Lounging around

U.S. goalkeeper Scurry hopes her World Cup job is easy

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Posted: Wednesday June 16, 1999 06:18 PM

Briana Scurry is 10-2 this year, allowing only eight goals and getting six shutouts. Michael Cooper/Allsport

MARTINSVILLE, New Jersey (AP) -- Sorry, folks, there won't be any streaking by Briana Scurry this time.

Scurry, the veteran goalkeeper for the U.S. women's soccer team, won't be making any naked dashes through the streets outside the Rose Bowl if the Americans win the World Cup. She won't be matching her nude run after the U.S. gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

"This time, I'll be ordinary and keep my clothes on," Scurry said with a laugh Tuesday following the U.S. team's practice session in preparation for Saturday's opening game against Denmark at Giants Stadium. "That was just a weird thing, a weird promise."

Hours after the Americans beat China 2-1 in Athens to win the Olympics, Scurry made a short scurry while stark naked.

"Yeah, I took my clothes off in a car and ran down the street and ran back, and I have proof. I videotaped it," she said. "I ran about 20-30 feet down the road. It was a little nerve-racking.

"It was very funny and one time only."

How about if the rest of the team agreed to join her in a similar celebration in Pasadena, California, on July 10 if the favored Americans take their second world title?

"Trying to get them to do that would be like pulling teeth," she said.

Scurry isn't exactly the most overworked goalie in the world. She's played in 89 internationals and can't count how many were easy affairs.

Of course, she'll take six more games in which she could stretch out on a lounge chair and watch the Americans control play. And, of course, she knows that won't happen in this tournament, which should be the most competitive in women's soccer history.

"I love it! When my team is down in the other end, I love it," said Scurry, 27, who is 10-2 this year, allowing only eight goals and getting six shutouts. "It's fine with me if we are dominating. I couldn't have a bigger smile on my face.

"It's difficult at times when another team gets a breakthrough, but I'm trained to handle tough shots when they come at me. The more bored I am, the better. I'd like to be bored out of my tree for the whole World Cup."

Don't count on it. The Americans know they will have to count on Scurry to come up with a key save at some point in the tournament. There is no lack of confidence that she'll make that stop.

"She's done it for us when we've needed it," defender Carla Overbeck said. "Bri is one of the best goalies in the world."

Scurry might not say that, but she certainly appreciates hearing it. She readily admits she doesn't measure up with some other goalies in two specific areas.

"I don't think I'm as strong with my footwork as some others, and that's because I never played much in the field," she said. "I've been nothing but a goalie since I was 16, and I hardly got into the field before that, even when I wanted to and we were ahead by five or six goals."

"I'm also not as strong with my kicks as some of the Europeans. But I think I can hold my own with anyone as an all-around goalie."

What she really wants is to be the World Cup-winning goalie, even if she isn't best keeper in the tournament.

"It's great we have so much talent and character on this team," Scurry said. "Because of that, sometimes I have a very easy job."

 

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