HAN DUAN-LA SOL VS. SKY BLUE FC

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND THE WPS WOMENS PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT THE TOOL BOX IN CARSON, CALIFORNIA ON AUGUST 22, 2009.  I FLEW IN THE MORNING FROM DENVER, COLORADO AND ARRIVED A FEW HOURS BEFORE GAME TIME.  I HUNG AROUND THE STADIUM WHERE THE PLAYERS ENTER AND EXIT THE FIELD PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE GAME.  IT WAS WARM OUT AND A LITTLE HUMID AND BLUE SKIES. A GREAT DAY ON THE PITCH.  THE PLAYERS WERE WARMING UP AND I WAS FEELING THE EXCITEMENT. I WAS HERE WATCHING MY FAVORITE TEAM PLAY WITH MY FAVORITE PLAYER, MARTA VIEIRA DA SILVA OF BRASIL.  I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE WOMENS BRAND OF SOCCER DURING THE 2007 WOMENS WORLD CUP IN ASIA.  THE MOVE MARTA MADE ON TINA IN THE US-BRASIL GAME WAS ELECTRIFYING.  I STILL SEE THE REPLAY IN MY HEAD-  2 YEARS LATER -  SO I MADE A POINT OF IT TO FOLLOW THE WOMENS GAME AND MARTA, WHETHER SHE WAS PLAYING FOR BRASIL NATIONAL TEAM OR UMEA IK FROM SWEDEN.  NOW SHE WILL PLAY FOR SANTOS FC IN HER NATIVE BRASIL THIS MONTH.  PELE WILL GIVE HER HER NUMBER 10 KIT IN BRASIL AND EVERYTHING.  ANYWAY, I AM AT THE FINALS AND AFTER AN AUTOGRAPH FROM COACH PIA SUNDHAGE OF THE US WOMENS NATIONAL TEAM I BEGIN TAKING PICTURES WITH MY CHEAP CAMERA AS BEST AS I CAN.  THEY TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD.  RIGHT BEFORE GAME TIME IN WALKS MY THIRD FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL PLAYER, CRISTIANE FROM THE BRASIL NATIONAL TEAM AND THE CHICAGO RED STARS OF WPS.  THE OWNER OF THE FIRST HAT TRICK IN WPS HISTORY THIS SEASON.  SHE WAS VERY CORDIAL AS WERE ALL THE GIRLS FROM BOTH TEAMS, BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME.  BUT THERE WAS ONE PLAYER WHO REALLY CAME ACROSS AS SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS THESE DAYS.  HAN DUAN FROM THE CHINESE NATIONAL TEAM AND A PLAYER ON THE LOSING TEAM FROM LOS ANGELES ON THIS GIVEN DAY. AFTER SKY BLUE RUSHED THE FIELD AND HOISTED THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY, AFTER THE PLAYERS RECOGNIZED EACH OTHER'S HIGH FIVES AND GOOD WISHES, AFTER SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PITCH AND WATCHING ANOTHER TEAM PARTY IN YOUR STADIUM, AFTER SIGNING COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF AUTOGRAPHS AND AFTER MARTA STOOD NEAR MIDFIELD NEXT TO HER BOOTS AND SOCCER SOCKS AND A STANDING OVATION FROM THE HOME DEPOT CROWD FOR A GAME AND SEASON WELL DONE,  HAN DUAN HAD THE COURTESY TO STOP AND ACKNOWLEDGE A GROUP OF YOUNG GIRLS IN THE CROWD NEAR THE TUNNEL BELOW SECTION 141.  AND A MAN FROM COLORADO, ENTRENCHED IN THE WOMENS GAME, THE WPS AND 2011 WOMENS WORLD CUP IN GERMANY.  SHE WAS VERY POLITE. ONE KNEW SHE WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE ELEMENTS AND INTO THE LOCKERROOM. BUT SHE TOOK THE TIME FOR PICTURES, AUTOGRAPHS AND PLEASANT CONVERSATION WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED.  SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED AND RESPECTED. A PROFESSIONAL ON THE PITCH AND OFF OF IT. TREATING FANS THE WAY THE PLAYERS ARE RESPECTED.  A DIGNIFIED YOUNG LADY WITH CLASS AND I WISH HER THE BEST IN ALL HER SOCCER AND PERSONAL TRAVELS.  I LEFT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER WITH AN AUTOGRAPH FROM TASHA KAI, THE FLYIN HAWAIIAN, AN AUTOGRAPH FROM CRISTIANE, MEMORIES OF SEEING THE GREAT MARTA, PELE IN A SKIRT, AND A NEW FAVORITE WOMENS INTERNATIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, HAN DUAN.