More Than A Game

"You know, say what you will about the ravages of sports in this corporate age where overpaid athletes expect prima donna treatment, but there's still something so unifying about sporting in it's purest form, when athletes rise above themselves and touch greatness, and in doing so remind us all that we all have greatness inside of us".-Marvin McFadden

"Was it worth it?"

A simple, four word question I asked my eldest niece Wednesday night when we were forced to leave the United States Women's National team game versus Costa Rica early due to weather. Her reply was an ear to ear grin and a single word, "Definitely."

In all we saw fourteen minutes of the game before lightning struck and ruined the game for us. The excitement however started long before the game when we pulled up to Finley Stadium among a mass of people and walked inside. We found our seats quickly and a few short minutes later the only family member I have who likes the beautiful game as much if not more than I do saw one of her sports idols, Alex Morgan. Then in quick succession, Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach followed as they filed into the stadium to the locker room. She was ecstatic and could barely speak as she ran back to our seats to show off the video she'd just taken. This was one of the moments that made the foul weather, being packed like cattle into the concourse, and early expulsion worth it. The next happened around five minutes later when I returned to the bathroom to find my sister and brother-in-law had gone to get food. I had been talking to Haylee about what looked like a large, rain-filled cloud that was approaching when she started smacking me on the arm and talking in an uncharacteristically high voice. When I turned to ask her what was happening she started pointing to the wall outside the locker room. Lo and behold one Hope Solo was leaning against said wall chatting on her cell phone.

Eventually Hope disappeared, Haylee's parents came back and the wait continued unbroken except for the occasional squeal of an excited fan, over nothing that I could see. Sixth-thirty rolled around, game time, Hope Solo appeared and warmed up for a few minutes then disappeared to more screams. I'll admit to clapping and screaming 'yeah' myself. I'm a fan of Hope Solo and the team in general but favor Solo,Morgan, Wambach, Lloyd and Heath above the others, they are my favorites. So when the team came out to practice I watched excitedly, nothing spectacular happened, it was just warm-ups after all, but still there was something magnificent about watching the world champions practicing on a field, in my hometown.Both teams disappeared and reappeared this time with children accompanying them as they were introduced a la normal game proceedings.

Then the real magic happened. 20,535 people stood united in a moment of silence for Chattanooga's Fallen Five. These five were men that had risked their lives for this country and this city, giving us the freedom to do what we were doing that night, gathering to watch a game. I'd known it was going to happen having seen Alex Morgan tweet about it but being part of it was something else. This had become more than a game it was a time of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It was thought provoking, beautiful, and strangely haunting, a moment I will not soon forget. When it ended and the game started the American Outlaws famous for starting the 'I believe' chant at cup games started the Chattahooligan chant of Chatta-Nooga. That single world echoing across the stadium, issued from so many mouths but seemingly from a single disembodied voice was truly spine-tingling.

A few quick touches and then we hit the 6:25 mark and Carli Lloyd launched a beautiful free-kick into the net like the ball had been propelled from a rocket. The crowd went nuts (myself included). A little over six minutes later at the 13:10 mark Heather O'Riley scored and again we were one voice cheering on women that represented this nation well and did so with such skill that you can't help but be proud of them. Less than a minute later lightning would strike and end the game for us (though the game would pick up again later and the USWNT would go on to beat Costa Rica 7-2). We would pack inside the concourse where Haylee bought her Alex Morgan pennant with her signature on it and then the deluge happened. Told to leave the stadium we made a break for the car and found it, looking like we'd been swimming so hard was the downpour. But as wet as we were, as disappointed at the game ending that way, there was plenty of laughter at just how wet we actually were, because we'd expected rain, but certainly not like that.

So if you were to ask me if it was worth it. The ticket prices, the short game, and the monsoon we got hit with, I would without hesitation tell you, Yes. All of it was worth it. The look on Haylee's face as she got to watch these women play was worth it. The sound of her voice as they came out and she got to video them was worth it. Watching a city unite under the pretense of a game and honor the men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us was worth it, every penny, every rain drop.

Chattanooga is city that is healing though we are by no means healed. Wednesday night was a testament to the world that evil will not win. When we stand as a people united we can face the tough times and know that we will survive. June 16th showed us that we are tougher than we appear and far stronger than we think. Our strength is in our unity. United we stand #NoogaStrong.

In ending I want to say thank you to the USWNT for giving my niece someone to emulate as she plays the beautiful game. Someone to show her that toughness on the pitch doesn't always equate to physical strength but in the strength to play fair and to accept defeat with her head held high knowing she did her best. An example of what it means to give her all and what can happen when she does. Thank you for coming to our city and honoring men you've never met. Thank you for representing this country so well and showing the world that the beautiful game matters because it isn't just a game, it's more than that, it is a unifying force.



To Haylee:The odds of you reading this unless your mother makes you are slim to none but I'm glad I got to see the game with you. I hope you enjoyed your early birthday present even if it got cut short and we got a little wet. I'm glad you won't forget Wednesday because I won't either. You saw what the ladies can do in person now it is your turn. Love you Haylee Nickel.