In Women’s Soccer, U.S. Doesn’t Trip Over Own Feet
With a hat trick Sunday at the Rose Bowl against Mexico, the United States’ Mia Hamm would share the all-time scoring record in women’s soccer.
She would tie Italian Elisabetta Vignotto, who had 107. She played in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
So, no matter what you’ve heard, the United States didn’t invent women’s soccer.
We do, however, deserve credit for popularizing it around the world.
“A lot of these countries have soccer cultures, and they’re tired of losing to the United States,” Aaron Heifetz, spokesman for the U.S. women’s national team, said Thursday.
He was speaking specifically of Germany and Brazil. The United States might have to beat both to reach the final at the Rose Bowl on July 10 in the third women’s World Cup.
He also could have been referring to Mexico, which assembled teams almost as an afterthought and failed to qualify for the first two.
But, with prodding from the Mexican-American community in Southern California, Mexico treated this one as more than a nuisance and earned a berth in the field of 16 scheduled to begin play in seven U.S. cities on June 19.
The team that meets the United States in a 2 p.m. exhibition Sunday, preceding the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer game against Dallas, has eight players of Mexican heritage who were raised on this side of the border. After importing soccer talent for years to play for the U.S. men, the United States is the leading exporter in the women’s game.
In World Cups to come, however, Mexico might not have to rely on the United States. Coach Leonardo Cuellar, the men’s and women’s coach at Cal State L.A., reports that 75 players attended a recent training camp in Mexico City, and although none probably are advanced enough to make the team this year, many showed promise for the future.
Such stories are a mixed blessing for U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco.
“This is good news for women’s soccer as a whole but bad news for the U.S. team,” Heifetz said. “Tony would rather win every game, 5-0, but since that’s not going to happen, he might as well embrace it.”
*
NFL scouts were at USC recently to try out potential prospects. . . .
One of the kids was quarterback Vince Evans, who will turn 44 in June and last played in 1995. . . .
Irv Kaze celebrates the seventh anniversary of his KIEV (870) radio show Saturday with Terry Collins and Dusty Baker as guests. . . .
His first show in 1992 featured John Wooden. . . .
Although referees who had to listen to Wooden’s taunts through that rolled up program might disagree, Wooden is more outspoken than when he was coaching. . . .
In an interview with USA Today this week, he ripped into the NBA. . . .
“If I wanted to see showmanship, I’d go see the Globetrotters,” he said. . . .
The only NBA player he would pay to see, he said, is John Stockton. . . .
Besides Maine’s Steve Kariya, Paul’s brother, other players in the NCAA ice hockey regionals this weekend with Mighty Duck connections are Colorado College’s Chris Hartsburg, son of Craig, and Denver University’s Anders Eisner, son of Michael. . . .
All are trying to advance to next week’s Frozen Four at the Arrowhead Pond. . . .
General Challenge was considered a leading Kentucky Derby contender until his recent fifth-place finish in Louisiana. . . .
Trainer Bob Baffert will enter him in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby but with blinkers. . . .
David Simon, L.A. Sports Council president, leads a seven-member delegation to international swimming federation meetings in Hong Kong next week to present Long Beach’s bid for the 2003 World Aquatics Championships. . . .
No gifts allowed, scandal-wary officials stressed to bid cities . . .
Did you read what Shaquille O’Neal said about Patrick Ewing in Sports Illustrated? . . .
“He’s somebody I really don’t like, especially since the lockout,” O’Neal said. . . .
“Georgetown is supposed to be a five-star university? Yeah, right. That’s why he and ‘Zo [Alonzo Mourning] were trying to play lawyer, trying to intimidate billionaires like Paul Allen. Please.”
*
While wondering if Shaq will tell that to Ewing’s face Sunday, I was thinking: Go ahead and size the Duke men for rings, Tennessee is still the best women’s team, Louisiana Tech wins in the Vols’ absence.
Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com
