Cobras may try to woo Hamm

Mia Hamm isn't sure what life will hold for her after theOlympics, other than the fact that she will be done withinternational soccer.

Hamm can count on one other certainty, but only if her husband,Nomar Garciaparra, signs with the Cubs this offseason.

Hamm can count on a phone call from representatives of the ChicagoCobras of the W-League, which had been recognized as the minor-league system for the WUSA. The WUSA suspended its operations afterthree seasons last fall because of a lack of financial backing. But agroup of former league officers recently teamed up with the playersunion in an effort to revive the league.

Cobras coach Mike Nesci is hoping that if Garciaparra stays inChicago, Hamm might consider joining the Cobras.

As soon as Nomar was traded to the Cubs, people began to ask us ifwe were going to try to get Mia," Nesci said. We have always goneafter the best players available, and we'll see if Mia isinterested."

Dan Levy, who represents Hamm for Octagon Sports Management, saidHamm might be receptive.

After the Olympics, Mia will be done playing internationalsoccer," Levy said. I do know that Mia is willing to do whatever itwould take to help revive the WUSA.

"Mia is anxious for the next part of her life to start, but as faras soccer is concerned, she wants to give back to the soccercommunity as much as she can."

Hamm's last U.S. game might come Friday, when the Americans playJapan in the quarterfinals. It will be her 264th appearance, andshe'll be looking to add to her world-record total of 153 goals.

Why quit now?

"I'm old," Hamm, 32, said with a smile.

She then repeated most of the reasons she has given before: It'sthe right time, soccer is no longer the be-all and end-all of herlife, it's three years until the next World Cup and she wants toleave at the top of her game.

"There are moments, I'm sure, in your life where you've been in acertain environment, whether it's work or in college, and you're justlike, Gosh, I need to move on.' And that's where I am," Hamm said.

What will she do now?

"I don't know," she answered quickly, flashing a huge smile."Isn't that great? The fact that no one has to tell me that I have toeat at 9 and 1 and 6:30 anymore is OK. I mean, I'm not frightened.Are you frightened about the fact that I don't know what I'm going todo?"

After a lifetime in the sport, Hamm said she was unsure whethershe would stay in soccer, perhaps as a coach.

"I don't know," she said. Once I'm done, I'm going to see whathappens. ... I've really lived day-to-day, and it's not something I'mspending a lot of time on.

"Maybe after the new year, I'll think about what's there."

Contributing: AP