Park Is Soccerland for a Day
Barely taller than a pair of shinguards, 3-year-old Anaheim resident Kimberly Cycon was every inch the women’s soccer fan Sunday.
Antsy while awaiting a parade at Disneyland’s Main Street honoring the U.S. women’s national soccer team--fresh from a tense World Cup victory against China--Kimberly recited her new mantra, “Kick the ball, kick the ball,” and mimed her passing technique to anyone who would watch.
So her game face needed a little practice. And her yellow sundress would get tangled in cleats on the field. But when the parade neared, and Kimberly eyed two floats full of athletes she now knows by first name, she proved her prowess as a fan.
Kimberly screamed her head off.
So did thousands of others. Kids in soccer jerseys, teens with small American flags tucked behind their ears and parents pushing strollers all were drawn to Disneyland for the chance to catch a glimpse of the athletes who have joined pop singer Britney Spears, vampire-slayer Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Spice Girls in the pantheon of teen idols and role models.
There they were, women with muscles and nail polish, mental toughness and poise, stamina and grace, beaming at their fans. Gold medal glinting in the sun, forward Mia Hamm waved. Goalie Briana Scurry hefted the World Cup trophy toward the sky. Defender Brandi Chastain, who ripped the winning penalty kick, clapped back at the crowd.
While their sons and daughters cheered and chanted “USA,” a few parents wiped tears from their eyes, aware that they were witnessing a slice of history. Perhaps a turning point in women’s sports.
Soccer fans and best friends Jennifer Godoy and Catherine Tout, both 15-year-olds from Anaheim, whooped and snapped photos. They watched Saturday’s World Cup together at home, trying to keep their composure through the 90 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of overtime and a round of penalty kicks. They danced in the living room when Scurry blocked one of China’s kicks and cheered when Chastain tore off her sweat-soaked jersey in victory.
“When Scurry got that save,” Catherine said, “it was like--”
“Ohmygod,” finished Jennifer, wearing a marigold T-shirt emblazoned “U Goal Girl.”
“They should be much more acknowledged,” Catherine added. “The women’s World Cup was muuuch bigger than the men’s.”
After the parade, defender Joy Fawcett, a Rancho Santa Margarita resident, posed patiently for photographs and signed soccer balls for ponytailed teenagers who shyly approached her. She was looking forward to a little downtime with her husband and two daughters before training for the 2000 Olympics.
“It’s just starting to sink in this morning,” Fawcett said. “Last night, it hadn’t really hit us. . . . Seeing all these people here at Disneyland, it’s starting to sink in.”
Several parents at the Disneyland parade said they could hardly imagine better role models for their daughters than the soccer players--strong and smart.
“Girls are blitzed with [images of] super-thin models; that’s scary,” said San Dimas resident Susie Hernandez, accompanied by Tara, 11, and Nicholas, 14. “The soccer players are muscular and feminine. As a mom, that’s who I want my kids to look to.”
As crews cleared confetti, Huntington Beach father Lonnie Morrow carried his 6-year-old daughter, Katie, on his shoulders. She wore an orange soccer jersey, black shorts and a wide smile.
“We watched the game at home yesterday,” Morrow said. “Katie just loves to see soccer. This is her girl power stuff.”
