Immigration and Fake News and insults and racism and lies and low IQs and the wall and socialism and Republicans and Democrats and …
Thank you, soccer. For smacking America’s tribal fragmentation right in the kisser.
If only for one, glorious moment.
As our country grows more divided by the tweet and talk show – trending toward a deep, dangerous divide last seen during the Civil War – we received a much-needed respite Sunday, courtesy of sports. As our soccer team beat The Netherlands to win the women’s World Cup, we weren’t liberals or conservatives but, instead, just plain ol’, red-white-and-blue-blooded Americans.
Around the DFW Metroplex sports bars and restaurants used the time usually reserved for church services to open early for soccer fun and fellowship. With political affiliations and agendas set aside, folks who regularly go at each other’s throats put down their swords and pens and instead hugged and high-fived in the name of “U – S – A! U – S – A!”
For one of the few, fleeting mornings since 9/11, we truly were the United States of America.
Even if it proves no more than a Band-Aid on a broken leg, it was just what the doctor ordered. Desperate for a reminder of what we have common more than a reload of what divides us, USA 2, Netherlands 0 mainlined a couple of perfect doses of “us” that coursed through our veins and hit the bulls-eye of our psyche.
Fittingly, it wasn’t easy.
The Dutch flustered the U.S. women for most of 60 minutes, thwarting relentless attacks with strong, organized defense and an array of spectacular saves by goalie Sari van Veenendaal. The Americans were clearly the better side, and it eventually paid off with a penalty kick by Megan Rapinoe and a goal from Rose Lavelle eight minutes later.
Yes, the victory in Lyon, France, was a win on multiple levels:
• For the sport of soccer, which presented almost 60,000 fans and a world-wide TV audience with a high-quality match between two of the planet’s best teams.
• For the U.S. Women’s National Team, which punctuated its dynasty with a second straight World Cup title and an appearance in a third consecutive final. The Americans were dominant and mostly untested throughout the two weeks, never trailing, setting a tournament record for goals scored and outscoring their seven opponents, 26-3. There have been eight women’s World Cup finals. The U.S. has played in five of them.
• For American women, who continue to ride a wave of respect and momentum fueled, in part, by last year’s #MeToo movement. The victory comes at an especially strategically sweet time, as the current U.S. team in March sued its own soccer federation for gender discrimination and pay inequity.
In the match’s waning moments, U.S. fans in France began chanting, “Equal pay! Equal pay!” Molly Levinson, spokeswoman for the women’s players who filed the lawsuit, said in a statement after the victory: “This moment of tremendous pride for America, the sad equation remains all too clear and Americans won’t stand for it anymore. These athletes generate more revenue and garner higher TV ratings but get paid less simply because they are women. It is time for the Federation to correct this disparity once and for all.”
The hope is that another high-profile victory in the middle of summer’s slow sports headlines will also push the National Women’s Soccer League, which has struggled to draw fans and offer salaries above $25,000 per year. There are more females these days refereeing professional sports. San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is on track to be the first woman head coach of a pro sports team. And at last count there were six women running for President.
“Your hope is that back in the U.S., more kids want to go out and play this great sport,” said U.S. head coach Jill Ellis. “I mean, that’s ultimately the building block you build on. My hope is that more people get on board financially. You know, sponsors, they see the value in it. They see the marketing marketability of it, and then more little kids want to go and kick a ball around.”
But mostly, the success was a reminder of what America can accomplish when it pulls the same rope in the same direction. The team shrugged off criticisms about running up the score and over-celebrating in its romp over Thailand. Rapinoe absorbed the barbs after a Twitter spat with Donald Trump, and went on to win the tournament’s Golden Boot (most goals scored) and Golden Ball (Most Valuable Player) awards.
“I am made for this. I love it,” she said after Sunday’s triumph. “To be able to couple it with everything off the field and to back up those words with performances, it’s just incredible. I feel like this team is changing the world around us.”
Next is Wednesday’s parade in New York City and then, in all likelihood, a return to our biased bunkers. There will be disparate viewpoints about members of the team potentially declining an invitation to visit The White House and a butting of political heads and …
At least for one morning – and in the wake of America’s birthday – we were all on the same side.