Imagine my surprise, when I found out the stars of Bend it Like Beckham were going to be making an appearance at the Washington Freedom’s home opener on Saturday, April 12. I asked some friends if they wanted to come with me to RFK Stadium to watch the game and meet the stars. I had always wanted to go to a Freedom match ever since the WUSA professional women’s soccer league was created two years ago. It seemed a shame to have such a superstar player on the Washington team and not go see her play (of course, I’m referring to the biggest name in women’s soccer, Mia Hamm). I actually went to school with Mia Hamm for one year at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia. She was four years older than I was, so it’s not like I even knew her at the time.
My friend Roberta and I ended up going to the game. We drove to RFK with little incident (and got home even quicker). The parking was light, the security was light (they let me bring in my “professional” camera, even though it was against the rules), and the crowd was light. I was glad there was only a small amount of people in the stands (and in the lines), but I wish professional women’s soccer was more popular. I really want to see the WUSA succeed, because that will pave the way for a professional women’s lacrosse league (the men already have one).
The game started off with player introductions and a ceremonial first kick by the Bend it Like Beckham stars Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra (they shot “against” Mia Hamm and New York’s superstar Tiffany Milbrett). We watched the first half, and it was kind of boring. Washington did score one goal before we got up with three minutes left in the half to stand in line for the Beckham stars autograph session. We were one of the first in line, but unfortunately, we missed two goals scored at the end of the half—one by each team.
Before it was our time up for autographs, a TV crew that was following the stars all evening came up to me for a short interview about the movie, the stars and professional women’s soccer, in general. I told them I was planning to ask Keira Knightley to marry me and asked them if I had a shot. I also gave them some general b.s. about how I hope women’s soccer really takes off in the states and how stars like Mia Hamm are helping get the sport in the public’s eye. I saw that Roberta was already up at the signing table, so I told the camera crew I couldn’t think of anything else to say. They got my name and made sure the spelling was correct, so maybe I’ll show up on some TV news or DVD extra.
We got stuff signed and took some pictures, but I didn’t ask Keira to marry me. She’s only seventeen, after all, and for some reason, I couldn’t get a certain Winger song out of my mind during that whole experience. Oh well, Parminder is 27 and very cute as well.
The second half was more of the same, except Mia Hamm scored on a penalty kick, and that was cool. After the game, we went down to the railing adjacent to the field and attempted to get more autographs. The Beckham stars signed my souvenir soccer ball, but Mia never made the rounds like the other players to sign anything for the fans. Shucks.
That was pretty much it. Leaving RFK was a snap. The exit road dumped us right onto 395. I went home and had visions of cute soccer girls dancing in my head.
If you haven’t seen Bend it Like Beckham, go to your local art theater and check it out. It’s very funny. And catch Keira Knightley in this summer’s blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean. Support the Washington Freedom and the WUSA!
