FIFA WOMEN`S WORLD CUP NOTEBOOK: GAME GETS CLINTON'S APPROVAL.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Although his late arrival caused some bottlenecking at some of the Rose Bowl entrances, President Clinton joined thousands of soccer-crazed fans watching the United States defeat China in Saturday's final of the Women's World Cup, proclaiming it an ``amazing'' day.

``It was the most exciting sports event I have ever seen,'' Clinton told the U.S. women's team in their locker room after the game.

Sporting yellow championship T-shirts, the players jumped up and down and chanted ``U.S.A'' as they posed for pictures with actors Arsenio Hall and Edward James Olmos before Clinton arrived.

Clinton told the women their winning performance in the double-overtime, penalty-kick shootout match was a lesson in ``courage and endurance.''

``It was an amazing day,'' Clinton said. ``We learned a lot today about soccer and about women athletes.''

Clinton was accompanied by California Gov. Gray Davis, political adviser James Carville, brother Roger Clinton and his family, Hollywood producers and Arkansas friends Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Christian Correy, the husband of American player Mia Hamm. Correy is a Marine based near San Diego.

Earlier, Clinton greeted the Chinese team in their locker room. The players there crowded around him with their cameras and video recorders and lingered to have their pictures snapped with the president of the United States.

``I wanted to say to the whole team how much we admired your performance in the whole World Cup,'' Clinton told the Chinese team through an interpreter.

As White House staffers began to herd the press away, Clinton outshouted them to call photographers back for one pose with the entire Chinese squad.

Clinton told reporters later he had told the Chinese, ``We were very honored to have them in the United States.''

Neither the first lady nor Chelsea attended Saturday's game.

Clinton finally showed up 17 minutes into the game and many in the Rose Bowl crowd of 90,185 welcomed him with a chorus of boos.

The President's party was supposed to be there 10 minutes before kickoff. But with a delay, it caused some entrances to be closed. Even Marla Messing, CEO of World Cup '99, missed the pre-match ceremonies and the game's first 10 minutes.

A proud president: Messing said she was pleased with the outcome of the tournament that began June 19 at the New Jersey Meadowlands.

``This was a storybook ending,'' Messing said.

Although she doesn't profess to be a soccer expert, Messing offered her opinion of the final match between the U.S. and Chinese teams.

``I thought the teams played really hard,'' Messing said. ``They played their hearts out. I'm proud to have been a part of this.''

More politics: Several area politicians attended the final game and took their seats in private booths on the third floor of the Rose Bowl press box.

But Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti attended the match posing as a working photographer. He was issued credentials through the Wave Newspapers, a chain that circulates in the South Bay.

He positioned himself at the south goal and fired off several shots of both teams.

``That was great fun,'' Garcetti said after the match. ``I have a new appreciation for what the press does in these situations.''

For photo buffs, Garcetti was equipped with a Nikon N90 camera, several lenses and used 400 speed film.

As good as it gets: His seat might not have been courtside, but among the celebrities attending the final match of the Women's World Cup was Jack Nicholson.

He said he liked the team ``because, I like women.''

Nicholson, dressed in a long white shirt, wearing blue sunglasses and a blue cap with USA emblazoned on it, predicted a U.S. victory.

``I'm sure the U.S. will win it,'' he said. ``I'd hate to see them lose after I made my way out here in this damn heat.''

Let the celebration continue: The U.S. team will be honored today with a parade down Disneyland's Main Street at 10:15 a.m., ending with a ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle. Then they'll attend a 2 p.m. ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center, according to officials of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission.

First in line: Bloomington residents Sandra Heron and her daughter Erin found themselves first in line at the Rose Bowl before Saturday's game. They only had to leave home at 4:30 a.m. to pull it off. Bloomington is about 45 miles east of Pasadena.

``I'm elated about this,'' Sandra Heron said. ``We're a part of history.''

Big in Brazil, too: The success of the World Cup hasn't had an impact on the sport in just the United States.

Brazil's Nene said the media coverage in her country ``will be a great motivation for young people. They will enter more leagues and be inspired to play.''

Brazil, which has won a record four men's World Cups, only recently has become a power in women's competition.