Great Decision ON Goalies Part

[ascchamp]

UNT's Goalkeeper Monica Housden was presented an opportunity of a lifetime and she took it! Kudos to her. For some of the rest of the girls there opportunity came when they had the chance to play division 1 ball, and guess what they took that so why be any different. Players come and go and it will hurt loosing her but only for a while?? if there isn't any other quality keeper, that comes on the coaches shoulders for not having that in place, not the girls! If you had the chance to play on a national team and go to a world cup or an Olympics what would you do?? as is, playing D1 ball is a dream in its self and she has the opportunity to better that dream! People need to understand that your aren't dealing with the U.S. national team your dealing with the mexican national team and they go about this sport diffrently. she wanted to go back and forth but they told her if she wanted to try out and be on the team she couldn't do that and she made a career decision! it could come back and haunt her but at least she made the right choice! take the road less traveled! I applaud you Monica! good Luck in what you do! people need to get off her back! if marin was called up to the national team and was asked all she had to do was leave school? what would she do,? put other players or yourself in that position, you would leave also! Plus did any one know that the keeper she is competing against is another college keeper ?? how about them apples! Back her up don't knock her down! Love ya Mo! its all about Camp Luv!!!!!

[Reb UT '70]

I think Monica was very wrong to leave school for a shot at the Mexican team. In the first place the Mexican team is terrible, and she isn't being offerred a starting spot. You are right they do look at soccer differently in Mexico, it's a man's game the the women receive a lot of grief. What I heard was that the Mexician coach said he never asked her to leave school, which doesn't sound like it's all that great a shot either.

Then there is the whole Mexican national thing, the last time I checked the US does not recognize dual citizenships, it might have changed, but since I was born in Panama and my brother was born in Brazil, I've had my share of problems with it. I do know that she ever wanted a shot at playing for any US national team this will be a big problem. I know that it will cause her problems in getting a US passport from this point on and it might lead to legal problems if she ever wanted to run for any office in this country.

All of which pales to the idea that any sports shot is worth more than a college education. I have the greatest respect for Moncia, and I think it is a huge loss for us, but based on what I see, it is a bigger loss for her.

[ascchamp]

well see the problem is in the translation of who says what and what person is saying it! in me speaking to her she told me that they told her that it would be one of the other! now from whom are you getting your info and where is it being passed on by! the citizne ship isn't a problem being that she was born here she always has that and yes it might not be the greatest team but what do you say a year from now should she show wella nd is playing pro in a womans league then all of a sudden it is the best thing that ever happened to her! i agree with the education part but it is a bigger loss for the schoool to loose their goal keeper then for her to leave the school! she can always get her education so she might not be able to play, but then again what is worth more saying well i can go back to school but i can't play ! or is the ideal situation for her to stay at unt and go to school and graduate there and have played her 4 years! that is everyones perfect situation cause it suits them! what does monica want and what is to say she betters herlself by doing this!

every one has taken risks that people might have frowned upon but they still took them! the only one that has to deal with it is her! but give her support in the decision she made!she has played since she was little as all of us players have and after 16 -17 years of doing so you have a great chance to say hey , i did this !and you tell her no don't!i woudl have jumped ship also!the school and education is there still and she can still get her degree she just can't play ! so be it!

[Reb UT '70]

I'm having a little problem following your last post. I'm not a very good writer, so I have sympathy for others, but it would help if you used capital letters. Playing for a national team means that you have to have a passport from that country. If you accept a passport from another country, even if you are born in the US, you might be renouncing your citizenship. Even if you don't, and I understand there are legal ways that it might be done, you will have great difficulty getting a US passport later, and you will have to be careful that if you get one that it is legal.

If you are talking to Monica, I would suggest that she contact a good immigration lawyer before she makes this move. As I said, I've had personal experience in this, and passports and citizenship issues are not like getting a driver's license , SS or voting.

I would be very interested in hearing Monica's side. I know that several of the people who are connected with the team or who have excellent connections with the US national team. I am also very much plugged into the club system and the ODP program. From what I understand she would like to get her side out and I think this would be a good place to do it.

We all make career moves, Bill Gates and Michael Dell both dropped out of college and it didn't seem to hurt them much, but so did tens of thousands who you've never heard of and they were badly hurt. The ratio of those who benefit from dropping out to those that don't makes the odds on the move real bad.

I stated earlier in another post that I could understand Monica leaving the team for the opportunity, I don't agree with it but I can understand it. I don't understand leaving school. Monica is a very smart, she was also on the SBC honor roll, but leaving school is not a smart move. Having said all that, of course I wish her well. I will also miss her parents, and if you know them please send my very best. I hope this works out for her.

[Reb UT '70]

One other point, when you look at the WUSA, aren't all of their US players college players? It is also my understanding that they aren't paying their players very much. There are good players who are passing to follow career goals. I'm a big sports fan, but there is a big world out there that is more important than sports, and to live comfortably in it you need a college degree. I've talked to a couple of people who are in the WUSA, including Mia Hamm, I know what she told our girls and that was to stay in school and make their grades. That was good advise to those girls and to Monica.