Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

Thursday, July 15, 1999

Women’s triumph
worth savoring

MAY the 40 million television viewers, those at the Rose Bowl and countless others who watched highlights of the United States' victory in Saturday's Women's World Cup final hold on to the images that captivated the nation.

Let women's soccer enjoy it's perch at the top of the American sports ladder for now.

Football starts in a month and Hawaii's women's volleyball teams soon will be spiking and digging in search of national championships.

Our sports focus will change. That's absolutely OK.

But, for as long as possible, remember those images. They had to make you feel good.

When 33-year-old Michelle Akers ran full tilt over the end line to deny a Chinese striker the ball and crashed into the boards just off the field midway through the second half, you had to admire and applaud the effort by the heart and soul of the U.S. team.

In the first overtime, when Fan Yunjie's header off a corner kick sliced toward the open U.S. goal, didn't momentary panic turn to pride (and relief) as Kristine Lilly headed the ball away from the goal line?

Or seconds later, when Brandi Chastain's world-class scissors kick (Pele would be proud) averted further trouble, who screamed with delight first, you or your neighbor?

And the difference in the penalty kicks, U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry's diving save on Liu Ying's attempt.

It was easy to pump one's fist right along with Scurry, a highly charged study in fierce determination and power dancing across the Rose Bowl grass.

FINALLY, there was nothing powder puff either about the penalty kicks. Carla Overbeck set the tone with a hard, low shot into the right corner, Lilly drilled the third U.S. try into the upper left corner and then Chastain's winner - inches inside the post, off the side net - was unstoppable.

It was magic.

And thank you, J.P. Dellacamara and Wendy Gebauer, ABC announcers, who said nothing for one minute, 47 seconds, letting us all soak up the emotion, feel the exhilaration and relish the moment with our own happy thoughts.

There is no reason to spend a moment thinking negatively. Why worry about whether a women's pro soccer league will be financially viable. Who cares if Scurry came off the goal line to save China's third penalty kick attempt.

If you watched closely, both goalkeepers came off the line on every attempt with the exception of China's Gao Hong on the second U.S. shot.

Give the the United States Soccer Federation credit for conducting a feasibility study on a women's pro league.

Thank John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, for providing the funds to develop a business plan.

But leave it to the sports marketing people and potential investors to see if it's workable in the next millennium.

There is a place for soccer in America's sports fabric. The sport will determine its own level of placement in due time.

MOLOKAI GOLD:

Congratulations to the Molokai athletes, playing under the Hawaii USA banner, who won the Division 10, Traditional 5-a-side soccer gold medal at the World Special Olympics in searing heat at Raleigh, N.C., last month.

Noel Motas scored the goal in the championship game, a 1-0 win over Maine.

The other team members, who range in age from 11 to 46 are August Reimann, Nathanial Asano, Natalie Greenleaf, Andrea Puaa, Aaron Legare, Jeff St. James, Waika Lawelawe, Brandon Lawelawe and Pearl Blair. The coaches are Steve and LaVerne Legare and Kahana Stone.