USWNT

I find it interesting that when Carlos Cordeiro, President of the USSF, was being booed, Rapinoe stood up and praised and endorsed him...Rapinoe said of Cordiero:"I think he's with us...I think he's on the right side of things"...so it sounds like the USWNT is making serious progress which is both well deserved and great to hear.
 
Sport is fascinating to me because it is both a lens to view our society through, a mirror which reflects our ideas of who we think we are, and at times, the ultimate meritocracy in action. I've had to learn the hard way not to idolize my favorite athletes (musicians, artists, leaders, or anyone else for that matter) and to separate my admiration of their feats of greatness from assumptions about who they are as people. Sometimes the athletes you cheer for, because they wear a certain uniform or because they happen to have been born in a certain geography close to you, are not worthy of your admiration beyond what they do between the lines. At other times, you form a negative opinion about an athlete because of something they did or said publicly and decide to root against them with all the vitriol you can muster... only to find out later that they are in fact quite decent people who lead positive lives and have more in common with you than the ones you cheered for. Time and time again, when I meet someone who I've only previously been exposed to through television or social media or sound bites and highlight reels, I am reminded that you never really know them, so it is wise to with hold harsh judgement or lavish praise. In the end, all you can do is admire the results of their athletic prowess, their art and their performances for what they are, nothing more and nothing less. Megan Rapinoe has demonstrated her mastery of her sport and I admire that. The USWNT has been a sight to behold in terms of their competitive excellence despite the rising quality of women's soccer in the rest of the world. If I agree with their stances on any social or political views, I shouldn't grant them any more admiration for it, for I only know them as athletes on my TV screen. So that should not automatically grant them some sort of significance beyond the pitch. If I disagree with their views or public behavior or am turned off by their vulgarity, I'm not going to let that taint my enjoyment of their on-field product, because I've not walked in their shoes, and I don't know what demons they've battled, and I wasn't there. People who think highly of me have not seen me at my worst. The people who judge me at my worst have no idea what I've survived to be here. So, knowing how many challenges I've had in life as a white heterosexual male who grew up with great parents and enough money for food and shelter, I will just assume that most everyone else I've met in life has had to deal with at least as much and probably worse than I have, and respect the fact that I simply can't know. All I know definitively about any of these strangers on the national team is what they do on the pitch and I am grateful for their artistry.
 
Mystery Train said:
Sport is fascinating to me because it is both a lens to view our society through, a mirror which reflects our ideas of who we think we are, and at times, the ultimate meritocracy in action. I've had to learn the hard way not to idolize my favorite athletes (musicians, artists, leaders, or anyone else for that matter) and to separate my admiration of their feats of greatness from assumptions about who they are as people. Sometimes the athletes you cheer for, because they wear a certain uniform or because they happen to have been born in a certain geography close to you, are not worthy of your admiration beyond what they do between the lines. At other times, you form a negative opinion about an athlete because of something they did or said publicly and decide to root against them with all the vitriol you can muster... only to find out later that they are in fact quite decent people who lead positive lives and have more in common with you than the ones you cheered for. Time and time again, when I meet someone who I've only previously been exposed to through television or social media or sound bites and highlight reels, I am reminded that you never really know them, so it is wise to with hold harsh judgement or lavish praise. In the end, all you can do is admire the results of their athletic prowess, their art and their performances for what they are, nothing more and nothing less. Megan Rapinoe has demonstrated her mastery of her sport and I admire that. The USWNT has been a sight to behold in terms of their competitive excellence despite the rising quality of women's soccer in the rest of the world. If I agree with their stances on any social or political views, I shouldn't grant them any more admiration for it, for I only know them as athletes on my TV screen. So that should not automatically grant them some sort of significance beyond the pitch. If I disagree with their views or public behavior or am turned off by their vulgarity, I'm not going to let that taint my enjoyment of their on-field product, because I've not walked in their shoes, and I don't know what demons they've battled, and I wasn't there. People who think highly of me have not seen me at my worst. The people who judge me at my worst have no idea what I've survived to be here. So, knowing how many challenges I've had in life as a white heterosexual male who grew up with great parents and enough money for food and shelter, I will just assume that most everyone else I've met in life has had to deal with at least as much and probably worse than I have, and respect the fact that I simply can't know. All I know definitively about any of these strangers on the national team is what they do on the pitch and I am grateful for their artistry.
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And then Jim Bouton wrote Ball Four.
 
Mystery Train said:
I haven't read it and was too young to remember anything about it when it was released. Can you elaborate on the connection?
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He exposed the secret life of baseball players off the field. His second book, describing his experiences after Ball Four was published was titled "I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally".
 
My 26 and 24 year old boys don’t talk like that, at least that I have heard, they know better. To this day the still say it “the F-word”. Now 16 year old daughter has let it out in front on me from time to time. That’s the good thing about having boys, you can more easily “lay hands” on them.
 
Sheriff Joe said:
My 26 and 24 year old boys don’t talk like that, at least that I have heard, they know better. To this day the still say it “the F-word”. Now 16 year old daughter has let it out in front on me from time to time. That’s the good thing about having boys, you can more easily “lay hands” on them.
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Really?
 
Sheriff Joe said:
My 26 and 24 year old boys don’t talk like that, at least that I have heard, they know better. To this day the still say it “the F-word”. Now 16 year old daughter has let it out in front on me from time to time. That’s the good thing about having boys, you can more easily “lay hands” on them.
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How did you explain to your daughter that "grab'em by the pussy" is acceptable language from your favored Presidential candidate?
 
espola said:
How did you explain to your daughter that "grab'em by the pussy" is acceptable language from your favored Presidential candidate?
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Or " I did not have sexual relations with that women" from one of your favorite Presidents. But we all know that you're perfect E. Kinda like George Washington.. you never tell a lie.

Now what part of my post is sarcasm and what is not. I bet you know. I bet everyone knows.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine. His sister played on the WNT, won a few medals with them. Too bad you don't ride otherwise I would invite you along when we head out on our next pedal adventure, if anything just to see your expression when your lack of knowledge is exposed when it comes to the WNT.

You may think I have something against you personally but I don't. I just have something against liars in general.

Enjoy your weekend...
 
Multi Sport said:
Or " I did not have sexual relations with that women" from one of your favorite Presidents. But we all know that you're perfect E. Kinda like George Washington.. you never tell a lie.

Now what part of my post is sarcasm and what is not. I bet you know. I bet everyone knows.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine. His sister played on the WNT, won a few medals with them. Too bad you don't ride otherwise I would invite you along when we head out on our next pedal adventure, if anything just to see your expression when your lack of knowledge is exposed when it comes to the WNT.

You may think I have something against you personally but I don't. I just have something against liars in general.

Enjoy your weekend...
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I never voted for either Clinton.
 
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