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American Morning

Interview With Professional Soccer Players Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Skylar Little

Aired July 26, 2002 - 09:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now from Washington's RFK stadium, professional soccer players of the WUSA's Freedom Team, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach and Skylar Little.

Welcome, ladies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, how are you?

NEVILLE: All right, I'm great.

Listen, Mia, right at the end of that story we just saw, you mentioned something like the only bad part about it is sometimes it has to end. Tell me, you are not going to mention the "retirement" word at all.

MIA HAMM, PRO SOCCER PLAYER: I don't know where that came from. I guess there's always potential to retire. You know, that was always out there, even when I was 15. But I don't know when that will be. Obviously the injury has added new wrinkle to what happens from here on out. I'm still coming back from it. But I want to play as long as I can.

NEVILLE: That's good to hear. Injuries go along with the game. So you'll be fine. Get well and keep on going, I say.

HAMM: Thank you.

NEVILLE: Skylar, let's me go to you now, and let's talk about the Title IX. This is the 30th anniversary this year of this legislation that barred gender discrimination in the world of athletics and put women on a level playing field. Is this is a special year for you?

SKYLAR LITTLE, PRO SOCCER PLAYER: Yes, of course, I think it's a special year for everybody who benefited from it. I went to UCLA, and a couple of men's program were cut in order for the women's soccer program to emerge. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the coaches and the facilities that we were able to get because of Title IX there.

NEVILLE: Right. OK, now listen. Abby, we took care of business. I need to get personal right about now. I understand that last night, you ladies were celebrity bartenders at some big swanky event, and what doe it say, something about slinging drinks. How did that work out?

ABBY WAMBACH, PRO SOCCER PLAYER: We had an event for -- to raise money for the children's hospital here, and I think that was great. We raised $1,700, and it just a fun atmosphere. There was a lot of people there, and it was just great. I really enjoy getting behind the bar.

NEVILLE: What was your best drink, tell me?

WAMBACH: Probably just opening a bottle of beer, that's probably what I did best.

NEVILLE: Oh, come on.

WAMBACH: I messed up on a couple of things.

NEVILLE: You did? Like what? Details.

WAMBACH: I think somebody order a couple of shots of kamikazes or something, and I put a little too much sour mix or something in it. It didn't taste very good, but hey, you know, better look next time.

NEVILLE: Yes, better luck next time.

OK, all right, this whole thing now, the bobbleheads, Skylar, what's up with that? I understand you and your twin, you guys were immortalized as bobbleheads.

HAMM: Yes, this actually is her twin; she couldn't be here today. But we wanted to make sure that Skylar didn't feel lost without Jackie.

WAMBACH: Separation anxiety comes into play.

LITTLE: We actually had it on Wednesday night. It was twin night. So all the kids that dressed as twins or were twins got either my bobblehead or Jackie's bobblehead. So it was fun, and we have to pass them out to our family now, because they're on high request.

NEVILLE: Oh, absolutely, relatives must have that.

Do you each have one?

LITTLE: Yes, we do.

NEVILLE: See, look. It works. You have to bob your head all the time now.

LITTLE: See, I got to go like that all the time now.

NEVILLE: Exactly. Apparently, you know, Mia. Just seeing what you are doing right there. I understand that there's practical jokes going around all time with you girls. Is this true, and who's the prankster?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Abby. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Abby.

WAMBACH: Well, I get them and I dish them a little bit. The last one has actually been done to me. Aaron Fahey (ph) and Monica Gerard (ph) also put Kool-Aide in the tips of my shoes, so I didn't see it, dry Kool-Aide, so when I started to sweat during practice, I didn't really realize why they were pouring water on my cleats, but it turned my whole foot blue for about two weeks -- or red. It was red. So it was fun,and it's all in good fun, you know.

If you can dish them, you have got to be able to take them, right.

NEVILLE: That's right. That's what it is all about, having fun. And, Mia, if guys are having fun and playing hard and working hard, do you think that will give people more excited about the game, the woman playing soccer more specifically?

HAMM: I think so. I think you see so many more young girls playing. We have the snickers youth championship up here in Germantown right now in Maryland, and you see the high level of play, you it see across our league, and you know, we understand kind of what society is going through right now, especially the economy, and we have to adjust as well. And you know, the fans that come and support us we're extremely thankful. Our sponsors have been wonderful. And hopefully, we can use this to just get better next year. And you know, hopefully the economy comes back up, and with that increased excitement, and definitely more of a disposable income, so people can come out and enjoy what we do, and bring their kids, and understand that this is future for their young daughters.

NEVILLE: Absolutely. You have to understand the business behind the game. Thanks very much, Mia, Abby and Skylar. Nice to see you this morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Jackie.

NEVILLE: Oh, yes.

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