Only 12 members of the DAVID BECKHAM 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup championship team will make the trek to Australia Thai for the six-team Pacific Cup May 31-June 11. Buddhists Five players were dropped from contention for the Olympic honor star team earlier this spring, and three Manchester United star others are out with injuries: Carla David Beckham has been Overbeck (knee), Michelle Akers immortalized by a Thai (shoulder surgery) and Briana fan who carved a sculp¬ Scurry (shin splits). The Pacific ture of the English player Cup has been changed to a inside a Buddhist temple round-robin tournament (five at a spot normally re¬ SUKREE SUKPLANG/REUTERS games) after the withdrawal of served for angels. Scotland and North Korea. THE GOLDEN IMAGE OF DAVID BECKHAM STANDS ONE FOOT TALL AND IS COVERED A one-foot high statue IN GOLD LEAF. of Beckham covered in » U.S. ROSTER gold leaf has been placed at the Goalkeepers — Jennifer Branam, Siri until 1997, when he began to foot of the main Buddha image VOGA WALLACE Mullinix. Defenders — Christie Pearce, work for Bell Atlantic phone Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Danielle in Bangkok's Pariwas Temple company, where he won an Slaton, Kate Sobrero. Midfielders — alongside about 100 statues of More than a Lorrie Fair, Nikki Serlenga, Sara Whalen, award for excellence in 1999. Shannon MacMillan, Julie Foudy, Kristine minor deities. "Voga was a terrific person," Lilly, Aly Wagner. Strikers — Mia Hamm, "Football has become a reli¬ throw-in artist Cindy Parlow, Tiffeny Milbrett, Christie Welsh said U.S. national team coach gion and has millions of follow¬ • For Pacific Cup May 31-June 11. Voga Wallace, a two time Bruce Arena, who coached ers," said the temple's senior All-Atlantic Coast Conference SA Wallace at Virginia. "Although À monk, Chan Theerapunyo. "So, defender at Virginia in the early he was well-known for his throw- U.S. U-21 women's na¬ to be up to date, we have to 1980s, died of a heart attack in, he was an excellent defender. tional team coach Jillian open our minds and share the May 6. He was 37. He was an outstanding student, Ellis will take her squad on feelings of millions of people Wallace led the Cavaliers in and he really was a tremendous its first international trip, to who admire Beckham." assists in 1981 and 1982, but he France May 19-29 for three person. It is very sad to see some¬ Sculptor Thongruang earned international acclaim for one go at such a young age." matches. Haemhod made the Beckham his somersault-style throw-ins, Ellis will bring eight players He is survived by his wife, image to keep his memory alive which were a proven offensive currently participating in the U.S. Anna, seven children and his weapon. He was featured in Olympic residency camp who did for the next thousand years. Sports Illustrated, The Wash¬ parents, Aletha Brown Wallace not make the squad for the Pacific "This is contemporary art, and Everett Wallace Jr. Cup: goalkeeper Hope Solo, de¬ pad we want the people of this ington Post and on David and the next generation to know Letterman's show. In 1983, he fenders Michelle French and ROMANIA Nandi Pryce, midfielders Aleisha what was going on in the year was a key member of the first Cramer, Jena Kluegal and Sara 2000," Chan said. Virginia team to advance to the Randolph, and forwards Susan The image shows Beckham NCAA semifinals. Hagi blames Bush and Alyssa Ramsey. The re¬ with a full head of hair — be¬ After college Wallace — a mainder of the team consists of fore his $470 crewcut, dubbed a Silver Spring, Md., resident — presidents college stars, almost all of whom "short, beck and sides." worked as an insurance agent For all of soccer's popularity in have seen action with the U-21s or U-18 national team. The U.S. will face a French club team May 23 in Paris, then travel to Marseilles for two matches, taking on the French national team May 26 and the French U-21s May 28. ÀSA U.S. under-18 national team coach George Gelnovatch called in 22 play¬ ers for a week-long training camp with the U.S. U-17s at their base at the Bollettieri Sports Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The U-18s will play three matches in Bradenton in prepara¬ tion for a June 8-11 trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Among the players se¬ lected were two members of the 1999 U.S. U-17 team — goalie Steve Cronin and midfielder Raul Palomares. Three European- based players were selected — Palomares (Germany) and midfielders Paul Dolinsky (Neth¬ erlands) and Dimistris Colin (Ger¬ many). Midfielder Ned Grabavoy also is being courted by Euro¬ pean clubs. www.socceramerica.com SOCCER AMERICA 4 MAY 29, 2000 Because You're FANATIC! Europe, its image remains tainted Euro 2000. He said he was not took off, died May 1 after a short by its history of corruption. considering a new career in Ro¬ illness at the age of 79 in Spring¬ It's a big problem in Eastern manian soccer. field, Mass., his hometown. European countries such as Ro¬ "I'm disappointed," Hagi Schmid coached hundreds of mania. said. "I'm not planning to work players during his 36-year ca¬ First, it was the military and in Romanian soccer at the mo¬ reer at Springfield (Mass.) Col¬ police authorities who ran the ment because nobody seems lege, including former U.S. show, running big clubs such as able to change this desperate women's national team coach Steaua Bucharest and Dinamo situation." Tony DiCicco. Bucharest that regularly won He has been rumored to be Springfield, now a Division the title. headed to MLS. III school, was a national power Now Gheorghe Hagi, voted The FRF recently canceled a in the 1950s and '60s. More than best Romanian player of the previous decision to relegate 100 of Schmid's students have 1900s, has accused First Division two Second Division teams for become head coaches at the high club presidents in the post-Ceau- corruption. school and college levels. sescu era of deciding among The FRF had relegated Schmid, who grew up in themselves who will win the title. Drobeta Turnu Severin and DiCicco's hometown of "Romanian club presidents Chimica Tirnaveni to the Third Wethersfield, Conn., attended are gathering in restaurants to Division after 17 Drobeta play¬ Springfield and had a 271-161- decide who is relegated and ers complained in a letter that 51 record in two stints as coach, who wins the title," Hagi says. club officials had ordered them 1948-62 and 1964-84. "If you do their bidding, you to lose against Chimica. Springfield won the unoffi¬ have an easy life in soccer. But The FRF also turned initial cial national title in 1957 and if you don't obey their orders, life bans issued against the reached the Division I semifi¬ you are finished, blacklisted." teams' owners and general man¬ nals in 1962. Hagi also attacked the Ro¬ agers into one-year suspensions. Schmid was the only person manian soccer federation But the FRF banned for 24 to attend all 53 National Soccer (FRF), dominated by the club rounds nine players who Coaches Association of presidents, for lack of organiza¬ dropped their initial accusations America conventions. He was a tion and failure to act against after police in Drobeta called former NSCAA president. mounting allegations that them in for questioning. Schmid is survived by his matches are rigged. Cornel Badoiu, a senior mili¬ wife, Jacqueline, two sons and a "The FRF's structure is tary magistrate who led the FRF daughter. wrong," Hagi said, in a reference commission that handed down to the FRF's 15-strong board the initial penalties, said politi¬ which includes eight club bosses. cal pressure and police inter¬ IRELAND Many of them also are mem¬ vention had forced the FRF to bers of the Professional Club reverse its decision. Keane to miss Soccer League (LPF), which governs the First Division U.S. tour IRV SCHMID championship and referees' lo¬ Manchester United captain cal and international careers. Roy Keane will miss Ireland's "This situation prompts many Legend was trip to the United States for the club chiefs to act only in their Nike U.S. Cup because of a personal interest," Hagi said. DiCicco's hamstring injury. Hagi, who plays for Turkish Keane's injury rules him out giant Galatasaray, has an¬ mentor of forthcoming friendlies with nounced his second retirement Irv Schmid, a leader in college Liverpool and Scotland in from international soccer after soccer in the days before soccer Dublin and a U.S. tournament next month involving games against the United States, Mexico and South Africa. Keane, voted Player of the Year in England, missed Ireland's friendly against Greece in April and the final games of the Pre¬ mier League season. "Roy has told me he hasn't trained since getting his ham¬ string injury, and he is not fit," said Irish coach Mick McCarthy. Leeds United defender Gary Kelly has also pulled out be¬ cause of an injury. Sunderland's Niall Quinn and Kenny Cunningham of Goalkeepers — Alan Kelly (Charlton), Jason McAteer Wimbledon have been included (Blackburn), Shay Given (Newcastle), (Blackburn), Kevin Kilbane after recovering from injuries. Dean Kiely (Charlton). Defenders — (Sunderland), Damien Duff Steven Carr (Tottenham), Kenny (Blackburn), Steve Finnan (Fulham), ALFREDO TEDESCH/REUTERS Ireland plays Liverpool on Cunningham (Wimbledon), Gary Breen Graham Kavanagh (Stoke City), May 20 in a testimonial for vet¬ (Coventry), Richard Dunne (Everton), Stephen McPhail (Leeds United).