ROSE PITCH HITS FEVER PITCH; FAMED STADIUM BUILDS ON REP AS A SOCCER SHRINE.Byline: Frank C. Girardot Frank C. Girardot (1961 in Detroit, Michigan) worked during the 1980s and 1990s as a copyboy, reporter and sportswriter for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Pasadena Star-News and The Los Angeles Daily News. Staff Writer Americans know the Rose Bowl because of the college football game played on its turf every New Year's Day New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated among Christians usually on Mar. 25. . It has also been the site of five Super Bowls. But the venerable stadium is fast gaining an international reputation as the top venue for soccer. Today's final and third-place matches in the Women's World Cup The Women's World Cup could refer to either the:
It caps a 15-year period that has seen the stadium host the 1984 Olympic men's gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize final, the title game for the 1994 men's World Cup, and several international matches in addition to various pro games in Major League Soccer. When the U.S. team meets the Chinese in the final match of the 1999 Women's World Cup today, officials expect the game to draw the largest crowd ever for a single women's sporting event - 90,000-plus. Even President Clinton and his wife will attend. U.S. coach Tony DiCicco Tony DiCicco (born August 5, 1948, Wethersfield, Connecticut) is an American soccer player, coach, and commentator. He is best known as the coach of the United States women's national soccer team from 1994-1999, during which time the team won an Olympic gold medal in 1996 and the couldn't be happier the game will take place at the Arroyo Seco Arroyo Seco (Spanish: "dry creek") may refer to:
``The Rose Bowl is such an incredible stadium to have the final in,'' DiCicco said. ``We're just excited to be here.'' Just walking through the tunnel onto the field will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, he said. ``We were here March 31 before we played Mexico and we said, `Listen. Take a look around. This is where we want to be July 10,' '' DiCicco said. ``And to walk back out here through the tunnel and to kind of remember that conversation kind of gave me the chills. ``This is where we want to be. We want to be here holding the gold medal after the game.'' Midfielder Tisha Venturini said there's something magical about playing in the Rose Bowl and Pasadena, even if the game is in the middle of summer and doesn't involve a pigskin. ``Growing up, I used to watch the Rose Bowl games on TV all the time,'' she said. ``It was the biggest game ever. Having the final here is going to be outrageous. It's going to be the best place on Earth.'' Although it's considered a fast field, the Rose Bowl turf is in perfect shape, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. American Mia Hamm Mia Hamm (born Mariel Margaret Hamm on March 17,1972 in Selma, Alabama) is a former American soccer player. Playing for many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team, she scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male . ``We need to be ready, we need to be technically sharp. Potentially, the ball's going to run out of bounds,'' Hamm said. ``I'm excited because this is a good surface to play on.'' WORLD CUP SURVIVAL GUIDE U.S. coach Tony DiCicco has devised plans for upending China in today's Women's World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl. If you have a ticket, you'll need a survival plan. More than 100,000 - including WWC WWC Worldwide Classroom WWC Walla Walla College (Walla Walla, WA USA) WWC World Water Council WWC Women's World Cup (soccer) WWC Workshop on Workload Characterization WWC Washington Wheat Commission representatives, vendors, workers, media and the sold-out crush of ticket-toting fans - figures to pose logistics nightmare. Crushing traffic, a hot weather forecast and the security details regarding President Clinton's presence top the list. Prepare yourself by arriving early by shuttle, with cool clothing, bottled water (sealed only) and plenty of sunscreen sunscreen /sun·screen/ (-skren) a substance applied to the skin to protect it from the effects of the sun's rays. sun·screen n. . The championship game is slated for 12:50 p.m., preceded by the Brazil-Norway matchup for third place at 10:30 a.m. Pregame activities and a postgame celebration for fans are also scheduled. ``With media and Rose Bowl and World Cup PR people coming in and out, I think we're going to have a pretty good flow (of people arriving) during the first game,'' said Jim Granger of Contemporary Services Corp., which staffs security manpower for numerous Southland events. Rather than battle the crowds and gridlock Gridlock A government, business or institution's inability to function at a normal level due either to complex or conflicting procedures within the administrative framework or to impending change in the business. , Rose Bowl general manager Darryl Dunn proffers a gold-mine suggestion: ``Take the shuttle.'' Shuttles will be continuously departing from the Ralph M. Parsons Corp. parking lot, located on the corner of Walnut Street A number of streets are named Walnut Street:
Fair Oaks, uninc. residential town (1990 pop. 26,867), Sacramento co., N central Calif., on the American River, in a growing citrus fruit and farm area. Avenue in Pasadena, near Old Town. The fee is $4 per person. Otherwise, on-site parking is $10. ``From step-on to drop-off, I've been told it'll take 5 to 7 minutes,'' Dunne said of the limited-access trek. ``(Taking the shuttle), you have no problems with traffic, losing your car in the jam-packed parking lots, getting boxed in by the postgame activities. It's the best thing to do if you want to avoid headaches.'' Clinton's visit should pose less traffic problems than his same-day decision to take in the U.S.-Germany quarterfinal match in Washington D.C. on July 1. ``We're better prepared because we had advance notice,'' Dunn said. ``We should be OK.'' Metal detectors may be implemented to gain stadium access. That's only, of course, if you have a ticket. An additional 3,000 to 5,000 seats became available Tuesday when WWC organizers made a venue walk-through and asked Rose Bowl officials to remove tarp covering a row of seats close to the field. They sold out in 82 minutes. ``If they want the tarps off, we take them off,'' Dunn said. ``We're just the landlord.'' - Richard Gonzalez CAPTION(S): Box Box: WORLD CUP SURVIVAL GUIDE (See text) |
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