As originally aired on The Rochester Press Box
I’m not a hardcore soccer fan. I know this because I’ve never suggested that someone didn’t understand the game. Or argued that soccer doesn’t need more scoring. Because it does. It’s obvious. I must not understand the game.
Still, I faithfully got up at 3am to watch the United States Women’s National team take on Portugal. And again, last Tuesday at 5am when it played Sweden. Those were last two games of the team’s unsuccessful defense of the Women’s World Cup. For a game without goals, the Sweden contest was pretty compelling. Dominated by the US only to lose in penalty kicks. A cruel form of execution. Megan Rapinoe missed one of those kicks. Also, a cruel end to a brilliant career.
It’s easy to forget that Rapinoe was once the best player on two World Cup championship teams. And that she set the ball to Abby Wambach in one of her most iconic moments with a World Cup goal scored twelve years ago to beat Brazil. Rapinoe represented us well on the field of play. These days that’s not enough. I took no pleasure in Team USA’s defeat. Others did. The women had become a lightning rod as social activists. Especially Rapinoe, who was ridiculed for losing by those openly rooting against her. This is where we are. Not even being able to agree on cheering for a team representing our own country. That alone seems worth taking a knee for.
Rapinoe unfortunately made it easy and almost fashionable to root against our own country. Glad she’s gone so we can concentrate on soccer, not politics.