ASADENA, Calif. - Like the 1994 men's World Cup here, which had a $60 million surplus, the women's event will also finish in the black. The only question is: by how much? The organizers, who are working on a $30 million budget compared to the men's $275 million, had projected ticket sales of 475,000 just before the tournament began.
With today's Rose Bowl sellout, the final figure will be over 650,000. ''As big as I thought this tournament could be,'' says organizing committee president Marla Messing, ''it has been bigger.''
An added starter?
The final word will come today at breakfast, but all indications are that Shannon MacMillan has played herself into a starting role.
''I will probably start [MacMillan] instead of Parlow," said US coach Tony DiCicco. ''We gain some speed and quickness with Shannon, but we have some heading ability with Cindy. I don't think I can go wrong either way.''
But lately, MacMillian has given the American front line better chemistry. After leading the 1996 Olympic squad with three goals including two game-winners, the California product lost her form and was relegated to the bench. She entered the 1999 World Cup as a valuable reserve, and each game saw her minutes and productivity increase.
MacMillan got her first start and showed her talents around the goal when the US played North Korea at Foxboro Stadium. Along with fellow reserve Tisha Venturini, MacMillan proved that America's second team was just as potent as its starting team. MacMillan scored one goal and assisted on two others against North Korea. She was substituted for Julie Foudy in the second half of the US quarterfinal against Germany. As soon as she entered the game, MacMillan took a corner kick that led to America's winning goal.
Today, it's likely MacMillan won't have the luxury of watching her teammates play for a half and finding weaknesses in the Chinese defense from the sidelines. And good friend Fawcett won't need to pysch MacMillan for a substitute role.
''My role has been changing with every game,'' she said. ''I've gone from five minutes. I've started. I've played a half. I'm ready to do whatever it takes whether it's starting or coming off the bench ... Accepting the [reserve] role has been really hard for me. I went from being a starter in the Olympics and then I got a couple injuries and it was really frustrating. I've grown into my role and I think because of that I'm a better player. I think I'm on top of my game."
A real trip
Think the Chinese haven't kept a running tally of how many miles their soccer team has had to travel during this World Cup, compared to their hosts? Including its round trip to the States, China will have flown 25,793 miles - once around the planet. The Americans will have flown just 4,763. Coincidence? No chance, insists the Beijing Morning Post, which claims that the tournament organizers did it on purpose ''because the Chinese team is the American team's biggest obstacle to taking the championship.'' ... Marquee entertainer at today's closing ceremonies will be singer Jennifer Lopez (a.k.a. the female Ricky Martin), whose debut single ''If You Had My Love'' is topping the charts.
US's revenge
Part of the fun of playing in today's final for the US squad will be knowing that nemesis Norway is playing the Brazilians for third place. The Yanks are still seething over the ''train'' procession that the Norwegians did in their faces after knocking out the US in the semifinals four years ago. ''I remember them grabbing each other's ankles and crawling around the field,'' says keeper Briana Scurry. ''I was mortified by it, appalled by it.'' ... Exhibit No. 101 why the US women's soccer team is different from its male professional counterparts: After yesterday's final practice at the Rose Bowl, Foudy, the US co-captain, stood atop a chair in the locker room and publicly thanked the media hordes who've been dogging the squad for weeks. ''We always said we were America's best-kept secret, but now you've put us out there,'' Foudy said. ''We wanted you all to know how much we appreciate it.'' ... If the Americans are the Babes of Summer, what are the Chinese players being called back home? ''China's roses,'' according to one official newspaper.
Scoring machine
China has scored 19 goals this tournament - two more than the US. Chinese coach Ma Yuanan claimed there was no secret to his team's productivity. ''They've already learned the real meaning of soccer,'' said Ma about his players, through a translator. ''Soccer has its own nature. The nature of soccer is to score goals.'' ... The frenzy surrounding the success of the US team has been visible all tournament long in the host country. But almost a world away, the Chinese have been tuning in to the tournament. ''China has had live broadcasts of the games and China is a large country,'' said Ma of his homeland with a population exceeding one billion. ''The number of Chinese reporters is the largest [foreign group]. The TV ratings in China are over 40 percent. The whole of China is supporting us back in China.''
