Let me start by saying that I’m the kind of person who says, “I don’t like sports balls,” whenever someone starts talking about sports, but there is something about the United States women’s national soccer team that has me screaming, and for a good reason: They’re incredible. The Golden Boot winner of this year’s World Cup, Megan Rapinoe instantly became an icon to many for her skill and her willingness to talk about the sport over whatever politics people want to throw at her.
Time and time again, the team is asked about visiting the White House and with each new question comes a new sound bite that I will play on a loop for the rest of time as each member of the World Cup winning team has said they’re not going to the White House. I can hear Donald Trump seething from here.
BREAKING: Megan Rapinoe says she and every teammate she’s spoken to will not be going to the White House: “I would not go and every teammate that I’ve talked to specifically about it would not go.” pic.twitter.com/czLK0eHWpq
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 10, 2019
I will say, my mom had a beautiful thing to say about the team’s refusal to go: Just because Trump is in a position of power doesn’t mean that he instantly deserves respect.
It’s like when an adult is being rude and derogatory towards a kid. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you automatically get their respect, even if you’re an ass. So, outside of Rapinoe continually calling out her problems with the president (and in a polite and amazing way, too), she has continued to make us proud.
Today, at the Ticker Tape Parade in New York City in honor of their victory, Rapinoe was a beacon of swag and dignity, and just represented what we all love about her and more. So, of course, we all shared our love of the Golden Boot winner on Twitter.
.@mPinoe’s swag is LIMITLESS. pic.twitter.com/cOUTbei5lI
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 10, 2019
Megan Rapinoe: “Just shoutout to the teammates… We’re chillin’. We’ve got tea sippin’. We’ve got celebrations. We have pink hair and purple hair. We have tattoos and dreadlocks. We’ve got white girls and black girls, and everything in between. Straight girls and gay girls. Hey!” pic.twitter.com/GvxvZULhiu
— CNN International (@cnni) July 10, 2019
Among lots of good stuff from Megan Rapinoe in parade speech, she gave vote of confidence to US Soccer prez Carlos Cordeiro. I agree. Have gotten to know him over past year. He’s a good, smart man. Said “together we can get this done.” I believe him. @USWNT @HeraldSports #uswnt
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) July 10, 2019
Rapinoe just delivered that speech off the cuff. Pretty incredible.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 10, 2019
Megan Rapinoe’s proof that you can play for your country without being owned by it. You can keep your voice.
And she’s not going to the ‘kin White House.— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) July 7, 2019
Is Megan Rapinoe perfect? No, because we’re all human beings, and I feel like she’d yell at me if I called her perfect, and that’s what makes her so amazing. Nothing but respect for MY Golden Boot winner!
(image: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)
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