No one thought a baby born three months premature and weighing just 2lbs 15oz would go on to become the starting point guard of Farmingdale State College’s basketball team (or any other college team). And they definitely didn’t expect her to do it at her full-grown size: 4 feet 6 inches tall, 90 pounds.

Tiffara Steward is an inspiration in every sense. Not only has she overcome the obstacles that are inherent in her own body (which include blindness in one eye, scoliosis causing one leg to be shorter than the other, and partial deafness), she doesn’t even regard them as obstacles. They are merely facts in her life.

Fact: Some of her vertebrae never developed. Fact: She averaged 16.3 points per game last season (her junior year). Fact: She was born missing a rib. Fact: She averaged 2.5 steals per game.

Believed to be the shortest player in the country, Tiffara has a strength far beyond the size of her stature. Looking at a life marked with what others call disabilities, Tiffara sees opportunities. She has always loved basketball and excelled at it. Therefore there was no good reason not to pursue it. Perhaps a joke to the opponent each time she steps on the court, Tiffara is all business in the game. Her teammates and coach recognize her as a wonderful 3-point shooter and a stellar defensive player.

We, at iatg, love her for the passionista she is, pursuing her dream regardless of what others may think when they look at her or how she appears to fit in on the court. This gal steps through her life in power and in confidence.

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More than anything, it was a day of celebration, a day when the tenacity of hope had a tangible victory over defeat, a day that resounded the adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It’s been five years since WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association) fell into a crumble of debt and despair. And for a long while, we thought professional women’s soccer in the United States was gone for good. But today it returned. And, who better than a prodigal daughter in the form of Mia Hamm to hand the game ball to the officials? Afterall, it is her form that graces the WPS official logo.

14,832 people filed into the Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Sol for the inaugural match of the WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer) where the Sol played the Washington Freedom. Before the match, the crowds arrived to enjoy a small area called “Sol City” where they could make signs for their favorite players or watch a dog play soccer.

It may have been Mia mania in WUSA but it’s Marta’s magic in WPS. The moment Marta Vieira da Silva, the Brazilian international three time FIFA Player of the Year Awards (at age 23), touched the ball, the stadium was entranced. They screamed (most were girls, after all), yelled, and clapped their hands in anticipation. She would not score but would have an assist and create plenty of excitement as she weaved in and out of opposing defenders – or just speed past them. And yet, it was an unexpected name who led the Los Angeles Sol to the first WPS victory. A name you, an iatg reader, may recognize: Allison Falk.

Falk (interviewed here last week) came up from central defender for a corner kick early in the match and headed the ball past Washington goalkeeper Briana Scurry in the 6th minute. Her hands shot up into the air in excitement and astonishment. She, Allison Falk, a sweet girl from Danville, CA had just written her name in the history books – and with her head no less. Falk would continue with a solid performance, holding Wambach in check with the help of fellow Sol defenders, and would go on to be named the official Woman of the Match.

Of the goal, Falk would say, “The goal was an amazing ball from Aya [Miyama]. I just went up for it, wasn’t sure I was going to get it but just went for it and I think it kind of hit the side of me and went in.”

When the game concluded, the final score read: Los Angeles Sol 2, Washington Freedom 0. Camille Abily scored the second goal with a brilliant chip of the ball in the 87th minute.  And an exquisite performance by Sol goalkeeper, Karina LeBlanc, kept the Freedom quiet. That’s how history will write it: Sol victory, 2-0. First match, over and done. But as a member of the crowd, you had to know there was much more to it.

It hadn’t worked with WUSA. But we’re trying again. We’re going for it. A successful women’s professional league in the country that dominates women’s international soccer. Surely it’s not a day of history; it’s only a beginning. And as Sol coach, Abner Rogers, said, “We came out with a good victory … it is only going to get better.”

Want to see more WPS pictures? Visit iatg on facebook.

photo by kenzie rochelle

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I don’t like it when people don’t know their history.  So welcome to historic Pennsylvania. No, I’m not talking about the Liberty Bell or Continental Congress or Benjamin Franklin or even Nicolas Cage. No, I’m outside of Philadelphia and into Penn State athletics.  Though now on the road for the rest of the season (only a potential of two matches left), the Nittany Lions women’s volleyball team is the number one rank in this year’s NCAA Div. 1 National Championships…and with good reason.  They haven’t lost a set all year.

Allow me to explain volleyball because it can be slightly confusing (especially since they keep changing the rules and the terminology—annoying!).  Volleyball is one of those sports, much like tennis, where the whole “game,” so to say, is actually called a “match.”  Each match is divided into sets.  Any match could have as many as 5 sets.  The winning team is the first to win three sets, thereby taking the match. Each set is a point system to 25 and on every single play, one team scores a point.

Now, let me say that again: they haven’t lost a set all year.  That means, if you go through their schedule this season, every match reads a Penn State victory, 3-0 (3 sets to none).  Not a single 4 sets to 1.  These reigning National Champs may have been impressive in their league to go 3-0 every match, but what would happen when the NCAA Tournament began?  Uh, nothing.  Nothing would happen. They would beat Long Island, 3-0.  And Yale, 3-0. And Western Michigan, 3-0. And, in the Regional finals, Penn State would come against a team from the heavy handed Pac-10.  And they would defeat Cal, 3-0.

They broke the former record for consecutive sets won (105, Florida in 2003), are the only team in NCAA history to complete a season without losing a set, and have won 61 consecutive matches, yet another record.  They come into the National Championship weekend on quite a podium…but it will be this weekend where they show if they’ve really earned the right to that podium.  An unbeaten season is one thing, but you’ve got to win the whole thing to really make it memorable and successful (awww, poor Tom Brady and last year’s Patriots team).

And though Nebraska, Stanford, and Texas (the other remaining teams), may be slightly intimidated by Penn State’s accolades, not one is a shabby team.  Together, those remaining three teams have won 10 NCAA Championships in the last 30 years.  Looks to me like the pressure is on, and it’s all on the Nittany Lions.

Follow the Lions as they continue their season playing Nebraska on Thursday night at 9pm ET on ESPN2.  Stanford plays Texas at 7pm ET on ESPNU.  The championship match will be held Saturday at 8pm ET and will be televised on ESPN2.

photo by andrew mcfalane from last year’s championship match

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