Column: For soccer's Chastain, celebration long time coming

By SCOTT PITONIAK

Gannett News Service

HERAKLIO, Greece - Brandi Chastain paused for a few seconds, racking her brain for just the right words to capture the emotions she was feeling being back in the U.S. Olympic soccer team's starting lineup.

"I really don't know how to describe it,'' she said. "It felt terrific. It felt great. It's been awhile.''

Indeed, it has.

Not just since she's played, but since she's had cause to celebrate.

Playing in the Olympic quarterfinals against Japan the other night didn't prompt her to peel off her jersey the way she did after scoring the most memorable goal in the history of women's soccer at the World Cup four years ago. But it did feel awfully good. After what Chastain's been through since that signature moment landed her on the cover of Time magazine and in the seat next to Letterman, you latch on to any triumph, no matter how small.

"Brandi clearly is a very strong person,'' said teammate Julie Foudy. "I don't know how many people could have survived what she has and handled it all with such dignity and class.''

From the peak of Everest to the depths of Death Valley, it has been a trying five years, personally and professionally.

There was the disappointing loss to Norway at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the death of her mother in September 2002, followed by the death of her father six months later. Then, in 2003, Chastain rallied to have a strong season with the U.S. national team, only to break her foot during the first game of the World Cup. She watched helplessly as her teammates suffered a heartbreaking loss to Germany in the semifinals. She has been battling for playing time ever since.

The dominant women's soccer story of these Olympics has been the final go-around for the U.S. team's Fab Five -- Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly, Chastain and Foudy. But before the Japanese match, it appeared Chastain's tenure with the team was ending prematurely. In the first two matches, she was the only field player not to see any action.

But in a surprise move, U.S. coach April Heinrichs started the 36-year-old Chastain on defense vs. Japan in place of Cat Reddick, and Chastain proved to be a calming influence in a 2-1 victory that set up Monday's rematch with the Germans in the semifinals.

To her credit, Chastain, did not become a divisive force while strapped to the bench. She continued to help the younger players and push the veterans in practice.

That's not to say she wasn't longing to get back onto the field.

"I'm a competitor, and I think competitors want to be in the mix of things because they want to help contribute -- in that way it was very difficult,'' Chastain said. "But like I told Abby (Wambach) and Julie and Lil (Lilly) in my room one night, I had no doubt they would win games without me, and I'd be doing everything I could to help out in other ways.''

Her attitude has had a profound impact on her teammates.

"She set a wonderful example for the veterans and young players alike about how to act when things aren't going your way,'' Foudy said. "It had to be eating away at her, but she put the team ahead of herself. That's why we respect her so much.''

Chastain was feeling butterflies before the match but managed to keep her emotions in check.

"I felt pretty good for not having played a 90-minute game in quite some time,'' she said. "I hope I did what April wanted me to do. I tried to keep the other defenders composed back there. I wanted to convey a sense of calm.''

She hopes to be back in the lineup Monday because she'd love to help her teammates avenge last year's loss.

"It was very painful being a spectator that night,'' she said.

But it wasn't anything she couldn't endure after all she's been through these last five years. Friday night she had cause to celebrate once more. So what if it wasn't in a rip-your-jersey-off kind of way?