Yes, Rapinoe got way out of line when she dragged her personal politics onto the field. She is not the only athlete who has done this; she's just a copycat. But it's bad form. Keep politics off the field. Different sports have managed this in different ways. Football has probably done the worst job, but that's another story. In the case of the USWNT, to judge from external signs, it certainly looks like Rapinoe got a dressing down when she took a knee. She has dialed it back. She now stands for the national anthem, looking miserable but keeping her mouth shut. Let it ride.
I have no inside information on this, but my guess is that sensible people on the team and in U.S. Soccer came down pretty hard. Soccer is likely to become the first sport in which a women's professional league will establish itself on a viable, non-subsidized basis. Two earlier women's professional leagues folded but the NWSL seems to be holding its own. A couple of the franchises are quite successful, though most play to very small crowds. National Team players get a big bump from that, but most NWSL players are paid a pittance.
To put this in context, the NWSL team salary cap is $421,500, calculated on the basis of a minimum of 20 players on the roster. If spread over 20 players, that's an average of $21,075. The league minimum salary is $16,538. The league maximum salary is $46,200.
Again, the National Team players have a separate and much higher income stream, but regular NWSL players are are like the baseball and football players of ancient days. They're in it for the love of the game. A lot of teams even provide housing; they find responsible couples with big houses and spare bedrooms to host a player during the season. (It's not as odd as it might sound; most of us probably know people who have hosted foreign college students, and very much enjoyed the experience. Hosting a young lady soccer pro who is just a year or three or five out of college is probably very similar.) The players either work off-season jobs or go abroad to play in foreign leagues whose seasons don't overlap with the NWSL.
We'll have to see how the numbers work out as time goes on, but the point is, Rapinoe was creating a divisive distraction in a league that can't afford that kind of nonsense. I think she got told that, big time. She also tore an ACL before the last World Cup, and she was probably the only person who thought she'd come back from that at her advanced age. I suspect she was told she'd be out of the league if she didn't tone it down.
U.S. Soccer does need to get off the Rainbow Flag bandwagon. The BLTQXYZ crowd is pushing all major institutions to make homage, and in women's sports, I'm sure there's an extra push coming from gay players. The men's team has sported rainbow colors as well; this isn't just a women's team issue. But sports generally, including soccer, should firmly draw the line, as should corporations, universities, etc. But that's a separate argument.
U.S. women's soccer is trying to build a fan base. They do some smart marketing. Look at the former players who are doing the commentary on tv. They are a very impressive group of now middle-aged women. (And just about all of them are married with children, which is probably very self-conscious marketing by U.S. Soccer.)
And please read the entire story of Jaelene Hinkle and US soccer if you want to see who you are cheering for.. She is a devout Christian who dared to stand up to Jill Ellis ('married' lesbian with accessory daughter) and US soccer forcing deviancy down our throats and more importantly, the throats of American youth. I read soccer threads on other sites and you know what has become a problem in girl's youth club soccer? Girls dating teammates. Wonderful, huh?
Well Jaelene Hinkle has been exiled from US soccer. And if you read the story with wide open eyes, you will realize it is because she is a true believer in Jesus Christ.
That is where US soccer is and that is who you are cheering for.
For the Chile game, she did stand for the anthem...No, she did not frown that time. I think most fans, like you, have moved on...How to explain the good ratings for games? I myself have not moved on yet...I am not yet supporting USWNT 100% like I did before...
Two earlier women's professional leagues folded but the NWSL seems to be holding its own. A couple of the franchises are quite successful, though most play to very small crowds. National Team players get a big bump from that, but most NWSL players are paid a pittance.
I went to several WPS games many years ago...LA had a WPS team for just one year. I have not been to any NWSL game...There is no NWSL club in CA. FOX announcers mention NWSL frequently when talking about which club players belong to. I am sure that most American viewers have no idea what NWSL is...I am not sure if they even care what that NWSL is. Many Americans are watching WWC to see how Team USA is playing...Many of them are not women's soccer fans. I just don't see NWSL seeing some attendance boost because of this World Cup...
U.S. Soccer does need to get off the Rainbow Flag bandwagon. The BLTQXYZ crowd is pushing all major institutions to make homage, and in women's sports, I'm sure there's an extra push coming from gay players. The men's team has sported rainbow colors as well; this isn't just a women's team issue.
I wish that US Soccer would do that also...But, I really don't see that happening. Does the Federation get letters from parents who complain about promotion of homosexuality? Maybe the Federation ignores those letters... About USMNT...Robbie Rogers did play for the team several times. He announced that he was homosexual many years ago...He even played for LA Galaxy. No, I never heard of him protesting national anthem...
U.S. women's soccer is trying to build a fan base. They do some smart marketing. Look at the former players who are doing the commentary on tv.
Cat Whitehill is doing commentary on FOX...She is very religious. She was on USWNT.