All this includes seeing the awed faces of girls such as Andrea Tocco, the little girl who showed up with her dad at the autograph session. She could have been Richardson 30 years ago. Only now, Tocco doesn't have to change her name or cut her hair if she wants to do what she loves. I wouldn't want to change a thing. There is a huge gratification in knowing you have lived the journey and helped fight the battle.
People talk about the evolution of women's sports.
I've lived it. All this includes the dying face of Sal Lamendola, 70. A day after Tocco got her autographs, the U.S. team was in Staten Island, N.Y., for an exhibition. Richardson was warming up when somebody yelled her name. The tone told her there was trouble.