soccer stalkerism... part II

[read part I here]

Despite the lack of obsession, I've still tried to follow the USWNT blog faithfully. At some point U.S. Soccer announced the women would be coming back to Cary to take on Japan in a World Cup prep game. I recruited some friends and paid way too much money for seats by the tunnel close to the field. Anytime I go to Cary, my mind wanders back to the nine months I lived there after college. I did an internship for the Carolina Courage during my senior year of college and was absolutely thrilled when they offered me a job after graduation. I was paid pennies and worked my butt off, but was living my dream job at 20 years old.

On Wednesday we ate cheap across from SAS, the company that almost bought the Courage. We cut through back roads I memorized eight years ago to get to my apartment. We took the same path I used to take from my apartment to the stadium, but were forced to park much further away! I always feel a little possessive when I get back to the stadium. We spent so much time trying to build our brand... I didn't work there long, but it meant the world to me. I reminisced working camp with the players and staff, painting a ridiculous banner in the locker room or hauling merchandise in the Hyundai Santa Fe.

During the game I watched Shannon Boxx, the player who used the WUSA as her tryout for the USWNT. I spotted former Courage coach and Assistant GM Marcia McDermott, former assistant coach Susan Ellis and former superstar Hege Riise. There were former USWNT players galore between Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow, Julie Foudy and Kate Markgraf. Tennessee head coach Angela Kelly blended in amongst UNC coach Anson Dorrance and current USWNT players Lindsey Tarpley and Heather Mitts. I fell right back into the extreme fandom spouting off useless knowledge and winning the halftime trivia game from my seat.

If I worked for U.S. Soccer I would be working hard in these months leading up to the World Cup to get people excited about women's soccer. If that was the goal Wednesday night, U.S. Soccer succeeded. I'm itching to watch more soccer... read more articles... I'm ready for the 2011 World Cup. I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to work directly with professional women's soccer players again, but I will forever be a supporter.

soccer stalkerism... part I

 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]