REMEMBER the excitement when the team captain picked you first? For some that feeling still lives on. Defender and midfielder Lorrie Fair has just been signed to Chelsea F.C.—yes, that legendary English club with a fan base of about 4 million. Though not as an on-field player, the Pensioners have named Lorrie ambassador for the club in the United States. Born in Los Altos, Lorrie Fair has always been involved in soccer. And excelling in the sport is nothing new to her. She attended the University of North Carolina where she was named Defensive MVP of the College Cup and the Tar Heels won the NCAA championship. She formed part of the Women's Under 20 National Soccer Team in 1994, and soon went on to make her debut as an official team player. In 1999, she was named U.S. Soccer's Chevrolet's Female Youth Athlete of the Year and became the youngest player in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. Her list of credentials goes on to include being a sideline announcer for MLS games on ABC and ESPN2 after the demise of the WUSA. Lorrie hasn't hung up her cleats even though she's no longer a part of the national team—she plays for the San Francisco Glens, a semi pro men's. Lorrie also forms part of "Right to Play" (formerly Olympic Aid) an organization of professional and Olympic athletes that improves kids' development in life through sports. And now through her new role of ambassador, the goal is to improve the culture of soccer in the States with the help of one of the most emblematic teams in history.

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