U.S. Women Achieved Their Golden Goal
- Posted 3 months ago|
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As women's soccer at these Olympics has drawn to a close, I wanted to write and talk about how amazing a day this was for the American women and for girls who play soccer everywhere!!
Even as I was broadcasting the game on NBC, there were quite a few times when I got goose bumps watching, not as much during the game because I had to try and keep some semblance of unbiased professionalism, but when the players stood up onto the podium to accept their gold medals and then again when the National Anthem played, I think I got teary-eyed and choked up. I know what those moments feel like and they are pretty special. It was interesting to experience it from where I was sitting and an extremely powerful moment.
Now that all is said and done, I think the key to the gold medal U.S. victory in Beijing was just an overall confidence from the first game to the last game and how much they improved. I think two of the veterans on the team, Kate Markgraf and Christie Rampone, said it best... that they all believed in each other from the beginning and never stopped even after that opening loss. They knew that was what was going to carry them through.
This may not have been the most skilled or the most talented team, but the one thing they knew they could count on was that each player was going to fight as hard as she possibly could. And that was absolutely true in the end and a great lesson for everyone.
After last year's disappointment in the World Cup, this win is even more special. I don't like using the word "redemption" because no team or country is owed anything or guaranteed anything. I'm a big believer that you get what you deserve. If you are playing hard, playing well and working together, then you'll get results. Last year was devastating in terms of how the team was run, the style of play and you could see it on the field. Having this new coach in there freed up some of the personality, the fun and enjoyment of the game.
This was a relatively young and inexperienced team as compared to past U.S. teams, but winning any major tournament like this no matter the make-up of the roster gives you confidence for the future. What U.S. Women's Soccer needed after 2007 was a chance to have success and be able to use that as a springboard for the rest of what they do. Now you don't ever look back again. With the gold medal around their necks, you only look forward.
This is such a great situation and I could not be prouder of how they played, how they competed and how they represented the United States!!!
Even as I was broadcasting the game on NBC, there were quite a few times when I got goose bumps watching, not as much during the game because I had to try and keep some semblance of unbiased professionalism, but when the players stood up onto the podium to accept their gold medals and then again when the National Anthem played, I think I got teary-eyed and choked up. I know what those moments feel like and they are pretty special. It was interesting to experience it from where I was sitting and an extremely powerful moment.
Now that all is said and done, I think the key to the gold medal U.S. victory in Beijing was just an overall confidence from the first game to the last game and how much they improved. I think two of the veterans on the team, Kate Markgraf and Christie Rampone, said it best... that they all believed in each other from the beginning and never stopped even after that opening loss. They knew that was what was going to carry them through.
This may not have been the most skilled or the most talented team, but the one thing they knew they could count on was that each player was going to fight as hard as she possibly could. And that was absolutely true in the end and a great lesson for everyone.
After last year's disappointment in the World Cup, this win is even more special. I don't like using the word "redemption" because no team or country is owed anything or guaranteed anything. I'm a big believer that you get what you deserve. If you are playing hard, playing well and working together, then you'll get results. Last year was devastating in terms of how the team was run, the style of play and you could see it on the field. Having this new coach in there freed up some of the personality, the fun and enjoyment of the game.
This was a relatively young and inexperienced team as compared to past U.S. teams, but winning any major tournament like this no matter the make-up of the roster gives you confidence for the future. What U.S. Women's Soccer needed after 2007 was a chance to have success and be able to use that as a springboard for the rest of what they do. Now you don't ever look back again. With the gold medal around their necks, you only look forward.
This is such a great situation and I could not be prouder of how they played, how they competed and how they represented the United States!!!