The Wait Is Over

Wrapping Up Week One

Friday, March 4th starts with Carlos Bocanegra and Atlanta Storm head coach Rebecca Nolin discussing the latest developments of their fan base's outrage over the news of Kelley O'Hara's retirement.

Carlos: This has gone too far. First, they protested at the practice facility. Then, they came to the team offices and demanded a meeting with Arthur (Blank, team owner). I heard someone filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Wednesday for Kelley's wedding license so he or she could find out to whom she was married, then were headed to their home.

Rebecca: I'm glad she and Morgan are away in Birmingham for the week.

Carlos: Did we miscalculate the response we would get to what we released on Tuesday?

Rebecca: I thought you handled it well. Our players' privacy is paramount. Our fans should not be able to determine who we have on our roster.

Carlos: Do they have a right to know any of the information we held in confidence?

Rebecca: No, they don't. What are we going to do about this firestorm? We can't really keep training in lock-down mode and questions will start to come about Morgan's continued absence if she's not back in the fold come Monday.

Carlos: Hopefully cooler heads prevail today and the weekend will allow this to blow over somewhat. We have to replace Kelley on the roster, so I should get on the phone and see who we're able to bring in.

Rebecca's cell phone rings.

Kelley O'Hara: Rebecca, it's Kelley. Morgan and I were out for breakfast when we were attacked by a number of people who said they knew who we were and that we would pay for bringing shame on the good name of the Atlanta Storm. One of them tried to strike me in the stomach. They got to Morgan, however, and she was hurt a bit. Black eye, it looks like, and I don't know what emotional scars were left. What did we ever do to them to deserve this kind of retaliation?

Rebecca: The fans are off their rockers right now. They honestly thought we were deliberately hiding information about your sexual orientation and pregnancy for our own economic benefit.

Kelley: I HAVE to get Morgan away from this before something worse happens. Any ideas?

Rebecca: I'll talk to Carlos about what options we have at our disposal. A trade or loan could be done, but it might take a bit of time to find a willing partner and/or appropriate compensation. He's currently working on finding someone to replace you on the roster. I'll inform him about the attack and see what he thinks we should do. Are you going to stay in Birmingham for now, or are you headed elsewhere?

Kelley: I'd like to get us somewhere else so that we're not targeted again. I'll check in once we finish here at the hospital.

Rebecca: Talk to you later, and take care of yourselves.

Rebecca heads into Carlos' office to give him the news.

Carlos: WHAT?!  This is getting beyond ludicrous. What do these fools want?

Rebecca: They're probably aiming to have us come out against Kelley and Moe's relationship.

Carlos: Which I will never do.

Rebecca: Any luck so far?

Carlos: Not yet. I'm thinking we might need to change the narrative to get out from under this. What would you say about trying to get Emily Sonnett from Portland? She's a Georgia native and the coming-home angle could turn into positive publicity ahead of the home opener against Vancouver.