Practice, Press and Pearls

This morning’s practice was at the Shenhau Football Club training complex. This local pro team, trains here and lives at the complex, which is about 30 minutes south of the Hong Kou Stadium where they play and where tomorrow night’s game, as well as the finals will be played.

The ever present Chengdu SWAT team is gone, but the local police seem to have things well under control and only after a bit of arguing by our taxi driver, were we able to get onto the grounds for our 15 minute brush with the players and then back to the hotel.

Early afternoon was the next media session with Tina Ellertson, Kristine Lilly and Kate Markgraf.

Tomorrow’s game against Nigeria is a very personal event for Tina, whose mother is from Nigeria and father from Ghana. Tina has yet to see any action in the first two games and is ready and eager to play.


Both of Tina’s parents, as well as other family members will be at the game. Tina’s emotions were evident as she told of her grandmother who on her deathbed, said she could see Tina playing for the US Team.

The media session was followed by a Team meeting, during which I was able to hang out with one of the upcoming stars of US Soccer, Ms. Riley Rampone. With her deep dark eyes and blond curls she already knows how to work both the camera and the photographer.


Riley, by the way hopes to celebrate her 2nd birthday in Shanghai, on September 29th.

After their meeting, I was able to join some of the team and family members for pearl shopping. Chris and Christie Rampone (and of course Riley), Lori Chalupny and her mother, Carli Lloyd and her boyfriend and her parents, Nicole Barnhart and Natasha Kai, her parents and two of her younger brothers.


While the girls were power pearl shopping, Christie helped me pick out something for my daughter (this is a test to see if Elizabeth is reading my blog).


After some action photos of the shopping, I was relegated to the sidelines with the dads, Steve Lloyd and Benny Kai.


“Cousin” Benny is the lead performer at the Polynesian Cultural Center on the north side of Oahu. To say the least, Benny has a big personality and was posing for me nearly as much as Riley. Check out the amazing Cousin Benny and his Ukulele on YouTube!


Next stop was Haagen Daz for a taste of home. Cookies and Cream tasted amazing. The Chinese versions of Haagen Daz and Starbucks while offering a taste of home, they also have the same prices as home.

T-shirt shopping and a few more photos, mostly of Riley and Benny, made the afternoon complete and fabulous.


The next time I see the girls, they will be all business facing Nigeria for the final game of group play. Concurrently, North Korea will be playing Sweden. I am definitely pulling for Sweden!