U.S. WOMEN'S SOCCER TOUR A STRONG DRAW IN DC AND RALEIGH

          Saturday's stop of the U.S. women's national soccer
     team's Toys 'R' Us Victory Tour at the MCI Center in
     Washington, DC, drew 13,258 fans, making it the "second
     largest" crowd on the tour so far, according to Athelia
     Knight of the WASHINGTON POST.  U.S. Secretary of Health and
     Human Services Donna Shalala served as "honorary coach" of
     the U.S. team and "cheered on the American players from the
     bench" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/21).  Meanwhile, 13,121 attended
     yesterday's match in Raleigh, NC, marking the team's "only
     Southeastern appearance one of the best attended."  December
     dates on the tour include west coast stops in: Anaheim, San
     Jose, Tacoma, and Portland (NEWS & OBSERVER, 11/22).