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Tanaka Worth More Than Numbers

Rhiannon Tanaka

By Ethen Lieser

It is like the knee-operated catcher who dons the tools of ignorance, the scrappy special teams player sacrificing his body on a train-wreck kickoff return, or the no-name bench warmer furiously making figure 8’s during full-court pressure. Box scores do not praise their contributions because there is no way to transpose heart and desire into numbers. As is the case with Rhiannon Tanaka, the inimitable 5-foot-7 steel-curtain of San Diego Spirit’s defense.

Tanaka’s statistics won’t make anyone’s jaw drop. In fact, a first grader wouldn’t have any problems processing these numbers — one assist, zero goals. Yes, definitely not numbers worth drooling over or even mentioning in a drunken stupor when playing the ol’ sports trivia game.

“OK. OK,” the drunk says, throwing down another pretzel in his bottomless pit of a stomach. “How many goals does Rhiannon Tanaka have this year?”

“Mmm … I don’t know — five?” the drunk friend says.

“Beeeeep! She has none!” the drunk laughs.

Not the brightest bar patrons, but the point is made. There is no respect. No recognition. It’s a hundred percent guts, zero percent pretentiousness. And they win, baby! (Sorry, Al Davis.) Players like Tanaka are usually the missing ingredients on every underachieving team. Too many players want the glory, the paycheck, the cameras on their face. (The “hi mommy” routine is getting pretty old).

But there is Tanaka, shredding hotshot Richy Rich midfielders and their potential shots at goal, making goaltenders feel like they’re relaxing on a romantic cruise. “I think to be a good defender, one needs to be fast and strong,” says Tanaka, who finished her soccer career at UCLA in 1997 after earning team M.V.P. and All-Pac 10 honors as a junior and senior. “You have to also be smart in how you defend. In my case, I have been pretty tough and consistent this year.”

To make this seem more like a Cinderella story, Tanaka wasn’t even drafted. She had to showcase her talents at a local tryout camp for the San Diego Spirit after missing the league’s combine due to an injury. Indeed, she is the Oliver Twist of WUSA — a player who had the talent but couldn’t find a home.

“It was fortunate for us because it didn’t allow other teams to get a chance to look at her,” says Spirit head coach Carlos Juarez, who coached for four years at Cal Poly Pomona prior to coming to San Diego. “When she came out to our tryouts, I pretty much knew then that I wanted her. She seemed committed and motivated in playing for us, so I decided to keep her. And I know her talent and her toughness.”

While the bottle-fed big names like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy continue to get five-star treatment as if they were the Ricky Schroeders of Silver Spoons, Tanaka quiets them all, on the field at least. But Tanaka knows that she must pay her dues, since this is WUSA’s inaugural season. This eight-team league features the best players from the U.S. World Cup championship team and top-flight international players. Undoubtedly, big names are needed for the league to survive.

“It’s really important to keep the fan base we already have and then hopefully grow from there,” Tanaka says. Tanaka, however doesn’t crave for the perks of what being a professional athlete can offer. She is just here to play.

“For women’s sports in general, it’s really important,” Tanaka says. “When I was growing up, the only thing to look forward to after college was to play on the National Team. So this is another outlet for girls to strive for. Plus, they have more role models now.”

Says Juarez: “I think this league has been a success so far this year. The women are putting on a great show, and the fans seem to want to come back.”

Though the Spirit is sitting on a mediocre record this year, 5-7-4, coach Juarez expects the team to grow as the season progresses. And Juarez believes Tanaka will do the same. After all, she’s just 24, and is one of the team leaders in minutes, and probably could already take home the award for the most contusions and raspberries.

“She is extremely tough, a good defender, a good tackler of the ball,” Juarez says. “She’s got all the qualities in a good defender. She has been our most consistent defender. She is also very versatile, where she can play on the outside and up the middle. We are just so pleased to have her on our team.”

Tanaka is currently out with a leg injury, but should be back in action in a heartbeat. But don’t expect from her modest statistics, a metamorphosis into some big-time offensive player. Count on her to do what she already has been doing — making WUSA offensive coaches reach for the Excedrine. And after a little sobering up, maybe those bar patrons will also take note.

Reach Ethen Lieser at elieser@asianweek.com.