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Home » Blogs » Sarah Warn's blog » The New York Times blogs about out soccer player Natasha Kai

The New York Times blogs about out soccer player Natasha Kai

by
Sarah Warn

The New York Times Soccer Blog features a post today about out soccer player Natasha Kai, in a post entitled "Natasha Kai is Always Looking for More Ink."

The Olympic gold medallist is currently playing for Sky Blue, New Jersey's team in the first season of the Women's Professional Soccer league, which is attempting to bring women's pro soccer back to the U.S. after the demise of the Women's United Soccer Association in 2003.

Kai's "unique style and extraordinary flair attracts eyes on and off the field," writes Times blogger Abigail LePeilbet, speculating that the public's fascination with Kai may also be attributed to the fact that she "rolls around in a large pick-up truck, has a strong Hawaiian accent and is covered with body art."

And then there's the fact that she's openly gay/bisexual (she spoke publicly about her ex-girlfriend leading up to the Olympics), but the post doesn't mention that.

LePeilbet gives a little background on Kai:

The Kahuku, Hawaii, native has been attracting attention since earning her first cap for the United States women’s senior national team early in 2006 — becoming the only woman from Hawaii to pull on a United States jersey. Two years later, Kai and the American team earned gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she scored the game-winning goal in extra time in a quarterfinal match against Canada, sending the American team into the medal round. Now she is playing an integral role for Sky Blue in the inaugural season of Women’s Professional Soccer.

And she goes into detail about Natasha's many tattoos:

Kai has quickly become one of the most recognizable female soccer players in the world and recently raised that profile (if that is possible!) with an appearance on the TLC (The Learning Channel) network show “LA Ink,” with her club and national team compatriot, and New Jersey native Christie Rampone. The tattoo artist, Kat Von D, gave Kai her only soccer-related tattoo.

For more about her tattoos, and her performance so far with Sky Blue (she recently scored the league's second-fastest goal), read the blog post at the Times.

But first, here's a look at Kai playing for Sky Blue:

And some cool photos from a recent promotional photoshoot for the league:

You can see more photos of Natasha at Sky Blue's official site, where you can also find game dates and ticket info.

Thanks to AE reader MeL for the tip!

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    • Submitted by
    Sarah Warn
    on June 5, 2009 - 7:18pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Soccergirl1023's picture

    KAI (Kicking-Ass-Internationally)

    Submitted by
    Soccergirl1023 (55 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 7:43pm.

    KAI (Kicking-Ass-Internationally)= one of her quotes on her myspace.

    Natasha is definately one of my soccer heroes, she is a fascinating player. I actually got her autograph when she came to Chicago to play against Ireland! hehe but anyway, im not surprised shes on the blog, shes amazing! i think her tats are pretty cool, it suits her for sure and all of them have meaining, its pretty sweet.

     

    "Appreciate the moment, the most precious treasure in earth is My heart, when i share it with You, protect it as if it was your own." Kai's tattoo! ;)

     

    Katie's picture

    *guh* Natasha Kai is

    Submitted by
    Katie (218 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 7:43pm.

    *guh*

    Natasha Kai is awesome. that's all i can say right about now :-D

     

    "Sometimes when i get homesick i hum the mr softee song"

    "I’m not saying we’re not...I’m not saying we’re not in love."

    knite's picture

    OMG

    Submitted by
    knite (11 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 8:00pm.
    She is in New Jersey!! WAT!! and she plays right by me! i am so in there, i love her and her tattoos. She is an awesome player.
    Katie's picture

    holy.... i totally missed

    Submitted by
    Katie (218 posts)
    on June 9, 2009 - 4:25pm.

    holy.... i totally missed that. YAY FOR LIVING IN NJ!!!!!!!

     

    "Sometimes when i get homesick i hum the mr softee song"

    "I’m not saying we’re not...I’m not saying we’re not in love."

    melrobertson's picture

    Will be talking to KAI soon...

    Submitted by
    melrobertson (48 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 8:01pm.

    as Nat&Meg, Nikki Caster (Cherry Bomb) and I start working on our soccer movie!  I'm SOOOO glad to see the wps is making headlines again.  these women have struggled so much and I'm so excited to write my/their story...with a lil' help from some kick ass soccer babes like the three above...

    Stay tuned ya'll!  Women's soccer's gonna be on top again and powerful, proud women like Kai are going to be leading the pack.  

     

    xo M

    heroinefilms@gmail.com

    I'm a followable twit @mel_robertson

    FEED Season 2 AIRS June 5, 2009 on AfterEllen! 
    Get caught up on Season 1 here and at www.feedseries.tv

     

     

     

     

    Mallory's picture

    420

    Submitted by
    Mallory (19 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 8:33pm.
    ha i like how in the first pic her sweatband has 420 on it ;P
    Triscut's picture

    420

    Submitted by
    Triscut (24 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 8:49pm.

    She wasn't quite wearing '420' it actually was the three numbers '4 20 12', 4 is for Cat Whitehill, 20 for Abby Wambach and 12 for Leslie Osborne. They all missed the Olympics through injury.

    :-)

    -Triscut

    Mallory's picture

    haha oh

    Submitted by
    Mallory (19 posts)
    on June 13, 2009 - 5:31pm.
    well i don't follow soccer
    Lunakiss's picture

    Those Are Real Cool Pics of Kai

    Submitted by
    Lunakiss (2083 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 8:54pm.

    I love those last three pics. Her tats rock!

    Ty Rock's picture

    Le sigh

    Submitted by
    Ty Rock (97 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 9:01pm.

    I missed seeing her when they were in town to play Chicago and I haven't forgiven myself for that lil snafu. The woman is talented and hot!

    ------------------------------------------

    http://thequeerafrican.blogspot.com/

    Queer Africans say aye!

    pecola's picture

    I <3 Natasha Kai

    Submitted by
    pecola (1504 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 10:23pm.

    Can't believe I missed the Times' blog post on her--thanks for bringing it to our attention, Sarah. 

    I've been following Kai's career since the '96 Olympics and I adore her--she's a great forward and an even better teammate (the way she supports her team when she's not on the field really should be emulated by every would-be athlete).

    On her Sky Blue off-the-field profile, there's this:

    Q: If there were one adjective to describe you, what would it be?
    A: "Sexy"

    Definitely don't disagree with that answer...she's hot.  

    ---

    Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong. - Theodore Roosevelt

    Odd Monkey's picture

    "Sexy" comment

    Submitted by
    Odd Monkey (44 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 10:57pm.

    Gawd, she's sooooo conceited...

    yet oh so rightfully so. haha gotta love her. she's awesome. ;)

    shortypants's picture

    Kai>>

    Submitted by
    shortypants (500 posts)
    on June 7, 2009 - 3:24pm.

    Yeah, she sounded completely full of herself in that quote but you know what? It ain't braggin' when it's true!

    Good googely moo that chick is smokin'!

    Michie87's picture

    Drop dead gorgeous!!!

    Submitted by
    Michie87 (619 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 11:14pm.

    Kai and Wambach two of the hawtest players in the USA team!!!. I cant frigging wait for the feminine FIFA world cup in 2011, WHy oh WHy must we wait soooo long?! -faints-

    ---------------------------------------------------------

     

    Let it Rock,Let it roll

    Kah's picture

    Thanks for posting

    Submitted by
    Kah (118 posts)
    on June 7, 2009 - 7:26pm.
    Kai is talented player & has really helped out the WNT. However she hasn't been called up lately for national team duty. I hope she continues to kick ass.
    honey's picture

    HOT! :)

    Submitted by
    honey (449 posts)
    on June 5, 2009 - 11:38pm.

    HOT! :)

    SongCollectionist's picture

    Natasha kai

    Submitted by
    SongCollectionist (1417 posts)
    on June 6, 2009 - 12:08am.

    Is awesome, super talented! I love abby, hope and carli aswell....damn I love the whole team they are my heroes and true inspiration. Overall, soccer is a great sport and it boggels my mind that the U.S has not embraced it enough, specially womens' league.

    annie's picture

    The most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

    Submitted by
    annie (8 posts)
    on June 6, 2009 - 2:17am.

    Why am I gay?

    Just look at her

     

    This is the hottest woman I have ever seen on this site. Thanks Afterellen!

     

    More like this in the future please

     

     

    Steph's picture

    Natasha!

    Submitted by
    Steph (209 posts)
    on June 6, 2009 - 3:28am.

    ...YAY! :D

    --- 

    www.stephsoutinkl.blogspot.com

    Madelene's picture

    Image

    Submitted by
    Madelene (180 posts)
    on June 6, 2009 - 4:47am.

    I feel like the "image Kai" is bigger than the footballer Kai...

    That her image with all the tattoos and the "cocky" attitude don´t reflect her game. To be honest she´s not that good of a player. She is good but not at all in the same "league" as Wambach and Prinz for one example. I don´t mind that a player is "cocky" but then he/she also have to live up to that reputation. And Kai hasn´t done that.

    Ash's picture

    I don't know soccer...

    Submitted by
    Ash (5 posts)
    on June 6, 2009 - 10:22am.

    I don't know soccer, or any sport actually. I do however know she is hot. Not my type of girl, but still hot. 

     

     

    In the reality of many realities, how we see what we see, affects the quality of our reality- John Trudell

    Adam sanchez's picture

    Definitely some good

    Submitted by
    Adam sanchez (1 post)
    on June 25, 2009 - 12:21pm.
    Definitely some good looking girls playing football or soccer which ever you want to call it. Best of all their not buying steroids like some other athletes in other sports.
    Kah's picture

    you're right

    Submitted by
    Kah (118 posts)
    on June 7, 2009 - 7:25pm.
    I think you're right. She is pretty much all about the image. Saw her play today @ the sky blue v Athletica game and was not impressed.
    Melissa Hsu's picture

    Nat'l Match

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on June 6, 2009 - 10:38am.
    Going July 19th up in Rochester, NY to watch the USA Nat'l team play Canada....soooo freakin psyched!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Esp is Kai gets to play in it  :)  Anyone else going by any chance????
    ShayShay :)'s picture

    Natasha Kai

    Submitted by
    ShayShay :) (10 posts)
    on June 6, 2009 - 11:50am.

    Shes an AMAZING player.

    With some pretty fit tattoo's too.

    :)

     

     

    "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

    ltownballa422's picture

    i so love kai she is the

    Submitted by
    ltownballa422 (15 posts)
    on June 7, 2009 - 12:24am.
    i so love kai she is the reason i watch soccer at all her tatts are awesome and i will tell the truth i stole one of mine from her cant wait to go to a game this summer
    Wicked1's picture

    Oh, i loooooove Natasha Kai.

    Submitted by
    Wicked1 (75 posts)
    on June 7, 2009 - 1:42am.
    Oh, i loooooove Natasha Kai. She is so *sigh*, those tattoos, that body=Mmm. I didn't even know she was a lesbian until like a few months ago. She very intense when she plays, i like that.
    Melissa Hsu's picture

    nice pics

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on June 7, 2009 - 1:11pm.

    incredibly talented, but not really performing at the highest level day to day yet.

    one of my favorites to watch regardless, but i am definitely looking forward to the day that her game catches up to her mouth.

    liz's picture

    oh my gosh, she is amazing!

    Submitted by
    liz (23 posts)
    on June 7, 2009 - 5:05pm.
    oh my gosh, she is amazing! I absolutely love Natasha Kai. She is such a great player, she reads the game soo well. Not to mention, she is hella hot! I want to marry her. Always wanted a soccer wife. haha.
    Melissa Hsu's picture

    i wud love to kno this

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on June 8, 2009 - 2:13am.

    i wud love to kno this girl! her personality seems hott...really!

    jo's picture

    oh man!

    Submitted by
    jo (3 posts)
    on June 9, 2009 - 12:19am.

    she is just way too cool.

    watching her play in the olympics was awesome! 

    i love her :)

    Damaris's picture

    omg

    Submitted by
    Damaris (111 posts)
    on June 9, 2009 - 9:13pm.

    Hahah oh i love the 4 20 head band hahahah

    stee's picture

    Not exactly

    Submitted by
    stee (110 posts)
    on June 9, 2009 - 11:17pm.
    She wore the headband during the Olympics to honor injured team mates. Cat Whitehill (i think) wears #4 and Abby Wambach wears #20.  But I didnt notice that during the olympics... it's pretty funny!
    pecola's picture

    #12

    Submitted by
    pecola (1504 posts)
    on June 10, 2009 - 12:28pm.

    There's also a #12 on the headband for Leslie Osborne. 

    ---

    Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong. - Theodore Roosevelt


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