Word: candrea
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...silver. But softball is the true surprise; the sport was dropped from the Olympics, in part, because the U.S. was so dominant. "I really kind of feel that maybe people [will] get off our back, and realize that there is some parity in this game," says U.S. coach Mike Candrea. Too late for that, coach, maybe your team should have dropped a big one earlier...
...fought it, we've fought it, we've fought it for so long," she says of softball's inevitable Olympic extinction. "But on the drive up, knowing this could be it, you can't fight it anymore." She never got a chance to fight for the gold. Candrea started lefty Cat Osterman to match up against Japan, which had seven southpaws in the starting lineup. Was Finch disappointed? "I would be lying if I said no," says Finch, before quickly adding that she supports Candrea. She won't go Solo on us. "As a pitcher, I think we all want...
...also have more incentive now to go after women's coaching positions. "With the addition of funding and notoriety in women's sports, these jobs are very appealing for men," says University of Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea, who has won eight national titles with the Wildcats. For men seeking these spots, it doesn't hurt that 80% of college athletic directors are male. Says Brand: "Breaking the old-boys'-club bias is very difficult...
...Candrea had a second premonition before the game. His hunch told him that although three-time Olympian Lisa Fernandez had pitched against Australia the night before, she, not glamour-girl Finch, would get the start. The choice might have upset male viewers, but it worked out flawlessly on the field. Painting the corners and mixing in a wicked changeup, Fernandez pitched a four-hitter, at one point retiring 18 straight batters...
...players aren't only worried about their sport's future. They know the Olympics were a respite for Candrea, who hid his grief over the last few weeks to guide the U.S. to the championship. But now the ride is over. "It helped," Candrea says. "That's all I can say." At the post-game press conference, with Candrea sitting on her left, Fernandez began to choke up. "I don't know Mike Candrea that well - he only started coaching me last year," Fernandez said. "But the one thing I prayed to God I could do was play the best...