My 7000th post: Yes. It is fanatisism.

The following is long. But unlike most of my posts this one has a point. I promise.

So growing up in Chicago it’s almost a given that I’m a huge sports fan. I’ve been to lots of games and most of the people I’ve always been friends with have been sports nuts too. When I was in high school I used to cut class and go down to Wrigley Field to catch a game from the cheap seats. But you know there was always this one thing I never understood. During batting practice my male friends would be freaking out. Saying things like “Oh my God there’s so and so. Did you se him hit that?” They would be freaking out and they had this look of total and complete joy on their face. I thought it was pretty cool and even though I have Cub blue and red going through my veins I could never seem to muster up that same enthusiasm. Well except for Mark Grace, you see I love him, but that’s beside the point. My brother is a huge Michael Jordan fan. He has a rookie card, my nephew’s middle name is Jordan. My brother knows everything and anything about MJ. I love MJ, I will always cherish my memories of watching him school some punk ass before my very eyes but I would probably never even consider naming my child Jordan. So even though I’m a huge sports nut I never could understand that kind of fanatisism that drives people to sit shirtless in body paint in 10 degree weather at Soldier Field.
That all changed for me on June 24 1999.
You see that was the very first time I ever saw the USWNT in person. I first learned that we had a women’s team in the early 90’s. As most of you know following the teams progress was hard back then. Aside from a few random newspaper articles there wasn’t too much to go on. My devotion to the team went into full gear during the Atlanta games. So on that June day at Soldier Field, it was finally my chance to see them live. I was excited. It was the world cup and I was FINALLY going to get to see Mia play live. Then it happened. Team USA took the field prior to the game. And I saw them. I saw the back of their jerseys. I saw the names, the names I had seen so many times on TV. They were right in front of me. I sat a little to the right of their bench. I saw Foudy and Overbeck and I saw Whalen and Sobrero kinda messing around. I was standing up, I was so excited. THE Team was there they were talking and warming up right in front of me. Then out of no where the #9 jersey just caught my eye. It was her. It was Mia! Oh My God! I couldn’t believe it. I was close enough to clearly see the four letters of her last name on her jersey. And at that moment it hit me. This is why my friends were freaking out at Wrigley! This is why my nephew’s middle name is Jordan! This is why grown men freeze there asses off half naked in body paint at Solder Field! I finally got it. I finally felt that thing. That feeling of admiration that so many people take for granted. And I know this sounds corny but at that moment I started to cry. Yup I admit it. In the midst of a sea of PTH was a 23-year-old crying. I was so damned happy. To this day that game stands out of the dozens of Cubs, Bulls, Sox , Hawks, and Bears games i've been to. It is the single greatest sporting event of my life. I’m telling ya 6 Bulls championships don’t even come close. And you wanna know why? Because at that moment THAT team became mine. Not that intangible mine like “yeah that’s my team, that’s the team I root for.” I mean MY TEAM. I staked ownership on that team. I invested myself heart and soul into it. If they loose I suffer. If they win I revel. If they hurt I hurt. Their rivals I despise. I live vicariously through their joys and triumphs. I eat, sleep and breathe United States Women’s Soccer.
Now some of you boys may be saying “So what? That’s nothing new.” Ah but you see it is new. All your lives you’ve seen images of males doing incredible things in sports and have been able to picture yourself doing it too. I, like many other women, have not. That day at Soldier Field as I looked down at the team I saw it for the first time in my life.
My team is the United States Women’s National Soccer Team. I love my team. Mia Hamm is my hero. I throw down for Mia. I love Mia. I will probably name one of my daughters Mia. And I dedicate my 7000th post to them.

ps. When I saw Mia get hurt the other day I was very pissed off and I damn near started crying. I hope it's not to bad. She was at full speed finally. I know this won't set her back. She ************ing rocks and she will be kicking ass in no time!

 

Piper make sure you get there EARLY. So you can sneak up front to take pics during their warm ups. That is as close as you can get and I'm telling ya it's awsome. especially if a few of them look up at you. It makes you wanna cry!

 

For real.