After I woke up Thursday morning, I flipped on Sportscenter and was treated to a nice, sentimental piece on retiring women’s soccer superstar Mia Hamm.

The piece praised Hamm as one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, on a level with Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali.

Hamm played in her final match Wednesday night, and her retirement caused a surprising reaction in me.

None.

Now before going any further, I am not going to force anyone to read a column about how “dumb” women’s sports are or how they aren’t as “good.”

I am actually a fan of women’s sports. Two semesters at two different schools of covering women’s volleyball turned me into a big fan of the exciting sport.

That being said, I felt some of the praise thrown upon Hamm was excessive.

I was particularly troubled by the evocation of Jordan and Ali’s names.

You can’t compare her to Ali because of the public’s passion towards him. Whether or not people loved or hated Ali, they cared, and Hamm just doesn’t have this effect on people.

Hamm, while the all-time leading scorer in international women’s play, is not in Jordan’s league when it comes to defining moments. With Jordan, you have countless game-winners to choose from, his dunk contest performances and timeless moments like the shoulder shrug after hitting his sixth three-pointer against Portland. These moments defined the NBA during the 1980s and 1990s.

The most defining moment from Hamm’s tenure on the U.S. national team came when her squad captured the 1999 Women’s World Cup on American soil.

However, the first thing that pops into my head about that moment has nothing to do with Hamm. That moment belongs to Brandi Chastain and her sports bra. Hamm doesn’t show up in my second memory from that team, either. Goalie Brianna Scurry saving a penalty kick is the second most vivid memory from that event.

Anyway, my point is, these are the defining moments from an era that supposedly belonged to her, and other players are the ones I remember.

Now, I know it could be argued that Hamm is the type of superstar who consistently puts her teammates ahead of herself.

I agree.

And yes, Hamm did pave the way for a lot of female athletes to reap the rewards of endorsements.

But is she really one of the greatest American athletes of all-time?

Nope.

She is the best female soccer player to have ever played, but she isn’t the best soccer player to have played (Pele`).

You could argue that she is this generation’s most important female athlete. I’d say Serena Williams.

History should look kindly on Hamm’s career, her achievements and her contributions to a growing sport.

However, history would be wrong to look at Hamm’s career to be on par with Jordan’s and Ali’s.

Dan Woike, a senior journalism major, is the sports editor at The Daily Eastern News. He really doesn’t hate women’s sports. Email him at [email protected] and ask him to discuss the N.Y. Liberty’s offense in contrast to the Seattle Storm’s.