By P.J. Harmer
ONEONTA _ The ultimate soccer mom reached the pinnacle of her sport Sunday.
"In my life, I've had two dreams: To play soccer at the highest level and to be a mother," former United States Women's National Team standout defender Joy Fawcett said midway through her induction speech at the National Soccer Hall of Fame. "In short, U.S. Soccer enabled me to live both of my dreams, and for that, I'm thankful."
The Soccer Hall enshrined Fawcett and Jeff Agoos, a father of two who played for the U.S. Men's National Team, in front of a crowd that Hall officials estimated at 500. The ceremony also honored longtime New York Times soccer writer Alex Yannis with the Colin Jose Media Award.
Fawcett drew the loudest cheers of the day at the end of a 12-minute, 52-second speech that touched on the importance of family and closed the 2009 Induction Ceremony.
"My first dream was to be a mom and the No. 1 priority for me was my kids," Fawcett said following the ceremony, which was attended by all three of her children _ Katey (age 15), Carli (12) and Madi (8). "To be able to play soccer and try and balance both, it was hard, definitely. I wanted to make it as easy as possible on them and easy on my teammates. I didn't want them to have any hardship with their careers. So it was hard to balance, but it was something so worthwhile because I loved both. I was so thrilled I could do both."
Fawcett said U.S. Soccer allowed her children to grow up around the Women's National Team, which gained fame by winning the first FIFA World Cup, in 1991. None of her children were around then, but all three had been born by the time she ended her 18-year run with the Americans in 2004.
"Throughout her career, Joy always told me if the game of soccer ever had a negative effect on her family, she would walk away in a heartbeat," said former teammate Shannon MacMillan, who introduced Fawcett on Sunday. "I know you can always hear people say that, but Joy truly meant that. She said she'd walk away to save her family."
Instead, Fawcett helped the U.S. to another World Cup title (1999) and two Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004). On Sunday, she became the eighth player from the "91ers" to earn induction into the Hall, joining Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Carla Overbeck, Michelle Akers, Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, Carin Jennings and April Heinrichs. Only 2007 inductees Hamm (275) and Foudy (271), along with future Hall of Famer Kristine Lilly (342), have played in more international matches for the U.S. than Fawcett (239).
Following the ceremony, Agoos said he respected Fawcett's accomplishments as a player and a parent.
"I think I'd last about 20 minutes," he said. "It's a completely different environment (in the men's game). ... That gift of having their kids gives them that humanity and I think it's an incredible gift that they share. Those bonds that they have on the women's team are as strong as any bond in this game.
"We basically would give our kids to our wives and say, Here, we'll be back,'" he continued. "They had the 24-hour job of taking care of our kids. The women's team doesn't have that luxury. ... The women's side is such a unique experience that it's almost like they have two jobs rather than just being a soccer player."
Fawcett said she couldn't have done it without her teammates.
"They had a big impact," she said. "They were so accommodating, so helpful. They played with my kids, they entertained them. They were great role models for my kids. ... They had the best role models around them all the time."
Agoos seemed to have a pretty good role model, too, as he was introduced by his father, Andy.
"For a parent, it just doesn't get any better than this _ a chance to recognize the achievements and the things your children have done," Andy Agoos said during a presentation that lasted 13:37 and focused on his son's childhood. "It just doesn't get any better than this."
Andy Agoos later helped his son slip on one of the red jackets that are reserved for Hall of Famers.
"I am proud to be wearing this jacket," said Jeff Agoos, a former defender whose 134 international caps for the U.S. are second only to Cobi Jones (164).
Agoos then turned to his right to address the 11 returning Hall of Famers _ Walter Bahr, George Brown, Chico Chacurian, Peter Collins, Rick Davis, Alex Ely, Harry Keough, Nick Kropfelder, Gene Olaff, Len Oliver and Bobby Smith.
"They set the tone," he said. "I'm privileged to be a part of this group."
Agoos played for five championship teams during his 10 years of Major League Soccer. He won three titles with D.C. United before being traded to the San Jose Earthquake. A nine-time MLS All-Star, Agoos won two championships with San Jose before playing one season with New York. He retired in 2005.
Agoos, who played on two World Cup teams (1998, 2002), appeared in 283 MLS games, including 39 in the postseason. He also won four All-American honors at the University of Virginia, helping the Cavaliers to a share of the NCAA Division I championship in 1989. That year, Agoos finished second in voting for the Hermann Trophy, which recognizes college soccer's best men's player.
"I'm incredibly honored to be a part of this," Agoos said following the ceremony. "If you don't know your past, you certainly can't go forward with your future, and this grounds our past into what I think is an in an incredibly important sport."
Agoos was steady for most of his speech, which lasted 12:04, but got emotional when he mentioned his wife, Natalie, and his daughters, Violet (8) and Emma (4).
"I'm really not an emotional guy," said Agoos, whose kids ran to the stage to hug their father following his speech. "I was very surprised, to be honest. It's amazing the feelings that sort of flood out of you when you get to your family. They are a very special part of me and a very special part of this."
Fawcett agreed that the Induction Ceremony is special.
"It gives you the chills," she said. "It's truly an honor. There's nothing to compare it to. It's an honor to be with other legends. ... It was fun to get to know them this weekend. They are a great group. It makes me want to come back to every (ceremony)."
Yannis also seemed awestruck by his media honor.
"This is a big deal for me; bigger than my first byline in the New York Times," Yannis said during his speech, which lasted 4:19.
Yannis spent more than 35 years with the New York Times and worked in its sports department from 1971 until his retirement in 2004. His career as a soccer writer covered the entire history of the New York Cosmos (1971-85) and more than 20 NCAA championship games. Yannis also covered horse racing and ice hockey for the Times.
___
P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
