Washington Freedom Late 2002 Events
(and other activities)

Washington Freedom Night at Shirley Povich Field

On July 11, 2002, Emmy Barr, Pu Wei, and Bai Jie showed up to sign autographs at a Bethesda Big Train (summer baseball league) team game.

Emmy, Pu, and Bai pose at the Freedom table

Washington Freedom Guest Bartending Night at Old Glory in Georgetown

On July 25, 2002, numerous Freedom players, including Mia Hamm, showed up to work as guest bartenders at the Old Glory Bar and Barbeque.

My British soccer friend Andy and I arrived at Old Glory a little before six and immediately knew we were in the right place because Carrie Moore was standing right inside the door. In fact, she, Steffi Jones, Tracey Milburn's sister, and a bunch of Freedom staffers were around a big table just inside and on the left. Andy and I got a booth a little farther inside, and I deliberately sat facing the door so I could see what was going on and who was coming and going. We were joined at our booth by Crusader Meagan and a friend shortly thereafter, later by Ron Kessler, and even later by another Crusader whose name escapes me at the moment. But we chowed down while observing the various activities.

Siri Mullinix, Mia Hamm, and Ann Cook showed up fairly promptly, with Siri and Carrie taking the first shift behind the bar and Mia and Ann the second. I despair of describing things chronologically because of all that went on, though we did get to chat a bit with several players, including Siri, Monica Gerardo, and Abby Wambach. I was a bit frustrated because my girl Carrie spent half the evening within a couple of feet of me, either at the next table or nearby, but I was never able to say much more than "hi" to her. I did get to chat with her mother, who immediately knew who I was and thanked me for the articles on my website. (I always expect the players to mingle more than they do, but they tend to stay with the other players and people that they know. But perhaps they feel as shy about approaching us as we about approaching them.)

We did manage to accost "Skate" Noftsinger long enough to get her to sign the Crusaders' banner. Skate was the only field player and the only player besides Kathy Hoverman not to have signed it. (Kathy was not in evidence that evening - she may have been coaching soccer camp.)

Several of us at the booth bought raffle tickets, but Andy was the only one who won anything, specifically, a margarita mixed by the famous #9 herself. Unfortunately, the primary accomplishment of this award so far as Andy was concerned was the discovery that he can't stand margaritas.

We sat at the booth for a long while, but finally decided to go upstairs. The Old Glory has what I think of as a "penthouse bar," upstairs and out the back, in the open air, and a number of players had moved up there. It was also far less crowded. Ron and I got a chance to chat with Erin Fahey, whom I had chatted with at the foosball tournament some months earlier. I also chatted very briefly with Skylar - she and her sister showed up rather late and were seldom in a position where I considered them fair game for a photograph. I got a drink from Bai Jie and made a donation to the cause, for which she thanked me. (Emmy and Bai worked the bar, eventually relieved by Steffi and Erin and at some point for a while by Meredith Beard.)

However, eventually even the penthouse bar became almost unbearably crowded. I took a final look for Carrie, but she had apparently left, so Andy and I likewise headed on home.

The first shift: Carrie and Siri