Shannon Boxx Day in Torrance
Sol midfielder, Olympian, gold medal winner and South (Torrance) High grad Shannon Boxx was awarded the key to the city she grew up in at Tuesday's City Council meeting by starstruck Mayor Frank Scotto (a huge soccer fan and long-time coach) with her mom, Julie, looking on from the audience.
"I'm nervous just standing up here with you," Scotto said after twisting his tongue a couple of times as he prepared to present the U.S. Women's National Team midfielder with a proclamation on what was dubbed Shannon Boxx day, while receiving a Sol jersey in return.
Scotto added later: "We are very proud to call her one of our own."
Boxx, twin Olympic gold medals dangling around her neck, seemed genuinely touched by the honor.
"I've been everywhere in the world," she said. "I've lived in different states and countries and somehow Torrance always draws me back. ... I love the key - the fact I have my own day is pretty big, too."
Coincidentally, the city was also honoring the championship-winning South High girls team that evening so Boxx was naturally recruited to present each player with a certificate and added a Sol shirt for the coach and hats for the players.
Boxx and the Sol debut Sunday at Home Depot Center against the Washington Freedom.
The proclamation
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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