Equally refreshing were the legions of young girls, obviously fanatics, who dominated the crowd of more than 23,000. Throughout Team USA's warm-ups, they lined the edge of the field, decked out in red, white and blue, splashed with face paint, screaming for Mia, Judy and the rest with a fervor their mothers might have directed at the Beatles. Or more specifically, girl empowerment. Soccer's Spice Girls of '99, with their obscene quadriceps, wholesome ponytails and precise athleticism, expose Sporty for the fraud she was. The U.S. women's team is a genuine example of teamwork, and it's that synergy that charges fans and distinguishes the women's game from the men's.
Women naturally have a mental advantage in a sport that rewards intuitive, improvisational play.
For the next three weeks, just in time to relieve the post-NBA sports doldrums, scores of feisty female athletes will be in the spotlight. On July 10, in the Rose Bowl, someone gets the tiara. The 32 games will be broadcast by ABC, ESPN and ESPN 2. But It's Ours Civic Stadium has a secret. The supposed baseball park is really a classic soccer ground gussied up in all-American drag.