ASADENA, Calif. - Brandi Chastain does not follow convention and does not fear change.
Yesterday in the Women's World Cup final, the record-setting Rose Bowl crowd held its breath as she placed the ball on the penalty marker. She stood 12 yards away from history and had no intention of playing it safe. And no intention of repeating past mistakes. She would take the penalty kick on which rested American hopes and years of preparation with her weaker left foot. There was no doubt about it. When the biggest moment of her soccer career came and the game was at her feet, Chastain took the risk.
''We had been training on penalty kicks all week, all Cup,'' said Chastain. ''Normally, up until this last week, I'd been taking them with my right foot. The last time I missed against China [in the Algarve Cup], I took it with my right foot and [US coach Tony DiCicco] talked me into changing to my left foot.
''I just walked up there and I felt very calm, to be honest with you. I didn't hear any noise. I didn't get caught up in looking at [Chinese goalie] Gao [Hong]. Sometimes she likes to get into a staring match and smile at you and make you feel a little bit uneasy. I didn't look at her and as soon as the whistle blew, I just stepped up and hit and kind of lost my mind. I just thought this is the greatest moment of my life on the soccer field and I just lost control.''
Chastain celebrated by falling to her knees, pumping both fists in the air, and ripping off her uniform top. It was vintage Chastain and perfect redemption for a player who worked her way back to the national team after missing the '95 World Cup, who scored an own goal in the quarterfinals against Germany, and who has struggled to prove that she's more than the team's sex symbol.
Prior to her game-winning penalty shot, Chastain garnered more fame for her off-field antics. Her poster-girl looks and appearance in Gear magazine wearing only a soccer ball have made her a popular guest on David Letterman's Late Show. Her sun-bleached blonde ponytail and carefree California attitude prompted Letterman to call the women's national team ''Babe City.''
Her performance in the championship game gave her a forum to reflect upon a lengthy career with the national team and her unusual path to 1999 World Cup hero.
Chastain, 30, was a member of the 1991 world championship team and saw action in two games, starting one. She did not make the 1995 team. After a two-year absence from the US squad, she returned to the top level in September 1995 and then, converted from forward to defender, in 1996.
She had no bad memories from the Americans' 1995 semifinal loss to call upon for motivation. But she did have some unfinished business.
''We want to regain [the Cup] for the pride of our team, for the pride of our country, for the pride of US soccer,'' Chastain said. ''For me, it was more of finishing a circle. I began with the national team as a young player and in 1991 we won the Cup. Then, we won the Olympics. Now, it's the closure of this story.''
In a Top 10 list a few weeks ago, Letterman joked, ''You'll come for the Hamm. You'll stay for the Brandi.''
Yesterday, Chastain got the final cheer and the last laugh.
