After a Big Assist, She Felt Like Really Hamming It Up
That Mia Hamm will break the world record she is pursuing is not in doubt. It’s only a matter of time.
But sportswriters, as a rule, don’t like to wait. And so, for the past two months, wherever Hamm’s travels have taken her, the questions have followed: “Why aren’t you scoring? Are you in a slump? Is there something wrong?”
To her credit, Hamm has not snapped. She might have been seething inside at those shortsighted souls who measure her value only in goals scored, but on the surface she has fielded the questions calmly.
True, it has been six games since Hamm has added to her American-record haul of 104 goals. She has not scored since the U.S. team’s 2-0 victory over Finland on Feb. 27 at Tampa, Fla.
She has, in order, been blanked by Sweden, Finland, Norway, China, Mexico and China again. Elisabetta Vignotto’s world record of 107 international goals for Italy remains unbroken.
Today, when the U.S. plays China in Giants Stadium (ESPN2, 1:30 p.m. PDT) at East Rutherford, N.J., Hamm once again will go out there knowing that one twisting, turning run, one powerful right-footed shot, or one glancing header, is all it will take to silence the critics.
But that’s not what Hamm is about. Of all the high-profile athletes who have risen above the pack, Hamm may be the least egotistical. Team performance and results are far more important to her than individual accomplishments.
Which is why, on Thursday night at Hershey, Pa., she went on a wild-eyed, out-of-control, knees-first-slide-into-the-corner-
flag celebratory run after providing the pass that led to the winning goal in the final minute of a 2-1 victory over China.
She didn’t score the goal--Tisha Venturini did--but her delight in its arrival was more than evident.
“That was probably a whole lot of built-up emotion from the past two or three months,” Hamm said of her out-of-character celebration. “I was happy with what I did today. I’m going out in training with a new outlook. I was excited by the game today.”
DiCICCO MILESTONE
Thursday night’s victory marked Coach Tony DiCicco’s 100th game in charge of the U.S. women’s national team.
His record since taking over from Anson Dorrance is a remarkable 86-7-7, and includes a Women’s World Cup bronze medal in 1995 and an Olympic gold medal in ’96.
He was especially pleased with what he saw in Pennsylvania.
“For the first 40 minutes, we played the best soccer we’ve played in a long time,” he said. “We played a top team, and I thought we dominated the game.”
And what of Hamm?
“Mia’s doing everything she’s always done,” he said. “That first shot she took that hit the side netting, maybe last year that went in, but that doesn’t mean anything because we think they’re going to start going in for her [again].
“I thought this was probably her best game of the year. Her work ethic, her defensive presence, her ability to go at players the whole game. . . . She got us the penalty [that led to the first U.S. goal], she got the assist on the second goal, the goalkeeper had to make a great save on one of her shots. What else do you expect of a player?
“Mia will be the first one to tell you, she doesn’t care if she never scores another goal, as long as the team wins. She’s going to make goals for us. I think she’s going to be better June 19 [when the Women’s World Cup begins] than she is today. . . . If she’s on the field, they [opponents] have got to give her a lot of attention, and that’s going to free something up for someone else.”
VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
Michelle Akers has been there since the beginning, since the first game the women’s national team played--against Italy at Jesolo, Italy, in August 1985.
Her experience, therefore, is unparalleled, and her opinion counts for more than many. So it was something of a surprise to hear Akers, 33, criticize what on the face of it seemed an excellent performance by the U.S. on Thursday night, even though she scored her 101st goal.
“It was a dramatic game; you can’t beat the excitement of a last-minute goal to win it,” she said. “But we’ve got some work to do. We need to put it away earlier.
“We played a great first half, with some mental lapses. In the second half, I don’t think we held the ball as well as we should have or are capable of. I still think we have a little ways to go [to be ready for the World Cup].”
And what about Hamm?
“I remember when I was up there [on the forward line, as opposed to her current midfield position], and you weren’t getting goals, you felt like you weren’t doing your job,” she said. “So I’m sure she has those thoughts in her mind.
“And we need her to score goals. But she’s playing well, and as long as the rest of the team picks up the pace goal-wise, then we’re all right. Because she’s going to occupy two players, and that should leave someone [else] open. So you kind of have to look at who’s getting the [scoring] chances and who’s not putting them in.”
325,000 AND COUNTING
Less than two months remain before the 16-nation World Cup kicks off at Giants Stadium with a U.S.-Denmark and Italy-Mexico doubleheader on June 19.
To the surprise of many who doubted women’s soccer could be a draw, the opener is virtually certain to be sold out, with 45,000 tickets already sold. The U.S.-Nigeria and Brazil-Italy doubleheader in Chicago on June 24 also will sell out.
About 33,000 tickets for the final at the Rose Bowl on July 10 already have been sold, and, most impressive of all, first-round games that do not involve the U.S. team already are averaging more than 14,000 in ticket sales.
In all, more than 325,000 tickets had been sold by Monday, when individual-game tickets went on sale for the first time (1-800-WWCTIKS or on-line at https:www.wwc99.com).
Marla Messing, president and chief executive officer of the tournament, believes the tournament will draw half a million fans, which would be a record for the Women’s World Cup.
FOUDY ON BROADWAY
Women’s World Cup organizers last week chose the Supper Club in the heart of New York’s theater district to unveil the new World Cup trophy and tournament song, but it was Julie Foudy who stole the show.
No surprise there.
After Foudy and a few teammates had made the rounds of early morning radio and television talk shows--she and Rosie O’Donnell share a love of doughnuts, apparently--the U.S. midfielder was the player selected to unveil the new trophy.
Foudy took tremendous care in lifting the cover off the green marble serpentine, sterling silver and 23-carat gold trophy designed by Lebanese artist William Sawaya.
“I had nightmares about that,” said Foudy, who managed the task without incident.
Also at the Supper Club were U.S. teammates Kristine Lilly, Brandi Chastain and Christie Pearce, along with Mexico national team players Andrea Rodebaugh and Laurie Hill and Coach Leonardo Cuellar.
“Brandi, Kristine and I had the pleasure of actually holding the first World Cup trophy in 1991 [in China],” Foudy said. “And just looking at this [new trophy] today puts chills through my spine.
“We’re going big-time with this [the 1999 tournament], and we’re going to start with a new trophy. I can’t think of a better year to start it than with the World Cup here in the United States.
“For us, and for the Mexican players as well, it’s about the passion, and that’s what we can’t wait to show the world with women’s soccer. I’ve had reporters come to me and say, ‘Do you feel the same passion as men do about this?’ Well, yes. Don’t you see us kill each other in practice every day? For us, this is everything. This is like the Olympics. For a soccer player, it’s the pinnacle of your career.
“That’s what we want to show the world this summer--the passion. We’re ready to put on a party.”
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Today’s Game
The U.S. women’s soccer team beat China, 2-1, on Thursday at Hershey, Pa. The rematch is today:
* WHEN: 1:30 p.m. PDT
* WHERE: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
* TV: ESPN2.
