Cheers over U.S. women’s soccer defeat highlight unfortunate divisions | Opinion

I did not set an alarm in the wee predawn hours Sunday to watch the U.S. women’s team’s World Cup match against Sweden. But I cared enough to set the DVR to learn of their fate, aided by the gift of fast-forward, which paid dividends through a full game and extra time with zero scoring.

As the two sides prepared for the suddenly eventful prospect of penalty kicks, I wondered how many Americans were rooting for them to survive and how many wished for their defeat.

What a dreadful question to ponder, and the disillusioning answer came fast.

Megan Rapinoe’s missed kick was not the only miscue that spelled defeat for the Americans, but it was the moment that attracted instant attention. As the Swedes celebrated our defeat on the pitch in Australia, they were joined by a vocal cohort of Americans here at home, embracing the loss as a righteous consequence for poisoning the usually unifying world of sport with needless political divisions.

How did we get to this place? What can make Americans actively wish for defeat for our nation in an international competition?

The roots might lie with an athlete committing to a lifetime of disrespect for the country she supposedly represents. That was Rapinoe in 2019, pledging to perpetuate her choices to never sing her country’s anthem or place her hand over her heart in deference to its tradition.

A perusal of various athletic sidelines can easily find plenty of athletes without hands on their hearts or the anthem’s lyrics on their lips. But they seem absorbed with game-related thoughts rather than a specific desire to throw shade at America. That is precisely Rapinoe’s wish, whether in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick on issues in years past, or out of current frustration with the portions of America choosing not to adhere to the LGBTQ agenda.

Like all public figures, athletes have every right to share political views and navigate the reactions as they please. But the decision to turn those passions into contempt for America did not work well for kneeling NFL players, who have since found other ways to express themselves on policing and other issues.

Rapinoe surely has plenty of political company among modern athletes. But as the Women’s World Cup approached, she was asked if she would welcome transgender athletes onto the U.S. Women’s Soccer team.

“Absolutely,” she replied without hesitation, identifying any discordant view as “transphobic.”

This is how you get Americans to cheer your shanked penalty kick.

That was not my view as the Americans lost and social media erupted with pockets of delight at their comeuppance. I always want America to do well in global sports exploits, even if its representatives hold views I reject. My wish is to compartmentalize — to share disagreements while celebrating victories won by people wearing the uniform of my country.

But I understand those who choose differently. On her show last week, Megyn Kelly referred to that very uniform and the obligation it brings. “They donned the uniforms of the United States of America, but they refused to honor anything we stand for and therefore, I am thrilled they lost,” she announced. “Good. I’m glad you went down. You don’t support America, I don’t support you. And I know I’m not alone.”

Indeed she is not. So what does it mean to “support America?” It does not require the adoption of any particular political view, or the muzzling of any individual cause. To many, it means subjugating personal agendas to occasional moments of patriotic obligation. America contains people of every racial, ideological and sexual designation. It is not unfair to expect those representing our country to avoid berating it.

On matters of currently roiling debate like the constant gender battles, one might refrain from labeling millions of Americans as bigots for hesitating to welcome men onto women’s teams, a prospect that gets mixed reactions even in liberal circles.

Megan Rapinoe’s views were not echoed across the entire roster. A few of her teammates actually sang the national anthem before games. But hers was the accepted face of the team, so hers was the errant foot that sparked a wholly predictable reaction.

This is all so unnecessary. I believe America should cheer without conflict for any team that wears our colors. But I also believe those teams and individual athletes should curb the graceless self-absorption that can make such cheering impossible.

This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM.