Polarizing is OK if you win. If you don't it's very damaging. The athletes should consider, though, that a national team exists to unite people.
OT: Alexi Lalas on USWNT
- Thread starter newell138
- Start date
Nothing Alexi said was wrong. People do feel the team is polarizing - mostly Rapinoe. When you are the best you have a platform, and that is when you need to stand up for what you believe. Whether you agree or not with their stance is irrelevant, they have the stage and used it the way they wanted to. Now, if they crumble into mediocrity then maybe no one listens. We will have to see if that happens. I do find it ironic that some of the most "patiotic" people I know were rooting for the USA to lose. Besides Rapinoe, please let me know who else is so polarizing that you would root against your own country.
They had a massive head start and advantages no other country provided their women. And they still have an advantage but it’s less. The Spanish girls were focused on winning. The US *women weren’t. And got smoked because of it. Expect the beatings to continue.
Rapinoe was the face of the team even though she sucks now. Her divisive schtick only works of you are winning. She dropped the gold ball that was left to her.
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I have been watching the World Track and Field Championships all week and its so refreshing to see the US athletes competing at the highest level and every single one of them says how proud they are to represent their families, the people supporting them and their country. There is a reason the uniform says USA. I haven't seen one touch of anger or bitterness from any of the athletes including the ones that failed to make it out of the heats.
It just makes it more fun to watch IMO. The girl who won the discus last night barely made the US team and on her 2nd to last throw had a personal best by almost 15 feet to win by a few inches! Thats unheard of! Both her and the 2nd place US girl who had victory snatched from her by a miracle throw were so happy and gracious to each other. No one wants to watch and root for an angry player or one who comes across that she is mad to be playing for her country.
Disagree that she is the face of the team any longer.
Someone does need to step up and take a leadership role, maybe that is Horan, as she seems to be the most likely, but there was a lack of leadership on this team.
I still don't get hating on the whole team because the dislike of one player.
Geeze.. OP link is just more a case of "How dare you state the obvious!"
It does not matter if Lalas is a liberal or a conservative or a moderate. What he said is true.. period. If they wear the national team jersey then they should so some pride in that and not reject half the nation's support for them.
Maybe if Rapinoe said.. Lals is wrong.. we did not SUCK because of using our platform to promote social change.. we lost because... XXX... maybe she'd have an argument. But they did not match the intensity of the other teams even if they had more talent. Why?
They had a decent showing vs Sweden but Sweden did not play in the championship either. If they had played every game like that but just lost vs Sweden the same way I don't think they'd get teh same amount of criticism. They seemed unfocused and uninspired until Sweden and it just was not enough.
I think Rapinoe was put on the team this time BECAUSE of her desire to use "her platform".. when it is not "her" platform. It is the United States' platform. The United States fields the national team.
Get rid of all the players and coaches most interested in using their platform to elevate their social profile. Pick the best players who dreamed of the honor of representing their nation in the World Cup and Olympics.
This same thing is happening in the business world as well.. Disney for example, has employees guiding them to wokeville and huge losses. Bud Light.. same thing. Why?
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She had the most endorsements and was in front of the camera more than any other player. She was the face of the team.
Very few of the girls were likeable. See them preening before games like they were models or watch the national anthem. Plus they stink. Worst team we've ever had.
Hate? I see more disgust.
It’s kind of what I followed up with when talking about the comments on search engines and not the articles themselves. Big cross section of folks saying basically the same things. Not just one side.
Megan Rapinoe, is dragging the USWNT down the drain blue hair and all. MR has been absolutley toxic to the USWNT brand. She should be booted from the team and never allow a self important media ***** to ever infect the USWNT again.
Or maybe they had some untimely injuries pre-WC, the roster was too old and the since-dismissed coach sucked. Probably a bunch of things you can consider or discuss before even bringing up this topic.
Their commercial was laughable now. And Rapinoe being a centerpiece of it even more so.
OK now you lost me. "Preening before games". And the national anthem thing is ridiculous, when did it become a prerequisite to sing the national anthem. I watch plenty of sports - professional and amatuer and I can tell you almost all athletes do not sing the national anthem or place their hand over their heart. Most just have their hands by their sides.
Who said it was a prerequisite? You can stand there and look like you are in pain when your anthem is playing, but it doesn't mean people have to like you. If you didn't see the difference between these scabs and the other nations when they were shown, you aren't paying attention.
Look at the images of them before games acting like they are good looking models. Look at the images of them after squeaking out of the first round like they accomplished something.
You are pissing into the wind on this one. They aren't likeable. And they suck. It's the worst of both worlds. If you are going to act like a bunch of pricks, you better win.
Look at the images of them before games acting like they are good looking models. Look at the images of them after squeaking out of the first round like they accomplished something.
You are pissing into the wind on this one. They aren't likeable. And they suck. It's the worst of both worlds. If you are going to act like a bunch of pricks, you better win.
I think its a little different when it comes to a national team vs a professional team. You are specifically representing your country and wearing a uniform that says USA, so yea, you should do something more than just standing there when the anthem comes on, at the very least put your hand on your heart.
The current coach who isn’t getting renewed was a terrible choice.
He was chosen because this team of players, especially the senior players, wanted him.
They didn’t want Jill Ellis’ right hand man, who is now coaching Australia, because he was a “hard ***” and they didn’t like Ellis or Him.
Soft, entitled, not hungry.
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I agree.. it was visibly shocking the different between, say Portugal or Sweden players when their anthem was playing and our players. Some of ours looked "in the moment" singing.. feeling. Others looked "checked out".
Now, the counterargument to this is that they played with intensity vs Sweden despite the blase anything performance. But I still think it had meaning and not in a good way or even in a heartfelt protest way.. I think the attitude harmed the team.