So I figured it was time for a little update. I was going to combine this with some other stuff but i'm getting tired of typing. So look for another update later..
1. Abby Wambach of the US Women's National team broke her left leg is the last "friendly" before the Olympics. She is the leading scorer on the team & a true leader on & off the field. It is going to be mighty difficult for the team without her. Yes, I think they have a legitmate chance at winning gold, but it is going to be much more difficult. Players like Kai & Rodriguez are going to have to step up and shine. The loss of Wambach is a great opportunity for this team to show the world what they are made of. To answer a question about whether or not I think the drama of the world cup could continue this year, posted in an earlier blog. Honestly I don't really see there being much drama this year. They fired Greg Ryan who was the coach that made the goal-tending change & they hired Pia Sundhage (former Swedish national player & coach) Pia kept Hope Solo on the roster & didn't include Briana Scurry. So therefore I see no goal-tending drama coming. Really the only possibility for drama would be if Pia makes the wrong choices as to how to change the lineup & style since Wambach is out. & even if that happens, I can't see the press or anyone for that matter putting much blame on her. Playing without Abby is something that the team has never had to do, so no one will blame Pia if she makes the wrong decision in this case.
2. In sports today it is very difficult to find good role models. In fact I can count them on one hand. Well, Abby Wambach is one of those. I've been a fan of Wambach's for a few years now & I must say I was truly impressed and inspired by the way she handled herself after the injury. To see the injury & the poise of Abby here is a video link. Abby had successful surgery & is on the road to recovery. Doctors say it will be about a 12 week recovery process. Here are some quotes from Abby after her surgery...the full quote sheet can be found on ussoccer.com.
On her immediate thoughts after breaking her leg:
"I realized in that moment and accepted in that moment that my Olympic dreams were not going to be what I had planned. I accepted the reality of this situation. This was a deep down acceptance of my reality. A lot of the times when you freak out about stuff is when you are more unsure of reality. It was an all encompassing moment. I wasn't freaked out."
On her calm demeanor as she was being carted off the field:
"A lot has to do with my experience with this team and my competitiveness. I surely didn't want to affect the competitiveness on the field. I know what it takes to win a gold medal and I know that one person isn't going to be the answer. I want to set the example for my teammates, to see on my face, that whether or not I'm on the field no matter who it is we're playing, that we can win on any given day. I accepted that I knew what was going on. I guess I am proud of the way I reacted because it was truly the way I felt. I was only scared because I had never experienced that before or ridden in an ambulance. The most important thing at that moment was winning the game and showing my teammates by example that they have to lean on each other a little bit more to get that gold medal that we've been desperately training for over the months."
Her thoughts on the injury and looking back over the past few days:
"It made me realize even more how insignificant one player is in a team environment. It really does take a team to win a championship. I can't express my thanks enough to the outreach from people from all different walks of life. I am really appreciative of the support that I have, the country that I represent, and I am proud of my teammates. This is kind of an occupational hazard and we all take the risk, knowing that this is possible every time we step onto the field. That's sports. It's the risk you take when you lace up your boots. I play one way and there's no other way to explain it. I'm not going to take it easy just because it's the last game before the Olympics."
On her comeback from the serious injury and if it can inspire others:
"There's no question of whether or not I'll come back from this, it's more when I'll come back. Will it take a lot of hard work and dedication, pain and suffering? Probably. But do I think about the type of role model that I can be to someone who is going through the same thing? Absolutely. We aren't on the planet alone and whether people like to admit it or not, all we can do is learn from each other in the course of a lifetime. I sometimes struggle because I don't find myself inspiring, because it's just me, in my own skin. If people feel like that, then let's use this as another experience to give them a gauge in how to react in tough situations, give them a platform as a possibility. Anytime you can learn from something. What I want the younger generation to feel and see from this, first and foremost, is that I'm coming back from this."