Still Running Smoothly Milbrett Hawks Washers, Talks Soccer In Wake Of World Cup

Tiffeny Milbrett was in Spokane on Wednesday, hawking Maytag washers and dryers to the city’s soccer youth. Milbrett is a spokesman for Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, an environmentally conscious group that’s big on washing machines that use 40 percent less water and 60 percent less energy.

By the looks of her schedule, Milbrett still is running on 100 percent energy.

Ever since being a member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup championship team last summer, Milbrett’s world has been non-stop.

No, the diminutive striker was not one of the five women who took the penalty kicks that won the title against China. And yes, her jersey stayed on at all times. Milbrett’s worthy claim is that she led the team in goals with three during the Americans’ wild ride. Life hasn’t been quite the same for the Portland resident since July 10.

There’s been encounters with Mickey and Minnie, the Clintons, Al and Tipper Gore. “Good Morning America” and Letterman came calling for America’s heroes.

“That was pretty cool. He’s a pretty busy guy, but he’s pretty funny,” Milbrett said of her team’s guest spot on “Late Night with David Letterman.”

Naturally, soccer is not new to the former University of Portland star, who will turn 27 on Saturday. The spotlight still is kind of strange.

On Wednesday, Milbrett spent more than 2 hours at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex playing the role of star for 210 kids ages 4-12. It was the fifth stop on a five-city tour through Billings, Mont., Portland, Boise and Seattle.

Milbrett blocked goals, signed autographs and cheered on the next generation during a win-a-washer kicking contest.

“It’s weird, because just coming and doing these things, it’s like the kids ask, `What’s it like to be famous?”’ she said. “I ask them, `Well, do you think I’m famous?”’

Famous? Light years removed from “Hollywood celebrity status,” she said. But well-known and accomplished enough for companies to come calling. There’s been Nike, Naya bottled water, Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread, Energy Star qualified clothes washers and a workout/training devise. She said she also has a soccer toy in the works called soccer pal.

She hired an agent in the mid-‘90s, but described it as “being an apple in a place that dealt with oranges.” She’s now with Intersport, an agency based in Portland and Chicago. A plum catch indeed.

“This year has been almost as lucrative as all the past years combined,” she said.

The past years began in 1995 fresh out of college. Milbrett said she considered herself lucky. Her timing was perfect.

“Boom. We started becoming semi-professionals-slash-professionals. We were signed by a shoe company. And thing happened really fast for me.”

Milbrett played in a women’s league in Japan from 1995 to ‘97. She was on the World Cup ‘95 team and at the 96’ Atlanta Olympics, where her game-winning goal against China clinched the gold for the U.S. team. She said her spot on the 2000 Sydney Olympics team is “hers to lose.”

Through all her glory, Milbrett said she never considered stripping off her top, an act performed by teammate Brandi Chastain when her penalty kick clinched the 1999 World Cup.

“It’s something that I’ve never even thought of doing. But now that it has happened, I’m glad that it happened,” she said. “It’s absolutely no big deal. It was in incredible victorious moment.”

During the moment, Milbrett found herself away from the spotlight, but to no regret.

“I’ve been asked, `Do you wish you would have taken a PK?”’ she said. “At that time, no. I wouldn’t have wanted to take one. I was exhausted. I had played in every game and into the second OT. I felt completely exhausted and had no mental capacity to focus for a PK.

“I wasn’t going to be a right choice, even if I was on that field.”

Judging by Wednesday’s actions, Milbrett’s energy is back.