Three road playoff games … three tough opponents … three wins … one championship. If this scenario reminds you of the 2008 New York Giants, you're not mistaken. However, in this case, I'm referring to a team in its first year of existence, a team that struggled throughout the season, and a team that needed its opponent in the championship game to win its final game of the regular season just to get in to the playoffs.

Sky Blue FC of Women's Professional Soccer just wrapped up what will probably go down as one of the biggest Cinderella stories in the history of American professional sports, winning a championship after two coaching changes, roster tune-ups and the normal hardships that come with competing at a top level.

At the beginning of the season, Sky Blue was expected to lose, as pundits examined the league's rosters and schedules. After seven games, Sky Blue had one win, and the first coach was on his way out.

The next coach led to some much-needed victories and an improvement in the standings, but as she suddenly resigned, the team was losing momentum and needed something drastic to turn its season around. Team members turned to their leader, Christie Rampone, who was also the starting defender and captain of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Rampone accepted the challenge and led the team to four wins in five matches (including the playoffs) to claim the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer Championship. Her lineup switches and creative substitutions took advantage of her players' strengths and led to creative offensive possessions and stifling defensive pressure. In addition to playing, coaching, captaining, leading and defending, Rampone also was pregnant while competing in the playoffs, a true testament to her ability to juggle several responsibilities and still focus on winning.

I spent this summer interning for Sky Blue and have not only learned a great deal about the sports-business industry, I, a declared critic of the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), also learned that women's sports can be just as, if not more, exciting, than the men's game. The smell of fresh-cut grass, the roar of the crowd and the intense display on the field — there's a reason why soccer is the No. 1 sport in the world.

As an avid soccer fan, I thought I would enjoy myself while learning more about what it takes to compete in an extremely competitive and difficult market. I never imagined that I would love Sky Blue as much as I now do or how invested I would become in its roster and results.

I came into this opportunity thinking to myself, "I know Mia Hamm was first-rate and all, but how good could female soccer players really be?" I soon learned that they deserve all the accolades they receive and probably even more. They play a full 90-minute game, just like the men, on a large field, the same size as the men's, and they are just as physical, tactical and knowledgeable.

I have been impressed with their abilities on the field but even more so with their interactions with their fans. After all games, fans line up and down the field for autographs, and I have never seen a fan leave empty-handed; usually, they need help carrying all their goodies home. The players' wonderful personalities make the league what it is, connecting them with the fans and the game itself.

While this season is over, next summer will provide a new opportunity for Sky Blue to defend its hard-earned title in front of their great fans at Yurcak Field. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

This summer has been a very important one for the future of my career, as I have learned a lot about the sports industry from all the members of Sky Blue. In addition, the team's ability to come together through adversity to persevere and win has taught me the value of teamwork, belief and leadership, lessons I will use in the future.

I have definitely learned that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
Doron Tamari
East Brunswick