I am Compromised

I am not particularly proud to say that I am tolerant of the US Women’s National (soccer) Team performing poorly at the World Cup, barely making it out of group stage play to the knockout round of 16. And it appears that they may face Sweden in the first knockout game, a team that has been their nemesis on the Olympic stage, and the only team internationally that has tarnished an otherwise sterling record of victories. But they’ve brought this on themselves. Years of incessant whining about equal pay as compared to the less successful men’s team, followed by the outspoken star forward Megan Rapinoe seemingly leading the charge into leftist politics including national anthem displays of solidarity for Colin Kaepernick that featured kneeling, and stony-faced refusal to place their hands over their hearts or sing the national anthem. Putting on your “game face” is one thing, but when representing your country, an honor, and a privilege, you should demonstrate national pride and patriotism when on the international stage. Rant and rave all you want at home but don't tarnish your country's international reputation when abroad. Witness the men’s game where grown men at the apex of competing in the world’s most popular sport bawl their eyes out and sing their anthems at the top of their lungs before putting their bodies on the line for World Cup glory. Moving. Our women should give it a go. Instead, they appear arrogant, disrespectful of their opponents and of those that came before them, and more interested in financial gain and virtue signaling. Even their promotional advertising makes them look cocky, when in fact this team has aging stars in Rapinoe and Morgan and a slew of talented but as of yet, untested younger players.  And the rest of the world is catching up. Quickly. They barely escaped a loss with a 1-1 tie with the Netherlands where they were clearly outplayed, and they narrowly tied Portugal when they were saved from a loss by the width of a goalpost, winning their only group stage game against hapless Vietnam where they were unable to convert on multiple chances. And then the display of dancing and celebrating after the tie…..the tie!….. with Portugal sent them into the next round. Retired players were not impressed and the media did not give them glowing reviews. Read the room. Perhaps they will get the message that humility will win them more fans and this fascination with monetary gain and woke, LGBTQ ideology is not what soccer fans are looking for. And Rapinoe is a fading star who has moved into the realm of scoring less on the field and is more concerned with scoring points for political causes. Like when she came out in support of biological men competing in women’s sports even after they were thrashed by the Dallas Texas boys under-15 team in a scrimmage. They can't distance themselves from that. Rapinoe is an unlikable figurehead despite her glorification on the cover of TIME magazine. She is not winning you, followers. Alas, they may pull it together, as they have in the past, and there might be some magic left in the veterans to rise to the occasion. Hopefully, by then they can figure out how to play better on the field as well as play to their audience. Until then, I for one will remain on the sidelines.