I grew up a soccer fan. There weren't many others like me when I was growing up. I wish I remembered the moment when I knew I loved soccer. I first played when I was six and I can't imagine I was really good. My teams were dominated by boys and I have a feeling I had to work hard to prove value to the team.
My mom told a story the last time I was home about when I was kid... She came to pick me up from a school dance and went inside to look for me and someone told her I was outside playing. She was so excited I wasn't being a girly girl stuck inside with the insecurities of a school dance. She tracked me down and we loaded up the car and she asked about my decision to play outside. I was so matter-of-fact, but that's where the boys were. Some girls played sports because they felt like one of the guys. I didn't feel like one of the guys, I just think there was definitely a part of me that wanted to just be with the guys. I went where they were.
I subscribed to Soccer Jr. magazine and started to learn about the United States Women's National Team (or USWNT). I vaguely remember hearing about the U.S. loss in the 1995 World Cup, but remember falling madly in love throughout the 1996 Olympics. I passionately followed Dominique Dawes and the U.S. gymnastics team as much as I did Michelle Akers and the U.S. women's soccer team. As far as I can remember, I first saw the team play live June 8, 1997. I saw them again a few years later at the Naval Academy and have seen the team play three times in Cary, N.C.
When I wasn't watching the team live, I was collecting newspaper and magazine articles (I have four binders full) or recording games on tv (I have at least 29 games on vhs not counting pro or college games). I went to a Michelle Akers conference in college and have autographs from a bunch of players. Through at least high school and college I could name every player in the national team pool, their number and college. During the 1999 World Cup I was working at a camp without access to watch games. My boyfriend and my parents sent me articles and on championship Saturday, anyone who could stand me crowded around a 13 inch tv to watch history. In 2003 I volunteered at the World Cup and watched games with former coworkers and players from the WUSA. In 2007 I recruited players from Methodist to get up at the crack of dawn and watch games... Most would say I was dedicated.
I still follow the team, but over the last five years of working a job engrossed in sports my fandom has waned...
to be continued
[my ability to babble has inspired me to post part II tomorrow]
My mom told a story the last time I was home about when I was kid... She came to pick me up from a school dance and went inside to look for me and someone told her I was outside playing. She was so excited I wasn't being a girly girl stuck inside with the insecurities of a school dance. She tracked me down and we loaded up the car and she asked about my decision to play outside. I was so matter-of-fact, but that's where the boys were. Some girls played sports because they felt like one of the guys. I didn't feel like one of the guys, I just think there was definitely a part of me that wanted to just be with the guys. I went where they were.
I subscribed to Soccer Jr. magazine and started to learn about the United States Women's National Team (or USWNT). I vaguely remember hearing about the U.S. loss in the 1995 World Cup, but remember falling madly in love throughout the 1996 Olympics. I passionately followed Dominique Dawes and the U.S. gymnastics team as much as I did Michelle Akers and the U.S. women's soccer team. As far as I can remember, I first saw the team play live June 8, 1997. I saw them again a few years later at the Naval Academy and have seen the team play three times in Cary, N.C.
When I wasn't watching the team live, I was collecting newspaper and magazine articles (I have four binders full) or recording games on tv (I have at least 29 games on vhs not counting pro or college games). I went to a Michelle Akers conference in college and have autographs from a bunch of players. Through at least high school and college I could name every player in the national team pool, their number and college. During the 1999 World Cup I was working at a camp without access to watch games. My boyfriend and my parents sent me articles and on championship Saturday, anyone who could stand me crowded around a 13 inch tv to watch history. In 2003 I volunteered at the World Cup and watched games with former coworkers and players from the WUSA. In 2007 I recruited players from Methodist to get up at the crack of dawn and watch games... Most would say I was dedicated.
I still follow the team, but over the last five years of working a job engrossed in sports my fandom has waned...
to be continued
[my ability to babble has inspired me to post part II tomorrow]
No comments:
Post a Comment