Should I go? Should I not? I debated this with myself for some two months. I wanted to go, yeah. Could I really afford it? It’s not too expensive. I can do it for pretty cheap. Hmmm… Finally I made my decision. Hotel: booked. Flight: booked. Transportation: booked. Credentials: secured. And just like that, from June 27th to July 1st, I was in Atlanta (er, mostly Kennesaw) for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game. Best decision. It was three days of soccer, things soccer adjacent, and obviously, fun. So, without further introduction, here’s XI things (get it?) that I’ll remember [until I get old and my brain turns to mush] about the 2010 WPS All-Star Game.
XI: The Kennesaw Best Western: Free internet – It may not have worked for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time, but it worked, and did I mention it was free? While all my media pals may have been living the high(er) life and mingling with the players at the Embassy Suites around the corner, they were doing it while dishing out $10 a day for a connection to the world outside Kennesaw. And the microwave and mini-fridge – essential for a vegan visiting a place like Kennesaw, where the food options all seemed to involve any combination of meat, cheese or fried meat and cheese – was pretty sweet too.
X: Some Good-Natured Trash Talk, Part I: After the teams were chosen at the Pick ‘Em event Marta XI coach Albertin Montoya pushed for a trade, and after commenting that he had very few defenders, Abby XI’s Shannon Boxx – who plays for Montoya at FC Gold Pride – responded with a classic “that’s your fault.” As the trade talks continued the players broke out into a “no trade!” chant.
IX: My Rental Car and the Garmin GPS: As someone who’s owned only two cars in their life, and with both of them being hatchbacks, driving my rented Chevy Aveo was what I imagine driving a Matchbox Car would be like. But, hey, it got me from Point A to Point B when I needed it, even though every time a car larger than mine (read: any car) passed me, I felt like the force or the pull or whatever – I’m not a science expert, figure it out – was going to send me a few lanes over. And speaking of getting from Point A to Point B, I made a last minute decision to add a GPS to my rental, and it was a good decision indeed. GPS and I found Publix together, and she so kindly directed me back to ATL for the Pick ‘Em event. Of course, the GPS didn’t help me much when it came to having to remember which parking garage I’d left the car in, but I only went in one wrong one – and it was across the street from the right one – before Aveo and I were reunited. There was also a moment leaving ATL after the Pick ‘Em where I think she may have had a minor stroke, directing me to make four right turns in a row – that’s around the block for those who come from places where grid-based streets don’t exist – but we were quickly back on track and back to Kennesaw. Can’t stay mad at the GPS.
VIII: The Pick ‘Em Event and Game Format: Credit to WPS for going all out with the playground style theme. Everyone, from the players to fans to the coaches to the media, seemed to be having a genuinely good time. It was lighthearted and fun, which is what an all-star game should be. Last year’s game, against Swedish club Umea IK, was for sure fun to watch, but I couldn’t help but think that the players felt some responsibility to have to win to defend the honor of WPS and the league’s claims to being the best in the world. This year, by keeping it in the family, everyone was able to just let loose and have a good time. Some other sports make it so their ASG means something in terms of the regular season (home field advantage in the World Series, anyone?), thus giving the players some other reason to play besides to put on a show for the fans as the ‘best of the best’ or for the love of their respective sport. An All-Star Game should be a celebration, a return to the roots of the game, a reminder why we’re all here in the first place (and if you don’t know why, I can’t help you). Major League Baseball, take note. WPS is doing it right.
VII: Some Good-Natured Trash Talk, Part II: With FC Gold Pride scheduled to play the Atlanta Beat that Saturday, the entire Bay Area team was in town, practicing on the training field next to KSU Soccer Stadium. The same field where the media game happened to be taking place immediately before Gold Pride’s practice on Wednesday. When the Pride players began arriving and noticed their coach playing in the game and lining up for a corner kick there were a few playful shouts of “Albertin, head it in!” (The guy’s not that tall, just sayin’).
VI: Albertin Montoya: I don’t know what people think of the FC Gold Pride coach one way or another. I only know my impression of him through a few interactions with him during the week, which is this: he was more than willing to talk after the Pick ‘Em event on Monday and again after All-Star training on Tuesday morning, despite the fact that it was really really hot out and he had a whole other training session for the Pride to conduct immediately after. Then, he showed up Wednesday morning for the Media Game, and played about 50 minutes of the hour long game, scoring a few goals and even shouting a few words of encouragement to those of us who were a little rusty and/or out of shape (*raises hand*). Then he ran Gold Pride’s early afternoon training session, and then coached Marta XI to a victory in the big show that night. And of course afterwords, he was more than willing to talk to the media again. So hats off to Albertin, who, as far as I’m concerned, is truly one of the good guys. (Not to take anything away from Paul Riley, who also seems like a good guy, I just had far fewer interactions with him.)
V: The Media Game: TV & Radio plus equalizersoccer.com’s Jeff Kassouf, who happened to be wearing red, which happened to be the color of the pinnys on hand, versus Print, PR/League Staff & New Media plus Albertin Montoya. TV & Radio won the small-sided game by an 8-6 score, but even as a member of the losing team, it was a ton of fun. League PR Director Rob Penner’s plan for us to play a ‘North Korea defense’ as the second half wore on was sort of hilarious and never quite worked out. FSC play-by-play guy Mark Rogondino played for the TV team, and whatever you think of him and his work calling WPS games, credit to him for coming out and playing, despite the heat and the fact that he was calling the game that night. Rogondino mentioned the media game during that night’s ASG broadcast, as did Montoya. Thanks to WPS and everyone else who played for one of the most fun and memorable mornings I’ve had.
IV: “I’m Just Trying to Hit You”: After Tuesday’s training session Jeff Kassouf, Goal.com’s Giovanni Albanese Jr. and I (thanks for letting me tag along!) headed over to the main field at KSU Soccer Stadium to watch FSC shoot a piece for their pregame show on Wednesday. It involved Mark Rogondino playing ‘keeper and trying his best to block shots from a few WPS All-Stars – Abby Wambach, Heather O’Reilly and Amy Rodriguez. While O’Reilly and Rodriguez seemed to be actually trying to score, Wambach had other plans, firing a few hard shots directly at Rogondino and making her motives quite clear: “I’m just trying to hit you” announced the Washington Freedom and US Women’s National Team forward (and Abby XI captain).
III: KSU Soccer Stadium: The place is beautiful. For real. I missed the full tour on Tuesday morning, but from what I saw, this place is the real deal. On game night, without room in the Press Box, which is also really really nice, All White Kit’s Jenna Pel and I set up on a random landing adjacent to the box. It was a perfect spot to watch the game and take some pictures. (And thanks to the Beat’s Manager of Media Relations Christa Mann for clearing out a spot for us in the radio box, even though we didn’t need it). After the match we headed down to the the press conference room, which is, not surprisingly, also really really nice. In person KSU Soccer Stadium is even shinier and has more of that “new stadium smell” than comes off on TV. A tip of the hat to the Atlanta Beat organization for this place, it’s truly amazing. Here’s to hoping for a long future for WPS complete with more places like this. It’s truly a world class stadium and thus the perfect spot for the world’s best to gather on one field and put on a show.
II: The Players: Lauren Cheney gave Amy Rodriguez a high-five after A-Rod put Marta XI up 5-2 late in the game. Cheney was on the other team. Sky Blue ‘keeper Karen Bardsley, having a breakout season in New Jersey, was legit excited when Marta picked her second overall, smiling from ear-to-ear and jumping around the room. The Bard sustained a clavicle injury after colliding with Marta XI teammate Cristiane during Tuesday morning’s training session, ending her All-Star playing time and possibly her season for Sky Blue, but on Wednesday night she was on the bench for Marta XI, sling and all, having a pretty good time. And speaking of the sling, Bardsley used it as a billboard, with a shout-out to her club team, a written-in-medical-tape “I ❤ SBFC." In fact, all the players talked about how much fun they were having. If Hope Solo is smiling after letting in two goals just a minute apart, you know this is just about having a good time. And why not? Plus, everyone mentioned how honored they were to be playing with the other All-Stars. That's respect.
I: The Game Itself: KSU Soccer Stadium’s world classness (yeah, I know it’s not a word, too bad) and the world classness of the 35 players involved were a match made in soccer heaven. The weather was perfect, as the thunderstorms that had been looming in the forecast never came, and the 8pm kickoff gave the ATL heat time to back off just enough. Our perch just outside the press box was a prime spot for taking photos and taking in the game, and more than a few times I found myself forgetting to take pictures or keep up with my game notes, simply wanting to sit back and watch the show on the field. It was also a good spot for FSC’s Mark Rogondino and Jenn Hildreth to nearly run us over trying to make it from inside the broadcast booth to outside the broadcast booth and back again in time for kickoff. And a good spot for Camille Abily and some of her FC Gold Pride teammates, making their way to their seats, to inadvertently walk into the frame as I was about to take a picture. Marta put on a show, scoring two goals a minute apart. Boston Breakers teammates Alex Scott and Lauren Cheney, on opposite All-Star teams, had a little battle along the sideline and then shared a laugh as they both went to the ground. Heather O’Reilly and Ramona Bachmann also had a few battles, and it made for a sort of hilarious moment when, after being ‘megged by O’Reilly, Bachmann responded with a very late tackle, which missed HAO. The Sky Blue midfielder kept the ball, but simply stopped where she stood, and gave Bachmann a look that said “for real?!?!” Aya Miyama scored a goal for Marta XI, but seemed even more excited when teammate Amy Rodriguez scored later in the match, flying into A-Rod’s arms. The rules, which were originally unlimited substitutions but no re-entry, were changed very late to allow players to come off and on as their coaches pleased. The change came so late that referee Margaret Domka was left a bit confused when O’Reilly, who came out in 51st minute, attempted to re-enter the match 11 minutes later. A total of 18 subs on the night made for a busy night for the 4th official and led to both the PA announcer and myself giving up on trying to keep track. Oh, and Michelle Akers was there to deliver the ceremonial first kick and to– who cares why she’s there, she’s Michelle Akers, she can be there for any reason she damn well pleases. If you don’t know who Michelle Akers is, pretend I’m giving you that same “for real?!?!” look that HAO shot Ramona Bachmann. A true legend and a pioneer in the women’s game (and someone whose poster I had hanging on my wall as a kid), her presence left even Abby Wambach admittedly star struck. In a game that was about celebrating a return to soccer’s roots, Akers’ presence couldn’t have felt more right. Abby Wambach and Hope Solo and Marta and Heather O’Reilly and Kelly Smith and… hell, all of these players left so many kids, the next generation of soccer fans, star struck at meeting their heroes. That it happened in the presence of one of my generation’s heroes, that all those autographs were coming from players themselves star struck, made for an awesome, surreal and truly special moment.
You can read my recap of the actual match at American Soccer News and see pictures from the week at Flickr
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