When games don't matter

Shock, dismay buffeted Hamm, fellow players after learning of attack

Mia Hamm has been encouraged by the way the country and its individual communities have pulled together. Shaun Botterill/Allsport

By Tim Nash

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- She had a game that night, so Mia Hamm slept in a little. When she got up, she headed to breakfast without turning on the television.

She knew nothing of the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center until Julie Foudy said, "Did you hear?"

When Foudy told Hamm that an airplane had flown into the World Trade Center, Hamm immediately knew it could not have been an accident.

"I've flown into New York a lot, into LaGuardia, and I didn't think it was a plane that had gone off course," she said. "You fly so high over the city. Then seeing videos of it ... it was unbelievable. I was in shock."

She was staying at the Hyatt Columbus, Ohio, with the U.S. national team when it happened. The area around the Hyatt is located near the Ohio state capital buildings, which had been evacuated. The area was closed off to most traffic, and national team players and staff were asked not to leave the hotel. Hamm feels fortunate to have been among friends when it happened.

"We had a quick team meeting and then went upstairs to call family and friends," she said. "When things like that happen, everyone is in shock. The [US Soccer] Federation was great. We were asked not to go anywhere, and they told us just to let them know if we needed anything.

"They told us not to worry about phone calls from our rooms, that they would take care of the bill and to call anyone we needed to."

The United States national team was scheduled to play Japan on Sept. 11 in the Nike U.S. Women's Cup. The tragedies that unfolded that day made soccer meaningless.

China and Germany were also in town, and China was sharing the same hotel as the Americans. A day before the attacks, the American and Chinese players -- some of them teammates and opponents in the WUSA -- were exchanging greetings, hugs and having conversations the best they could.

"All the other teams were great," said Hamm. "I spoke to Gao [Hong, the New York Power goalkeeper], and she expressed her sadness and said that they didn't want to play either. It was very genuine and heartfelt."

But Hamm's thoughts were on her own country. One aspect of the tragedy that has her attention is the inevitable military response by the United States. Hamm grew up the daughter of an Air Force colonel, living on a variety of military bases. And six years ago, she married Christiaan Corry, a Marine helicopter pilot.

"With the life my dad has lived, and with Christiaan doing what he is doing, it's obviously a little close to home when your family and friends are involved," she said. "It's their job, but at the same time it's frightening. People who have friends and family in that situation just have to pray that they'll be okay."

Like everyone else, Hamm is thinking of ways to help. She has been outspoken about the D.C. community and how they have embraced the Freedom. Hamm and her Washington teammates want to be able to pay them back however they can.

Recently, she talked about how when she goes to her neighborhood convenience store people who work there would comment on that week's game. She explained how her entire Washington Freedom team enjoyed going out into the community for promotional events and appearances.

"Whether it was going to the grocery store or walking in the city, people were great," she said. "Even though our season wasn't what we had hoped, people would tell us they were at the game, or just wish us luck.

"There are so many ways people can help this community," she said on Sept. 21 as she drove to an event where she would get her picture taken with three teams of young soccer players. "Obviously, financially is one way. We [the Freedom] are very active in this community, and we will become more active. We're going to do some stuff. Most of the players are back in town now."

Hamm has heard thousands chant "USA ... USA," sometimes directed at her. She has been a part of events that prompted thousands to wave American flags and dress in red, white & blue. She knows what it is like to be proud of America and feel blessed to be an American citizen.

"I know for myself, I can't speak for the others but I know how they think, every time we pull on that jersey we feel an enormous sense of pride," she said. "The first thing we do when we get to the locker room is take our shirts out. When they play the national anthem before our games, we sing. We stand up straight. Not a lot of people get to represent their country."

The way the country and its individual communities have pulled together has been very encouraging to Hamm. While the tragedies will certainly change Americans, she hopes the response the country is making will change us for the better.

"I hope it makes us more caring and more tolerant of each other," she said. "I hope it makes us love more, and appreciate the freedoms we have. And never take living in this country for granted. There are a lot of things that we take for granted, and I think this has really brought liberty and freedom to the forefront, and that will be a positive thing."

(c)womenssoccer.com 2001