Nancy NeSmith is the ultimate soccer mom. Besides her soccer-playing daughters, she's mothering a whole professional team — the Bay Area-based FC Gold Pride of the new Women's Pro Soccer league.
"I may be the boss, but I'll always be Mom," jokes NeSmith as she watches the Gold Pride practice at San Jose State University. "I'd been out of the workplace for 20 years, a stay-at-home mom. But this is a lot of fun – and a lot of work."
Almost on cue, two players come off the field and give the boss sweaty hugs.
"I'm so grateful to them and to be part of this team," says midfielder Tina DiMartino. "What they're doing is really amazing."
Instead of just rooting for World Cup stars Brandi Chastain and Tiffeny Milbrett, NeSmith now has them on her payroll.
"I was so nervous, I was shaking when I met them," NeSmith says. "It all seemed unbelievable."
The NeSmiths – Nancy and her husband, Brian – took a huge leap beyond just being fans, buying into the risky business of professional sports amid a wretched economy.
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