In a statement nobody was clamoring for, U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe said she will “probably never sing the national anthem again.”
Rapinoe had joined NFL anti-patriot Colin Kaepernick in his protests of the anthem back in 2016, becoming the first white athlete to kneel in disrespect to our military and veterans. She claimed at the time her protest was “a little nod” to the unemployed quarterback.
As the women’s team preps to defend their World Cup title in France next month, Rapinoe conducted a wide-ranging interview with Yahoo Sports, recalling the backlash she received for her actions.
“Using this blanketed patriotism as a defense against what the protest actually is was pretty cowardly,” she said. “I think the NFL does it.”
Blanketed patriotism. No, Ms. Rapinoe, it’s called taking one minute to honor the greatest nation on the planet. It’s called taking three hours to do your job and play the sport you excel at, without making it a political circus. Then – then – you get to protest whatever grievances you think you have.
Soccer’s Megan Rapinoe says she may never sing national anthem again https://t.co/615e4m2fBT @MailOnline
— carol gibbs (@1962cg) May 14, 2019
“I’ll probably never put my hand over my heart,” Rapinoe defiantly crowed. “I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again.”
Boo hoo.
Not Happy With U.S. Soccer
Rapinoe reveals that she’s very dismayed with the reaction U.S. Soccer had to her little protest. By all measures, her attempts at kneeling were an utter failure.
First, opposing teams changed up their pre-game routine and prevented the soccer star from engaging in her protest.
“We decided to play the anthem in our stadium ahead of schedule rather than subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent,” the Washington Spirit said in a statement at the time.
Second, the US Soccer Federation declared that no one playing on a national team would be able to disrespect the anthem any longer.
Because of that, Rapinoe is bitter. She expected support from the team, and instead they pointed out why her actions are juvenile and unprofessional.
“I felt like the statement from U.S. Soccer, and then the rule they made without ever talking to me, that was the same as what the NFL was doing – just to not have the conversation, to try to just stop me from doing what I’m doing instead of at least having a conversation, and trying to figure out a [solution] that makes sense for everyone,” Rapinoe said.
It’s unclear why she believes a move designed to draw attention to herself only, meant U.S. Soccer had to clear their new rules with her. They do what’s best for the team, they don’t coddle singular attention whores.
Now she’s so distraught she’ll never sing the anthem again, but she’s certainly willing to play a sad song on the world’s smallest violin.
