Women’s World Cup 2019

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for the middle age man: were you equally offended by the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin after they won the Stanley Cup?

Yes his behavior did bother me (but not as much):

thought he was obnoxious and played the fool, and his drunken behavior was boorish, and I don't like he behaved like a champion either.

However, I wasn't as offended because he wasn't playing for national team (i.e. representing the U.S.) and he didn't try to make himself out to be some social justice warrior because he won an athletic championship.

To refresh your memory, during the Caps' Stanley Cup winning season, several players "got political" by, among other things, repeatedly speaking up in support of the national anthem protests and the social justice reasons behind the protest, several of them said BEFORE they won the Stanley Cup that they would not visit the White House if invited because, to quote some of the players, the president is "straight-up racist and sexist," and Ovechkin announced via his social media the creation of a social movement in support of Putin - he called it Putin Team - and then continued to pump "Putin Team" all season. Granted, Alex is Russian and was supporting the president of his country, but to do so while living in the US and playing in DC with all that was going on with Russia at that time was a very bold move and was getting very "political" when he did not need to do so.

That is to say nothing of the very public drunken behavior of the Caps as they partied day-and-night around Vegas and DC, including Ovechkin dropping the f-bomb during his speech after the victory parade, or a number of players (Holtby, Connolly, Smith-Pelly, etc.) actually skipping the White House visit.

I raise this, not because I was bothered by it (the opposite, I loved every minute of it), but to point out that a local team beloved by its fan base, and the casual fans that jumped on the bandwagon, did a LOT of the things that people are complaining about with respect to certain of the USWNT players. Yet I do not recall the uproar and all of these negative comments directed at Ovechkin, Holtby, Smith-Pelly, etc. for their actions or political stances.

So what makes these women different, other than the fact that they are women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for the middle age man: were you equally offended by the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin after they won the Stanley Cup?

Yes his behavior did bother me (but not as much):

thought he was obnoxious and played the fool, and his drunken behavior was boorish, and I don't like he behaved like a champion either.

However, I wasn't as offended because he wasn't playing for national team (i.e. representing the U.S.) and he didn't try to make himself out to be some social justice warrior because he won an athletic championship.

To refresh your memory, during the Caps' Stanley Cup winning season, several players "got political" by, among other things, repeatedly speaking up in support of the national anthem protests and the social justice reasons behind the protest, several of them said BEFORE they won the Stanley Cup that they would not visit the White House if invited because, to quote some of the players, the president is "straight-up racist and sexist," and Ovechkin announced via his social media the creation of a social movement in support of Putin - he called it Putin Team - and then continued to pump "Putin Team" all season. Granted, Alex is Russian and was supporting the president of his country, but to do so while living in the US and playing in DC with all that was going on with Russia at that time was a very bold move and was getting very "political" when he did not need to do so.

That is to say nothing of the very public drunken behavior of the Caps as they partied day-and-night around Vegas and DC, including Ovechkin dropping the f-bomb during his speech after the victory parade, or a number of players (Holtby, Connolly, Smith-Pelly, etc.) actually skipping the White House visit.

I raise this, not because I was bothered by it (the opposite, I loved every minute of it), but to point out that a local team beloved by its fan base, and the casual fans that jumped on the bandwagon, did a LOT of the things that people are complaining about with respect to certain of the USWNT players. Yet I do not recall the uproar and all of these negative comments directed at Ovechkin, Holtby, Smith-Pelly, etc. for their actions or political stances.

So what makes these women different, other than the fact that they are women?

Now it’s time for our anti-MR friend to claim it’s different because they’re a NATIONAL team. When really, as the article he posted makes clear, women and minorities should just shut up about injustice and be grateful for the scraps they’re thrown.

[Anonymous]

Because everyone knows that when a man does something great it’s because he worked hard and earned it. When a woman does something great it’s because men have given her an environment and opportunity to be great and she should realize how fortunate she is...or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do parents here find it acceptable that the women call each others "b-----", like the women apparently do? If so, is it ok for a man address a woman that way?

Also, do MR really think people will take her seriously when drops the F-bomb almost every time she had a mike in front of her they won?

I personally don't monitor the terms or phrases my kids use that closely, but I've always told them to be careful in the words they use, and direct words or terms at others that they wouldn't want directed back at them.

Also, if the US is so bad, that MR has to be forced to stand for the anthem and will not sing it (apparently again ever according to her), why would you play for that team? Why would you rep a uniform (country) that you believe treats so many so poorly?

If she really wanted to make a point, she would have made the team and resigned to show point. That's a sacrifice.

And yes, I'm a middle aged man --- I don't care about their sexual orientation, I don't care that they believe they are serious problems with this country, I don't care that they don't Trump or don't want to go to the White House, I don't care who they vote for, but I do think they could represent themselves and the country better, and show some humility.

You simply are not interested in knowing or understanding why she is protesting DURING the National Anthem. And no matter how many times you have been told that she or Kaepernick are not protesting the anthem but trying to raise awareness for social injustice. People like you who are so bothered by the protest need to hear the reasons the most but it’s simply lost on you.

And who the hell are you to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do during a song.

My comments above stand, but it shouldn't be a surprise that I don't like her not standing for the anthem --- I don't.
And, bad behavior is still bad behavior --- I notice you didn't address any of that.

As I stated, I'm fully willing to accept there issues that believe need addressing. But you stand for the anthem which represents the country that allows to have a voice and say what you believe --- even with all its warts. Others teams (countries) stood and sang (sometimes very emotionally) their anthems because of what it meant.

And what people like you don't understand is that I'm fully allow to have an opinion on other people's action, and the same freedom that allows them to take the action allows me to find it distasteful and inappropriate, and to state my position as well.

I completely agree with your last point that you are fully allowed to have an opinion on other's behaviors (such as some of the ones you mention above: not celebrating a championship with "humility," cursing in interviews or at victory parades, or protesting the national anthem by not singing it or by kneeling or raising a fist during it), and that you are also fully allowed to voice your opinion.

I would just hope that you have voiced your opposition to these behaviors when men engaged in these behaviors, because there are countless examples of NFL, college football, men's college basketball, NBA, NHL, etc. players taking political stands, supporting various social justice issues, supporting foreign governments opposed to the US (e.g., Ovechkin), cursing in public at victory parades, taunting opponents, not celebrating championships with "humility," etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for the middle age man: were you equally offended by the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin after they won the Stanley Cup?

Yes his behavior did bother me (but not as much):

thought he was obnoxious and played the fool, and his drunken behavior was boorish, and I don't like he behaved like a champion either.

However, I wasn't as offended because he wasn't playing for national team (i.e. representing the U.S.) and he didn't try to make himself out to be some social justice warrior because he won an athletic championship.

To refresh your memory, during the Caps' Stanley Cup winning season, several players "got political" by, among other things, repeatedly speaking up in support of the national anthem protests and the social justice reasons behind the protest, several of them said BEFORE they won the Stanley Cup that they would not visit the White House if invited because, to quote some of the players, the president is "straight-up racist and sexist," and Ovechkin announced via his social media the creation of a social movement in support of Putin - he called it Putin Team - and then continued to pump "Putin Team" all season. Granted, Alex is Russian and was supporting the president of his country, but to do so while living in the US and playing in DC with all that was going on with Russia at that time was a very bold move and was getting very "political" when he did not need to do so.

That is to say nothing of the very public drunken behavior of the Caps as they partied day-and-night around Vegas and DC, including Ovechkin dropping the f-bomb during his speech after the victory parade, or a number of players (Holtby, Connolly, Smith-Pelly, etc.) actually skipping the White House visit.

I raise this, not because I was bothered by it (the opposite, I loved every minute of it), but to point out that a local team beloved by its fan base, and the casual fans that jumped on the bandwagon, did a LOT of the things that people are complaining about with respect to certain of the USWNT players. Yet I do not recall the uproar and all of these negative comments directed at Ovechkin, Holtby, Smith-Pelly, etc. for their actions or political stances.

So what makes these women different, other than the fact that they are women?

Now it’s time for our anti-MR friend to claim it’s different because they’re a NATIONAL team. When really, as the article he posted makes clear, women and minorities should just shut up about injustice and be grateful for the scraps they’re thrown.

For those who lack reading comprehension, I've already indicated that I thought Ovechkin was a fool and his behavior was inappropriate.
Overall, I don't think Ovechkin is the sharpest tool in the shed to begin with and his behavior didn't surprise me, and for the Capital players running around public drunk --- I could without it.

Also, I previously indicated that nobody should have to go the White House ever for winning a championship if they don't want to. I don't have a problem with that. I fully understand that some people are so turned off by the President (present or past), they prefer not to go --- that's OK. That's a problem with an individual administration.

But, also as I stated later, I do expect more from a team that represents the country --- men or women. As a previous poster indicated, the US Mens Basketball team (circa 2000 and 2004), played poorly in the Olympics, lost, and behaved like jerks. Likewise, the US mens hockey team that trashed a dorm after losing the Olympics --- bad behavior, I expect more from. I might have posted some then but I wasn't aware of DCUM and this is a soccer forum, so sorry.

As Herb Brooks said "The name on the front of the jersey means a helluva lot more than the name on the back" --- goes for EVERYBODY who plays for national team.

But, please keep making this about men vs. women, straight vs. gay, young vs. old --- what divisions you can come up with to justify inappropriate behavior or explain why you are the oppressed class.

[Anonymous]

It’s a long-standing tradition with the Stanley Cup. Every player has a turn with it and parties with it, takes it on adventure. The analogies don’t work between the Caps and a US National team representing the country.

Now— what we tell my kids when they score goals is what Vince Lombardi famously said:

“When you go into the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.”

The takeaway is have humility. Be humble.

I don’t mind the partying/celebrating with teammates after it’s all over, but excessive on-field game displays and the f-bomb on every stage and the disrespect of the National anthem (I don’t care who is in the White House—I find the issues separate not the ideals of America and how it was founded).

[Anonymous]

I’d be more interested in Crystal Dunn or Jessica McDonald’s views of Kaepernick’s protest/racism/etc than a white person from the very white Pacific Northwest. But Rapinoe co-opts a cause for her own profile/popularity and it’s paying off fantastically for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be more interested in Crystal Dunn or Jessica McDonald’s views of Kaepernick’s protest/racism/etc than a white person from the very white Pacific Northwest. But Rapinoe co-opts a cause for her own profile/popularity and it’s paying off fantastically for her.

Just so we're clear, exactly which causes are white people from the very white PNW allowed to express opinions on?

And are Crystal, Jessica and Adrianna allowed to speak out on anything other than racial issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be more interested in Crystal Dunn or Jessica McDonald’s views of Kaepernick’s protest/racism/etc than a white person from the very white Pacific Northwest. But Rapinoe co-opts a cause for her own profile/popularity and it’s paying off fantastically for her.

So you would have been okay with them kneeling during the anthem then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s a badass because she scored the most goals and assists in the least amount of time played at the last World Cup, and had a key role on a team that made 3 straight World Cup finals, winning 2 of them, and an Olympic gold medal. The final that they lost and the olympics in which they were knocked out, were on pk shootouts. Be a role model to your kids so they don’t have to look up to her then if you dislike her so much, but you can’t really dispute her athletic achievements. It’s why she gets such a big platform. Sorry

+1. Badass is right! She's a rockstar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And are Crystal, Jessica and Adrianna allowed to speak out on anything other than racial issues?

Way to attempt to twist things around. They can speak out about whatever they want to, and their experience would likely make their opinions, on a host of subjects, a lot more interesting than Rapinoe or Morgan.

[Anonymous]

It must have been very difficult/traumatic for Rapinoe to have a sibling who was/is dealing with addiction to meth and heroin. Then to have him join a white nationalist gang while being incarcerated, I cannot imagine. I’m glad to hear he is turning his life around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And are Crystal, Jessica and Adrianna allowed to speak out on anything other than racial issues?

Way to attempt to twist things around. They can speak out about whatever they want to, and their experience would likely make their opinions, on a host of subjects, a lot more interesting than Rapinoe or Morgan.

So only those in a persecuted minority should care or voice concern about inequality in those groups? That way we ensure nothing gets better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s a badass because she scored the most goals and assists in the least amount of time played at the last World Cup, and had a key role on a team that made 3 straight World Cup finals, winning 2 of them, and an Olympic gold medal. The final that they lost and the olympics in which they were knocked out, were on pk shootouts. Be a role model to your kids so they don’t have to look up to her then if you dislike her so much, but you can’t really dispute her athletic achievements. It’s why she gets such a big platform. Sorry

+1. Badass is right! She's a rockstar.

+2. Just showed my daughter the penalty from Sunday's game, and she loved it. Hoping seeing women like those on the US team inspire a bit of interest in playing soccer (she currently says she'd play, but only boys play at school during recess).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a long-standing tradition with the Stanley Cup. Every player has a turn with it and parties with it, takes it on adventure. The analogies don’t work between the Caps and a US National team representing the country.

Now— what we tell my kids when they score goals is what Vince Lombardi famously said:

“When you go into the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.”

The takeaway is have humility. Be humble.

I don’t mind the partying/celebrating with teammates after it’s all over, but excessive on-field game displays and the f-bomb on every stage and the disrespect of the National anthem (I don’t care who is in the White House—I find the issues separate not the ideals of America and how it was founded).

+1