had on with her # on it and singed it.
at the first real WUSA All Star Game (at least in my eyes) *Ronald McDonald hookin us up with Mac after the game *Making the South Team bench turn around and get a good laugh at us taunting the ref. *Mac signing my shirt and givin me her shinguards *Makin Brandi laugh my offering my clothes for her jersey. *Talkin to Mac on the phone on the anniversery of WWC 99 and having her remember me
Remember when everybody was praying during the Olympic final chat? And then Natalie came in and called us heretics or something... Yeah that was funny. Secret Santa, celebrating everybody's birthday and all the rest of the junk we did for the team...
Well, as I am not a soccer player, nor have I ever been, I've only had one chance to see the USWNT, and that was in Columbus vs. Scotland. My favorite memory from that was getting there early and having the section to myself for a bit, and during that time, Cindy Parlow seemed to notice my Cindy Parlow Beat jersey---at least I think so: as she and Mia Hamm were running back and forth on the field, she waved hello toward me. Also great was seeing her opening the scoring and having a perfect view of it. Although I hadn't intended to stick around for autographs, I had a ton of time to kill, so I was like "Why not". I stuck on my side of the stadium, so as not to be trampled by hundreds of teenage Miaphiles. But, Foudy and Sobrero were gracious enough to make sure we weren't left out. I digged out my ticket, and they signed it. And Foudy jerked my chain about having a Beat jersey on, so I promised her I'd get a Spirit jersey, since, hey, I am a native of SD. That was neat meeting them. The whole day, while grueling due to the heat, cemented my love for women's soccer, and that particular team. Can't wait for next year, to check out the Freedom. And definitely come back to a WNT game if they hit Columbus or DC next year.
drowning with sams army in charleston...my palm pilot is still leaking rain water from that day apparently some sammers met up with players after that match but i was too waterlouged to show up lol!
You guys are the best. I can't really pick just 1 moment but of course the entire '99 summer was great and will be remembered by everyone, especially us refugees as a milestone of sorts.
im not the worlds biggest USWNT fan but i will say this...the lorrie fair letter when i first became a mod here was one of the classest acts ive seen by a pro athlete...even if she was flaming off takes a little more to make a USWNTer ill give you that...
I agree! While looking in Target for a fanny pack, I came upon a bunch of footie PJ's, including pink ones, which immediately made me think of the Lilly loop(s). Wonder if that'll ever be revived. Surprised there hasnt been like a WUSA Lilly loop. lol Nancy Augustyniak in powder blue footie pjs and her sister Julie in purple ones. What a hoot that would be! Yes, 99 was definitely memorable. Especially the team's podium celebration afterwards, with them all hopping in unison with giddy smiles. I'll never forget that. What a charming, fun, tough but not macho bunch of folks. Although I can no longer imagine there not being a full-paying soccer league for women, I am a bit nostalgic for the struggle, and the excitement of "some day in the near future" having a league. I was a student at Sacramento State, of the Big Sky Conference, and it was a special time. I had kind of befriended the women's soccer team there, including the coach, and she got me really excited about what was to come. And now it's all here. And it's still soooo great! What a privilege it was to go to Columbus for the match there. It really makes me wish I had saved up for the 90 mile trip to the Bay to watch WWC99. But I look forward to other opportunities. I know I'm not, but sometimes I feel like their #1 fan. Cheers, Cory, #2 Cindy Parlow apologist (behind Sarah aka parlowfan12)
oh yeah.. waking up early to read the olympics... and praying...and saying the lords prayer. lol and crying when we lost. and cussing out random players. and Y telling everyone that she hated them. those were the days.
Oh, Mel you will never understand... Actually, my favorite moment from the Olympics was watching CBC after the closing ceremonies, and getting a be happy card from wipey after we lost. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to be a women's soccer fan...
You're right, I probably won't. But thats okay, we don't all have to like the same team. My newfav moment is the fact that you watch CBC. Canadians don't even watch CBC.
LOL. I'm another American who watches CBC (well, the National, which we get through a cable channel called Newsworld Int'l.). They were doing a mighty fine job of covering the U19 championships. I like the National, although sometimes I feel like it covers too much US news. Don't Canadians care about themselves? lol Sometimes it's like the CBC considers Canada an appendage of the US, which is kind of a dangerous view for the folks of that country to espouse. I love Canada as the nation that it is. I love the National. Lots of good talent on there. Mansbridge, Hanomansing, Ditchburn, et alia. Actually, this and my fairly close proximity to some parts of Ontario really makes me want to go up there and see a Canadian match. I just need to figure out what cities, if any, lie directly across the lake from Erie, Pennsylvania (I'm near Pittsburgh, myself, about 185 km south of Erie).
Hence why many many Canucks don't watch it. And if I knew anything about the States, well I'd know where the hell Pittsburgh is eh.
I hate watching CBC because of their damn accents, but they do have great Olympic coverage. Anyway, long live fandom.
The excitement of the '99 World Cup all summer...the final...Lilly's header/save...Mish going down...Pk's...Brandi's Pk...the teams celebration...tears in my eyes for the first time for a sporting event. *The first live womens nats. game I watched in Oct. of '99...Scurry waved at me and my friends...Brandi almost got in a brawl with a Brazilian player...the team winning the Nike Cup...Millie's auto...my sister's jumping down from the stands to get a pic with Millie... *Gold Cup in 2000...Mia's goal-finally!...getting autos of Lil, Parlow,Mia,Millie ...giving Foudy Dunkin Donuts...meeting Fawcett girls... *Indoor Tour '00...Brandi complimenting my sis on her face make-up during warm-ups...Brandi giving my sis a mini-soccer ball after game... trying to get into autograph party...chanting "Millie", "USA", and "MIA" outside on the sidewalk below autograph party...Millie waving to us from autgraph party...making USA and MIA signs with our body's on the VERY cold sidewalk. *Staying up late to catch info. of Aussi Oly's...the loss in the final...second time I cried for a sporting event...the class, unity and spirit of the Nats team despite the loss.
-WWC 99...what better way to have faith reinstilled in sports? -The Brazil game in '99 in Denver....front row tix by the US bench....I was about 8 feet away when Tony got the gatorade for winning #100. -The Olympics at 3 AM...praying and having our prayers answered, even if it was only for a few minutes. I still can't believe it....a goal with 15 seconds left...that just doesn't happen in soccer. -Sneaking into the post game reception post olympic tour stop in denver...meeting Tisha and having her take our pictures and talk with us for a while, even though we weren't supposed to be there. -And reading BS...and coming back to BS after a hiatus to find fandom still alive and kicking. It's beautiful, man.