The following editorial, which appeared in the Oct. 16, 2000 issue of Soccer America, was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as the Best Column of 2000 in the Sixth annual NSCAA Writing Column. MY VIEW: Silver Lessons By MIKE WOITALLA… Behavior in defeat reveals more than conduct after victory. So Brandi Chastain’s on-field MSNBC interview moments after the U.S. women lost the gold medal gave the world an excellent chance to pass judgment on the woman whose shirt-shedding created the most lasting image of the Americans’ 1999 Women’s World Cup victory. Chastain hailed the quality of the game. She praised her teammates, including keeper Siri Mullinix, who appeared culpable on the golden goal. Chastain gave credit to the opponent, and, in response to a question about Dagny Mellgren’s handball before the winning goal, put it down to the kind of fortuitous bounce that so often decides games. Not only did Chastain — and Tiffeny Milbrett, who stood at her side — refrain from a single whine or pout, she smiled frequently and thanked the fans “at home” for their support. Mellgren’s handball could have set off righteous indignation from the Americans. How refreshing that it didn’t. Perhaps they remembered the break they got in Pasadena, when keeper Briana Scurry moved far off her line to save the Chinese penalty. (In Jere Longman’s book, “The Girls of Summer,” the Swiss referee Nicole Petignat admitted being influenced by the home crowd of 90,000.) And it’s quite likely that the U.S. women are intelligent enough to realize that, though they worked hard for their many successes, they’ve also had their share of advantages. Two of their three world titles came home soil. And support for women’s soccer in America — from a Federation that pays full-time salaries, sponsors that have flocked to these athletes and the college programs and youth clubs that have developed them — eclipses that of their opponents. Failure teaches more than success, and for the young sport of U.S. women’s soccer, which has such great aspirations, silver may prove more valuable than gold.