Word: candrea
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Dates: during 2004-2004
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...Sunday night Mike Candrea, coach of the U.S. Olympic softball team, had a dream. His wife Sue, who at 49 died of a brain aneurism just one month ago, appeared before him with a simple message. "She walked into the room," says Candrea, whose team was competing in the gold medal game against Australia the next day, "and told me to chill...
...Candrea took her advice. He bet one player that he'd tattoo his arm if she tattooed a home run. He let star pitcher Jennie Finch spray glitter in her teammates' hair. But at the end he couldn't stop the tears. Carrying big bats on their shoulders and heavy feelings in their hearts, the U.S. women's softball team pounded Australia 5-1 at the Olympic Softball Stadium on Monday, clinching its third straight gold medal...
...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...