Have you been following the FIFA scandal? Watching the U.S. Women’s National Team in the World Cup? Cheering for local Olympic gold medalists Lori Chalupny and Becky Sauerbrunn? If you don’t even understand these questions, you’re not alone. Starting last month, 24 teams representing their nations began playing soccer in six cities across Canada in the World Cup 2015.
Sadly, women’s professional soccer is not a widely watched sport. Most people assume Mia Hamm is still playing. She retired 11 years ago. Or they remember the iconic image of Brandi Chastain ripping off her jersey to reveal a black sports bra after scoring a winning goal during the World Cup. That was 1999. Now, there’s a whole new group of amazing players, and two of them belong to St. Louis.
Everyone should be cheering for the comeback kid, Lori Chalupny. She’s a graduate of Nerinx Hall High School, my alma mater, who went on to study and play soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was called up to the U.S. team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where the team won gold. Lori didn’t just store her medal, but took it along on a tour of local schools. I watched as she talked to a group of girls about her experience at the Olympics. After a series of concussions in 2009, she was prohibited from playing for the national team. But living by her motto, “Work hard, dream big,” she was cleared to play in 2014 and will be representing the U.S. in Canada. Yes, seven years after winning a gold medal at the Olympics, she now has a shot at the World Cup.
Ladue High gets to claim Becky Sauerbrunn as its own. After high school, Becky studied and played at the University of Virginia and was an Olympic gold medalist in London 2012. She played in the last Women’s World Cup in 2011 when the U.S. lost to Japan. It’s likely Becky will receive a lot of playing time since she was twice named National Women’s Soccer League defender of the year. She and her teammates have started the #SheBelieves campaign, which sends a message to women and young girls that they can accomplish their goals, whatever they are.
So do me a favor. If you have daughter, watch a game with her. I know some people think watching soccer is like watching paint dry … uh, I think even I might have said that … but it’s not true about soccer at this level and intensity. If you have a son, make him watch too. If he refuses, then be sure the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated doesn’t make it into your home next February. Let him see the women who should be featured in that magazine. Oops, did I just get off topic?
Oh, and regarding the FIFA scandal, if you don’t have any idea what is going on, just know this: don’t mess with the Feds. That’s my summary. Watch the final July 5—go USA! Go Lori! Go Becky!
[Patty Unleashed is a column by Backtalk and I Tried It writer Patty Hannum, who has too much time on her hands and clearly needs something more to do.]
