This is nothing to do with the appearance discussion, but since this thread is about Mia: Q&A with Mia Hamm: Out of play, but still in command from sunday http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/11126407.htm
you have to register to get this article so I'll just copy it from http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/city/collin/stories/031005dnspoccowixon.1661d.html Hamm earned respect 01:17 AM CST on Thursday, March 10, 2005 Long before Mia Hamm became a soccer legend throughout the world, she was a legend in Wichita Falls. That was two decades ago, when she was the only girl on a boys club soccer team coached by future Plano East coach Rick Woodard. Woodard fondly remembers the three years he coached Hamm – and the boys who accepted her as a teammate. "The boys respected her so much that when we voted for captain, they voted her captain," said Woodard, the Plano East coach since 1996. On Tuesday, Woodard got to reminisce with Hamm, who was the keynote speaker at an SMU Athletic Forum luncheon. "It was great. I got to talk to her a little while before and a little while after," Woodard said. "Except for her status, she hasn't changed. She's still the same girl." Hamm, 32, retired from soccer in December, ending a career that included two World Cup Championships and two Olympic gold medals. Those achievements are often discussed, but it was probably other achievements that she and Woodard talked about Tuesday. Like the time Hamm, as a pre-teen with super talent, was getting knocked down on every play by a boy who was trying to defend her. Every time she would dribble past him, he would tackle her. "She came over to the sidelines and was almost in tears," Woodard said. "I told her, 'The next time you beat him, just look at him and wink.' " Hamm did just that, and the boy was so mad that he chased her and got thrown out of the game. "If somebody isn't going to let you use your talent because they are knocking you down every time," Woodard told Hamm, "you've got to use your mind and figure out ways to beat them." Hamm found lots of ways. She is the U.S. team's career scoring leader.
This is from a very informed and reliable source within the Chicago Fire fan community, as discussed in another thread. "Originally Posted by krolpolski A Chicago baseball club is honoring Mia Hamm on July 3. Shouldn't Chicago's soccer team do so before? I asked the same question at Fire fest. Peter said he had been in contact with Mia's agent and told them that the Fire was open to honoring Mia. I think basically it comes down to cost. The cubs are making a donation to Mia's favorite charity and probably the Fire can't afford to give enough to get Mia." I am not overly concerned about what one teacher at one master's program said. In the past, days honoring athletes did not involve the payment of money. The honor was enough. Please keep in mind that the MLS went out of its way twice, in 1999 and 2003, to help stage the WWC. In 2003 it was even more ciritical, because I don't think the WWC could have been staged on such short notice without the help of the MLS. The Chicago Cubs did nothing to help save the WWC from delay or extinction in 2003, but the MLS did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- First off T.F., if you took the time to read my post you would have noticed that I did not say I was a teacher or a teacher at my masters program told me about this type of situation. What I said was that having a masters degree in a sports related field and dealing with sports organzations. That I have had personal experiences with just this sort of situation. It seems to me that the honor is enough for Mia, but if the organzation that is honoring her wants to make a charitable donation to her foundation what is she going to do, turn it down? So you would rather her turn down a charitable donation that would help improve the lives of so many people. Um, do you have any idea what her foundation does? I think if you did you would be a little kinder with your assestment. I am curious why you brought the MLS into a thread that was talking about honoring a great athlete and person just so you could piss people off. This thread has nothing at all to do with the WWC or the MLS. The only reason these two aforemetioned topics were brought into this discussion is because true to form you brought them into it. As I recall none of the 1999 WWC games were played at MLS stadiums. Donna Deverona, Marla Messing and Julie Foudy stated that others wanted them to go to smaller stadiums, but Donna and Jules among others knew that they would get the people to come to the games. One might argue that the Revolution played at Foxboro, but they did not own the stadium nor operate it or staff the stadium. So how did the MLS help us in 1999? I don't remembering reading any facts that you posted about that. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/p/pwc/r/1999.html In 2003, the only two stadiums that soccer was its only permanent resident was the Columbus Crew Stadium and the Home Depot Center. But again I do not think the teams own these stadiums. Carson not only houses the L.A. Galaxy, but it is also where the U.S. WNT and the U.S. MNT hold their training sessions. If the Crew does own the stadium, I am sure the WWC committee would have been able to find another place to play such as more games at RFK, Philly, Boston, Portland, or collegiate stadiums. I am still having a hard time wondering how the MLS contributed to the 1999 and 2003 WWC. As a lawyer you should know that you need evidence to back up your assertions.
So I think the point you are making is that Mia should be nice enough to not ask for a fee because of all that MLS has done for her. I am not saying I agree with that, I am just asking if that is what you are saying.
Wrong. In the past, great athletes were treated like rock stars and were showered with gifts and money at any major function they attended.
I read somewhere that she has a side-arm throwing motion that she learned from Garrett. Don't ask me where, because I can't remember...
I can tell you right now Mia would never ask for an appearance fee for a date in which she was to be honored. It is rediculous to think she would. Who ever your source is T.F. he is full of it. either that or you completely misunderstood him. or this "source" doesn't exist at all and you have created him in order to bolster your credibility. but your credibility is already in the toilet here T.F. so why not just play with the pretty blue water and leave this thread alone. I do not know what you are doing in the "women's" fan forum area anyway. you are the the furthest thing from one I have ever seen.
I'm more concerned with how he has been asked a few what I thought were straightforward questions and hasn't answered them. Which makes me feel even stupider for having posted in this thread in the first place.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- He never answers streightforward questions. infact he never answers questions at all unless the person asking is leaning toward what he is implying. He is a Sh!t stirer. he posts this kind of crap for no other perpose but to bash the 91ers. his favorite target is Foudy but she has been very quiet of late and so he has no fuel for his fire. so he has turned his attentions to Mia. this is typical Thomas Flannigan. Do not feel stupid about asking him a question. Others have tried to be reasonable with him and all it secures is just more uncooberated unsubstantiated bull from T.F.
I am sure the decendants of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig will be surprised at the largesse these players received for showing up for "Babe Ruth Day" and "Lou Gehrig Day" at Yankee Stadium! Jonathan, to answer your question, I don't have any problem with athletes getting an appearance fee, as a matter of principal. What we are talking about here is the fee or contribution to a foundation for being honored for your lifetime achievements. So it isn't like doing a Prell Commercial or an appearance for Nike sports gear. I quoted a passage from one of the most reliable Fire fans (who happens to be a huge USWNT fan too) and his conversation with Fire General Manager Peter Wilt. This is hardly proof positive but you don't really have to read between the lines to see that her fee might be too high for the Fire to afford. I suspect the problem is either this or she doesn't want to do anything to help the MLS, even thought the MLS really helped stage the WWCs. MLS Commissioner Garber was on the WWC board in 2003 and MLS staffs did what they could to help both times. Forget about who owned the stadiums. I am talking about staff work and trying to help out. Just my opinions.
Okay, I think I get that. So therefore Mia should lower her fee as thanks for wht MLS did to help stage the WWC. I think I don't know what I think about this. (yeah you read it right.) I'm not sure Mia is under any obligation to lower her fee, but I would certainly believe the Fire not having the money to pay it.
T.F. like I said before if someone wants to honor an athlete they don't ask for a fee. Probably the only reason why money is involved in any way is because the Cubs thought it would be a nice gesture to give a charitable donation to Mia's foundation. I highly doubt that Mia said oh yeah I'll come if you want to honor me, but only if you pay me this much. That is just not the way one handles this type of situation. What I think happened is that her schedule is busy because she just retired so now she has time to work on some things she had to put on the back burner such as her foundation and her book tour, etc. Btw part of the money from her book goes to her foundation so I don't want to hear that she is just trying to make a book fee as well. I do not think it is due to her asking for appearance fee or the fact she does not want to help the MLS. It seems to me Mia would want to help any league/team out that helps promote soccer. In one of her last games in Philly she was interviewed on ESPN stating she will help support and watch the USMNT as they work towards the 2006 WC. If she did not want to help the men out then why say something like this? Some of the MLS staff might have helped for both WWC's, but you are making it sound like they did everything and the women should kiss their feet for it. I am not trying to downplay the MLS part if they did help, but the women did most of it without the help of the MLS. Once again you have shown that all you think about the any player on the USWNT should bow down to the members of MLS and gravel at their feet for all they done. Last time I checked women had the freedom and independence to make their own decision. Of course these are just my opinions.
Nobody said MLS did "everything" to stage the WWCs did they? Nobody said anybody had to "bow down" to anybody did they? Nobody said anything about "graveling" (sic) at anydbody's feet did they? How can you have a discusssion with people who make such fabrications? The busy schedule excuse is bogus and you know it. The Fire play 14 home games stretching out into September? If every Saturday and Wednesday was booked how did she schedule a July day with the Cubs? The Fire can't afford her fee and it seems that is the problem. I think it is a bit much to charge a fee for a day that honors you personally. This is the same kind of behavior that people in this forum (quite properly) criticize when it involves egotistical male athletes. I don't know if she is a fan of the USMNT or not but it would not be too prudent to say otherwise to the press would it? Just my opinions.
Use a little common sense here, people. We're talking about one of the most media-shy famous people in the U.S. Just how many invitations to be 'honored' do you think she's received? Dozens? Hundreds? She has every right to be choosy about where she wants to be 'honored' (more like, used as a means to get more butts in the seats at a sporting event). If you're going to use WWC support as a measure of the worthiness of the honoring organization, you can add in hundreds of youth soccer organizations that provided countless hours of volunteer support for the WWC venues (I can speak personally about the Philadelphia site). If she chooses to base her appearances on donations to her foundation, that's her business. She doesn't owe anything more to the Fire than to any of those other groups that supported the WWC. And, TF, if the Fire invitations to girls' teams to play at half time work like they do for many teams (Philadelphia Kixx included), it's not free. You have to buy a certain number of tickets to the event for the privilege of playing. It's just another way to get more people to come to a game. Girls or boys, you buy enough tickets, you get to play. It's marketing, not charity. If the Fire thought they'd sell enough extra tickets to a Mia Hamm Day to cover the donation to her foundation, don't you think they'd do it in a heartbeat?
I never said the Fire gave tickets to girls groups did I? Another fabrication. The Fire, like most MLS teams, has been supportive of women's soccer, including the WWC. I don't see how they helped themselves in the long run busting their ass to put on the 2003 WWC with such short notice. In the long run, saving the 2003 WWC was good for soccer in the US. The Founders were hostile to the MLS from day one, and this may be the reason Ms. Hamm will not accept the invitation of the Fire. It could also be the price is too high. Does anyone else have a problem with charging a big fee to be honored? Isn't this what people here found repugnant about male athletes? Just my opinions.
Relax. I never said you said it it is free. I just pointed out that it isn't. That's not fabrication, that's fact. I'd have a problem if she was charging for the Garciaparra home improvement fund. The money goes to charity, and a very worthy one at that. I can live with that. And I agree with you that men helping women's soccer and women helping men's soccer can only help soccer in general in the U.S.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- T.F. i am going to say this once again. she has not asked for one red cent to be honored by the fire. period. end of discusion. You basically come in here having taken one persons word for it spouting off about something that you clearly have no concrete understanding of. Do you know Mia? do you know her Agent? did she perosnally tell you she would not appear because the fire could not come up with funds to make it owrth her while? My God T.F. if you had any clue at all about this woman you would not have said a word about this in the first place. Not her style to ask for money. you want to know what Mia is all about? http://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...amm.html&p=mia+hamm&type=jpeg&no=548&tt=3,602 likewise bad knees and all doing the Micheal Jordan invitational to earn money for the psunami releif efforts. she was not paid for her appearence in that instance either. You want to talk about fabrications T.F.?....you are a walking example of them.