Santa Clara is pulling out all the stops in their effort to build public support to approve funding for a San Francisco 49ers stadium. That includes enlisting the help of a woman whose claim to fame is removing her top in public.
Brandi Chastain, best known for electrifying the sport of women's soccer by ripping off her top in the 1999 Women's World Cup, was included in a mailing sent to all Santa Clara voters detailing public figures who support the Santa Clara stadium effort. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Ms. Chastain's name was among more than 50 well-known individuals signing the letter of support.
I use the term "well-known" individuals pretty loosely. They're considering people like State Senator Elaine Alquist to be "well-known".
The Chronicle reports that the mailer "was supposed to be sent to the homes of every one of Santa Clara's 46,000 registered voters," and was funded by Santa Clarans for Economic Progress. A Santa Clarans for Economic Progress spokesperson admitted that the 49ers organization helped provide funding.
Photos of these public figures stating their supporting for the Santa Clara stadium were also inluded in the mailing. Odds are that the photo they used for Ms. Chastain was not this particular photo.
Ms. Chastain has also played for the San Jose CyberRays and collegiately with the Cal Golden Bears and Santa Clara Broncos.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who finds it fair and appropriate that people who remove their clothes in public are forever remembered for pretty much that and nothing else.
