The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and the Morning Headlines
In the opening game of Olympic competition, the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team lost to Norway: 2 - 0. The morning headlines are full of doom and gloom. Articles question whether the National Team has the right coach, whether the residency training program is the worth the money, whether the right personnel are on the team, whether personality issues are at the heart of the team’s problems and on and on and on.
It is the blaming. It is looking for reasons for the loss; and it is searching for individuals to blame. It is bemoaning the fall of dominance of the U.S. women.
It is ridiculous.
A majority of these reports makes one wonder if some of these writers have every watched a complete soccer match. And, if they did watch a match, did they know what they were watching?
In the game against Norway, there were two quick goals. This changed the complexion of the match completely. For example, with a two goal lead in the early four minutes, Norway was able to take less risks on offense and mark the ball differently on defense. It is not, as some writers contend, that the American women have no offense. The game is played differently with a two goal lead.
The search for individual blame further belies a shallow understanding of the game. It is not that the skills of veteran players have left them. This is soccer on one of the game’s biggest stages. It is understandable that there are some jitters in the opening moments. One team took advantage. That’s why they play the game.
It is unfortunate that some of these reporters approach the sport in this manner. It is poor journalism. These are athletes who have made enormous personal sacrifices to be part of this team. The same reporters who are predicting doom and gloom will be the same ones who will be the first to jump back on the bandwagon, when the team is winning. Unfortunately, it will be the same shoddy shallow reporting.
These women will win and lose as a team. Each and every one of them is a world class athlete. It is simply wrong to dismiss this group of athletes because these were a few shaky moments in the opening game of the Olympics. The loss to Norway can make them a better team. These Olympic Games are far from over for this team.
Catherine Forsythe
Tags: Beijing Olympics, blame, journalism, Norway, soccer, U.S. National Team, writers
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