Sunday, July 13, 2008

Home Run for A-Rod

Certainly a great event today outside of Denver. More than 15,000 fans, two excellent teams, a fantastic stadium and one world class finish. Although, it was hot. Darn hot. And dry. So hot and dry in fact that these quotes were uttered by U.S. players after the game:

Tobin Heath: "I felt like I had a big hair ball in my throat."
Stephanie Cox: "My mouth has never been that dry."

The fact that both teams were able to put on good performances in such heat and at a mile-high altitude was truly impressive. And if there are such things at breakthrough games (there probably aren't, as success on the national team usually comes from chipping away at the wall instead of breaking it down), then maybe today was that game for Amy Rodriguez. She came on at halftime and immediately started causing trouble for the Brazilians. Her world-class strike was as spectacular as it was exciting. Yes, the ball did skip through a Brazilian defender's legs to get to her, but it was the U.S. that capitalized on a mistake and her shot off the goalkeeper hands and into the roof of the net was about as good as it gets. The U.S. team travels to San Diego tomorrow morning, will have a light training in the afternoon and then tomorrow night...it's dinner at Rachel Buehler's house! We're not sure of the menu yet, but we know it'll be good eatin'.

16 comments:

Neil said...

Why did Wambach change her uniform number? My daughter now need to re-accessorize...

Unknown said...

they only have 1-18 on the olympic roster so she can't have 20.

Anonymous said...

the uniforms were changed JUST FOR OLYMPICS because the 18 player roster needs to be numbered from 1-18...and that's why Abby is 12 since 20 is larger than 18, Solo is #1 now, and A-ROD is #8.

courtney said...

the olympics only allows for a roster of 1-18 players, so she can't have number 20. I think that's what the ESPN commentator said, at least.

Alondra said...

they change a few of the players' numbers for the Olympics. Their numbers are now from 1-18, cause it's an 18-player roster. her are the players that have a different number:
hope solo (#1), rachel buehler (#4), amy rodriguez(#8), abby wambach (#12), nicole barnhart (#18)

azua4 said...

They said that the Olympic roster is only 1-18 so number 20 is not available. I thought she usually took 18 when the roster changes 1-18 so I am not sure how she got 12….

Brooke said...

She changed because their jerseys need to be numbered 1-18 for the Olympics so she can't wear her usual #20 until the Olympics are over.

courtney said...

The game was amazing!!! I have been waiting for the team to come to Colorado since I moved here about 5 years ago!!! Now, I am just hoping they make a trip back after the Oly's!!!

And Neil, Abby had to change to number 12 because of the Olympics. The team must only use numbers 1-18. Since Abby's normal number is 20, she always has to change it for the Olympics! Hopes that helps!

Impedient said...

Yes neil, she did because of the Olympic numbering. The players have to go from 1-18.

Great job team USA on beating Brazil yet again and A-Rod definitely has "a thing" for scoring against them eh?

Zar000000 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zar000000 said...

.... announcers sd the Olympics only allows #'s 1-18, I think it is temp till games are over.


Man it was good to see the game on TV, good game Ladies!

Well be watching Wednesday night from NC!

Kylie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

to answer neil's question...for the olympics, all of the uniforms have to be numbered 1-18. therefore, abby has to change her number. but it's just for the olympics...

Anonymous said...

An answer to your question, Neil: The Olympics only allows 18 players on a roster, number 1-18. Therefore, for the Olympics, Abby Wambach moves from #20 to #12. Also note that Amy Rodriguez, Hope Solo, Nicole Barnhart, and Rachel Buehler also change numbers. Like the last Olympics, I bet that the players will return to their regular jersey numbers after this Olympics.

Leah Voit said...

Olympic numbers are either 1-18 or 1-20. I can't remember. Wambach wore 23, therefore she had to change her number.

In any event, good job on the win!

Mark said...

The game was great! It was great for my daughter to see her idol, Solo play in person. However, she was pretty disappointed that Hope did not sign autographs like some other players did.