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A heavy heart

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

This update is written with a heavy heart, as yesterday the IOC voted to include golf and rugby in the 2016 Olympics at the exclusion of softball and several others.  This means that the soonest softball would re-emerge on the Olympic stage will be in 2020.  I like to consider myself an optimist, but times like these challenge my ability to see the silver lining in things.

We all knew that the battle would be difficult and that there was a lot of resistance within the IOC and the Olympic movement.  For whatever reason, it seems that the IOC President Jacque Rogge had it out for softball.  He worked hard to ensure softball was NOT included (or so it seems).

I tip my cap to the Back Softball campaign and all of those who supported softball’s efforts to get back into the Olympics, whether directly or indirectly.  I know people like Donna DeVarona, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, and many many others spent months traveling and spreading the “softball gospel” throughout the world, and can only imagine their immense disappointment considering their personal investments in the effort.

Speaking for myself, I am sad on a personal level, but my overwhelming emotion is related to the future of the sport, and the young girls around the globe who have seen their Olympic dreams dashed.  I pain for the Kaitlin Cochran and Ashley Hansen’s of the world, the “next generation” of USA Softball players who were on track to represent our country on the Olympic stage.  I pain for young girls in Argentina, Italy, Japan, Botswana, Jordan, and in-numerous corners countries where tears were shed and hearts were broken by the decision to exclude softball.

So, we pause to mourn softball’s defeat, and likely the pain will last for quite some time.  But, we must also continue to move forward, to build and develop and nurture softball here at home and abroad.  The efforts must continue, though likely not on nearly as large of a scale, to introduce softball to countries and continents that may not otherwise have been exposed.  Professional softball, whether it be the PFX Tour or the NPF, must continue to foster and legitimize softball post-college. 

I read Jennie Finch’s blog this morning about the IOC decision, and was struck hard by the observation her son, 3-year old Ace, noticed. “Mommy, where is your clubhouse?”  The gender inequities in sport are vast and often seem unconquerable.  Should we even waste our energy imagining a day when female professional softball players will be negotiating $100 million dollar contracts?  Is it worth our time to consider a day when 20,000 fans show up to watch a women’s basketball pre-season PRACTICE?  Being honest, there are times where I think it is ridiculous to imagine that day, considering how unbelievably far we are from even being in that zip code, being anywhere even moderately close to that day.

Then, after I slap my own face and wake myself out of the “oh poor me mode”, I lift my head up and answer my own question.  YES.  Yes, it is worth our time, energy, heart and soul.  It may be far off, but without our vision and determination, the gap never will be closed. 

And I must clarify that when I speak of equality, I hate when we get so bogged down by the money, by the dollars and cents of the inequities.  Yes, I believe the pendulum must swing in terms of the numbers if women ever want to see success.  But, I do not believe its all about the money.  Its about opportunity.  Its about the way in which women are respected (or not respected) for their contributions to sport.  Its breaking the stigma that “men’s sports are more entertaining”.  And its about women supporting women. 

So, as I sit back and look to the future, I really do believe it is about you and me, each one of us.  Olympic softball may be temporarily laying on a gurney, but softball is by no means dead.  It did take a big blow to the head, but it is not dead.  We will continue to scratch, claw, and fight for our sport.  And some day, we will look back on August 12, 2009 and say, “That was just the beginning.  I remember how broken-hearted I was that day.  But look at us now…”

I can’t wait for that day.

As always, Dreaming BIG,

Stacey

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Hello Everyone!

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

I really must begin this journal entry with a big apology. I know it has been a couple of weeks since my last entry, in fact it was the eve of the Gold Medal Game that I last checked in. I’m sure if we had won the Gold I would have written this sooner, but frankly I’ve kept myself busy and avoiding thoughts of the game.

It has been a busy three weeks, to be sure! After the Games concluded, I spent an extra few days in China venturing out into other parts of the country, and trying to see something other than Beijing. Don’t get me wrong, Beijing is nice and has some great sights, but China is a MASSIVE country with much diversity to the landscape, etc, so we wanted to get another perspective on the country.

To start, Mark and my brother, Ryan (who made the trip to watch the Olympics) took an over-night train into Xian, which is the location of the famous Terra Cotta Warriors. I’ll spare you the history lesson, but believe me when I say the whole story is amazing, and the sheer number of clay warriors was impressive. Xian is considered a “small” city by Chinese standards, but still has something like 8 million citizens!!

After Xian, we headed back to Beijing so Mark could catch his flight back to the States. From Beijing, we took a 2 hour flight to Guilin, in the southern part of China. When I say “we”, I mean me, my brother, Jessica Mendoza and Lauren Lappin.

Guilin is known as a “landscape city”, a smaller town with lush mountain landscapes and the Li River running through the town. We took a river cruise up the Li River into a town called Yangshou, an even smaller town, and very “picturesque”. The four of us rented bicycles and rode out into the countryside, which was exactly what we were looking for. What a beautiful place! Very unaffected by modern conveniences, and a much different side of China.

After flying back to Beijing, we stayed one last night and then flew back to the U.S. As much as I was sad to head back into “reality”, I was ABSOLUTELY ready to get home and see my little baby boy! Chase is now 15 months and truly a little “man”…he’s talking all the time (mostly babbling, but with more and more coherent words every day), and walking like a champ, almost ready to run!

I am also getting ready to “officially” start my new job as assistant coach at San Diego State University! I’m an Aztec! It has been hard to focus, with so much going on in my life as of late, but I’m excited to get to work and help take the program to the next level!

As much as I have kept busy, there are still quiet moments where I reflect back on Beijing, the games, the at bats….but mostly about the moments. Yes, I wanted to come home with another Gold medal. Everyone wanted that. But I truly had the peace of mind before, during, and after the final game to know that NO MATTER THE OUTCOME, the journey was the same and the memories can never be taken away.

Its impossible not to want and re-play my final at bat, to see the end result different, to get “the hit”. That’s of course human nature. But I can honestly say that I have no regrets about my career, my personal softball journey, in spite of how it ended on the field.

So, I say again, THANK YOU. Thank you to The Game, for all of the challenges and all of the successes. Thank you to my family, my life, my support. Thank you to my friends and extended family. It has been one heck of a ride, and I feel no less proud of my career with a silver around my neck.

Many people have asked if I was one of the players who left my cleats at home plate after the final game. I can’t explain why, but somehow when it came time to place my “boats” at home, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I had planned to, but there was a force, a nudge, that wouldn’t let me actually follow through with it. Again, I don’t know why….its not like I plan to be on the field in 2016. But for some reason it just didn’t feel right.

So, onward I go, into the next chapter. I am anxious to see where life will lead me, will lead us. But what I do know is that I have a direction, a focus, and that is my new coaching career at SDSU. I am confident that there is a “master plan”, an ultimate place I am meant to be. Only time will tell exactly what that means, or where I will end up. But my Prius is headed south to San Diego, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Keep in touch, and Dream BIG!
Stacey

Nuveman in Beijing
Nuveman in Beijing

 

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Before we go to battle…

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

So this is the final entry before we go into battle with Japan for the Gold Medal! I can’t help but to reflect on this journey, both my softball journey and my life’s journey. It still boggles my mind that I have been blessed enough to represent the USA for the past 10 years, playing the sport I love so much.

The people I have met, places I have traveled to, moments I have shared, and competition I have battled in are more than I could ever imagine. As a young girl, softball wasn’t an Olympic sport, so I was inspired by Mary Lou Retton and Carl Lewis, and countless other Olympians I watched on TV wearing the Red, White, and Blue. I remember the ‘84 Olympics in Los Angeles, and a being awed by the physical feats and the emotions that these athletes displayed as they watched their flag (our flag) being raised as Olympic Champions.

And to think, years later, I have had the distinguished opportunity to be able to stand on the Gold Medal podium twice myself, and watch the Stars and Stripes rise above the rest.

Tonight, I will take the field with my teammates, my friends, my family. There will only be 15 of us in uniform, but we will stand on that field with 1000’s of others, maybe even millions of others.

Last night, as I readied for bed, I checked in for my usual “confessional”: I have been videotaping myself each night, sharing my thoughts and feelings (something I know I will treasure it years from now…a video diary of sorts). Though I was tempted, I didn’t ask for a home run or for perfection. Rather, I thanked. I thanked God for the opportunities I have been given, for Mark and for Chase, for my family that has allowed me to be here and continue my big dreams. I thanked Team Nuveman, all of the people in my life, both past and present, who have contributed to this journey.

So thank you, to all of you, even if I don’t know you personally. Inspiration comes from many places and many people, and I thank you all for supporting me through this ride. I HAVE to be the luckiest girl in the World. In fact, I know I am.

With Gold on the brain, I will be Dreaming a BIG AS EVER!!

Stacey

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Olympic Update

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Now the REAL games begin! Today is our one and only day off since competition started, and we have made the most with a great round of batting practice this morning, a massage this afternoon, and a great meal at BNU. This sort of feels like the “calm before the storm”, being that tomorrow begins that Medal Round, and our first opponent is Japan.

Historically, Japan and the USA play tight games every time, so don’t be fooled by our mercy-rule victory over the Japanese a few days ago. They did not pitch either of their top 2 pitchers, so we know we will face a different team this go around.

One fun highlight was last night, when Mark, my brother Ryan, Jessica (Mendoza) and her husband Adam, and Archie Lappin (Lauren’s brother) went to the USA versus Germany men’s basketball game. It was nice to get to another event, as a simple commoner (aka spectator!!). The U.S. dominated, winning by nearly 50 points. So it seems the original Dream Team may have some basketball rivals!

The other really awesome thing is that the whole Team Nuveman contingent is finally in Beijing! All said and done, there are 12 family members and 21 TOTAL! One of my close friends from high school, Melissa, is here with some of her family, so they are joining in to make Team Nuveman a HUGE group, all proudly sporting their special t-shirts with #33 on the back!! Let me tell you, it is so very special to know how many people are pulling for me, and for us…..and especially SEEING all of the people in the stands who have come such a long way to support us. I know how lucky I am, and how blessed to have such a phenomenal support group.

Tomorrow, the real tests and the TRUE Games begin…wish us luck, and I promise you that I mean when I say….”I’m Dreaming BIGGER than ever!!”

Stacey

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