August 29, 2004

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is nothing more inspiring to those who take in the opera than drama, and I think we ran the full gamut in the Gold Medal game. We were ahead, then tied in the waning moments. Bri came up huge with save after save. They hit the post, they fell down, they rolled around. We got kicked from behind, we ran someone over. It went into overtime, we scored on a beautiful corner kick from my idol Kristine Lilly that connected with Abby Wambach's head and was just high enough so that the post player had no other option than to hit it high into the roof of the net. Abby took off running, sprinting past Jules, giving her the Heisman block, towards our friends and families directly across from our bench.

Being in this game as long as I have, I would think by now I would have come to control my emotions, to take things in stride, but there is no way, even for the coolest of customers, to keep it together at a time like that. I leapt from the bench when we scored, gave everyone a high five, and then waved my hands to the crowd and told them that we needed their help to bring this victory home. So they chanted USA! USA! USA! as loud and long as they possibly could.

The postgame medal ceremony was terrific. Standing on the podium getting ready to hear the anthem for the second time (we all decided that we weren't going to be satisfied with only one rendition that evening just after hearing it before the match began), I couldn't think of any other people I would like to share that moment with than Jules, Lil, Joy, and Hammer. They are my rock, they are my shoulder to lean on, they give me tough love when necessary, they take me shopping and to Uncle Bill's (our favorite place to have breakfast in Manhattan Beach). I am forever indebted to these women, not because they are great soccer players, but because they are fantastic people, who bring out the best in me on a daily basis. I am in awe, completely inspired by their courage, passion and commitment. Though we will never be on the same field as a national team in a major world event again, I know that in the toughest of times as in the best, I will always go back in my memory of our time together. I love you all!!!

Okay, sorry that getting to that took me a bit of time after the final whistle, but between the excitement of the game, our family and friends, drug testing, late parties, media, more drug testing, more media, other events (WE HAD TO CHEER ON OUR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM, AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM), to going to the men's soccer final, I have barely had 5 hours of sleep, and now it is a couple of hours before we take off to close the Olympics of Athens, Greece, where the torch will be passed to China for 2008. It will be a spectacle, like the opening ceremonies, but will have an air of casualness because the athletes will be able to mix, mingle and exchange gear they have received over the past month.

There will be a FAN APPRECIATION TOUR beginning September 25th in Rochester NY versus Iceland, hope to see everyone there.

Yassas from Greece.

Brandi