Dear Ms. Coulter...
Imagine my surprise when I open up FB and see a trending article about your opinion that "Any growing interest in soccer can only be a sign of the nation’s moral decay- and it's a liberal mom's sport". Maybe it's because I'm coming off a World Cup high or maybe it's because I'm about to spend my 40th Birthday at a soccer field this weekend, Happily I might add, that I decided to respond. You see, sometimes I agree with you... and sometimes I think you're everything that is wrong with America. Men and women who wield opinions from behind desks and their computer or TV cameras, spewing venom that divides us just for ratings or a paycheck, sicken me. Without stepping out into the real world, and knowing how it really is for the rest of America when politicians screw up and celebrities preach about causes they know nothing about, yet have the audacity to say you know what we think, feel, and need, is laughable at best. Don't worry though, I feel the same way about Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi to so you're in good company...or not. You decide.
So with that in mind, let me help you out and give you some insight into the world of soccer from a dedicated and kick ass soccer mom, and a registered Republican... gasp!
I grew up playing Softball and Basketball. Those were my sports and I did well playing and coaching. I have to say, I rarely watch either anymore because of the scandal and reality shows that come out of both camps, not to mention steroids and I can't stand the egos who seem to get paid big money for a skill that is entertainment. Growing up, my generation reserved soccer for some PE fun because it really wasn't something that we played seriously during school and it never really clicked or mattered to me, I would bet it was the same for you. Oh yes, I watched Mia Hamm and the greatness that was the WNT win the World Cup for the first time, (WNT-that's women's national team for you) and I watched the men make it in the 1994 World Cup final 16 when no one said we could. I cheered and felt inspired but soccer never was more to me until l had kids. As they grew and got older, they decided to follow their dad into his chosen sport and all 3 now play soccer. All at various levels with the older helping the younger develop skills, some for the fun of it and the love of it, and one because she has a dream of an Olympic medal around her neck and hearing an anthem play. They play with kids of all levels and nationalities, because soccer is after all as you less then graciously pointed out, a world sport. Currently, the fastest growing American sport (because I'm at the fields seeing the kids and not because of the NY Times) these kids from all walks of life and cultures embrace the cultures of their friends while sharing what's important to them as well and frankly just enjoy being kids without someone labeling it. You mention in your piece, that "Individual achievement is not a big factor in soccer. In a real sport, players fumble passes, throw bricks and drop fly balls -- all in front of a crowd. When baseball players strike out, they're standing alone at the plate. But there's also individual glory in home runs, touchdowns and slam-dunks. In soccer, the blame is dispersed and almost no one scores anyway. There are no heroes, no losers, no accountability, and no child's fragile self-esteem is bruised." Since I'm the one in the car on the rides home, let me just stop you there and tell you how wrong you are, if you doubt me come on out to the field and educate yourself. There have been silent car rides, excited car rides, and car rides where I didn't have enough tissue. When my daughter was 10 she watched the US women play the World Cup and a local college match. She came home saying she didn't know women could play like that and she wanted more then just the fun games from the local soccer league. I told her that if she put in the time and hard work, I would do whatever I could to help her but if she stopped, I did to. She tried out and made what we soccer mom's know as "club", which should really be called work your ass off and cry team because it's all about brutal honesty and hard work, not everyone plays and there is no let's hug it out. She came in to club much further behind in skill then her teammates and was benched for the majority of her second tournament with the team because her coach didn't think she was good enough. Now most kids in America would have cried and made their parents fix it, not her... she got mad, and then she became determined that no coach would EVER determine her worth again, she would. I can't think of a better lesson for a kid to learn, especially a young girl. While the rest of the team took 2 weeks off, she worked her rear off with a fantastic Canadian college student that was a godsend to her and served not only as her coach, but as her sister, inspiration, and critic. She spent the next 2 years working twice as hard and practicing twice as long as anyone on her team to catch up and make a difference. When friends would call, she would say no sorry... I have soccer. She determined on her own that she loved the Keeper position, (you know, the one in the net that's either the hero or the loser and where you're standing alone with one or two strikers bearing down on you and making a split decision on which way you have to go to save the day... either making the save or standing alone because the ball just got by you and you were the last line of defense...hmmm sounds like a real sport to me based on your odd criteria.), and she focused there. Our keeper left and she stepped into the role. I sat on the sidelines before the very first game and listened to parents whisper about how we were going to get killed because our keeper was gone. No one had faith. Until 30 seconds in when she made the first of about 13 saves that day and left all the naysayers with a hanging jaw. She earned that- in every bit of blood, sweat, tears, hard work, and extra time that she put in... and she took a lot of criticism and a lot of lumps to get there, but she never gave up and she is still as determined today as she was then. I don't know what you find unAmerican or immoral about that because to me that exemplifies who we are as a nation and reminds us of our never quit attitude. If only more of our youth would put down the video games and follow that example...but wait, they are. As America's fastest growing sport, more and more kids are embracing the Beautiful Game, and realizing that it's much more fun because of all of it's unpredictable moments then our own National past times. My Daughter and her team have earned every win and loss in the games since. They work hard as a team, knowing that it takes every one of them (11 in case you didn't know) to get a win and that they all have their job to do, much like every other American "real" sport, and if one of them doesn't do their job, they will fail. There is tactic and skill involved far beyond what you clearly comprehend setting behind your computer. I'd even go so far to say that it's so complicated that you can't comprehend it and we all know what people do to things they don't understand. I've seen girls play sick because there wasn't a sub, I've seen them play injured, and I've seen them take tough hits that I don't think adults would get back up from, and yet they do get back up and keep going because they love that game and the girls on the field with them so much, they have to be dragged off by their coach before they give up. Again, sounds pretty American to me. Not every game for my daughters team was memorable, some they would rather forget, and I have to admit that fall season was a disaster because the team didn't have what they needed, someone who was tough, dedicated, believed in them, and told them what they needed to hear to succeed...the truth Once they found that, they excelled...much like a nation would under good men and women who actually govern for The People. I have to admit I get a kick out of you knocking soccer because " It's foreign." I guess this is where I remind you that we're a nation built on foreign, as my Native American relatives can attest to. It's ironic that you want to reject something because the rest of the world plays it, when really shouldn't we be looking at what unites us instead of what divides us as a nation and as a race, yet you love to point the finger at the President and his politics of division and us vs them when it comes to rich vs poor, and his other lists. Tsk Tsk Ann, tiny bit hypocritical don't you think. Today I sat in a restaurant full of people of all ages, beliefs, and colors, I watched them leave the division at the door and cheer for one nation and one team. I watched Navy SEALS and stay at home mom's post about US pride and cheer on a team that represents a nation that needs good men giving a good example...and if you doubt they're there, google Tim Howard or read the article about how the US team should learn to dive to draw fouls like the rest of the world, but don't because it's not in our nature to be unfair and to win by anything less than hard work and skill. That's something to celebrate and be proud of. Not tear down. I guess if you felt you needed to jump on the soccer bandwagon to get more traffic to your site using keywords, you could have dug deeper and focused on other meaningful stories within the sport. Maybe the US Women and how even in their success internationally, a lot of the women playing professional soccer in this country and across the world are also working another job just to live, now there would be something meaningful for you to talk about... how to raise interest in women's sports without having to shorten their shorts and make them play in tank tops...but you didn't. Sadly.
Just for laughs and because I can't sleep, let's address some of your other points.
"Baseball and basketball present a constant threat of personal disgrace. In hockey, there are three or four fights a game -- and it's not a stroll on beach to be on ice with a puck flying around at 100 miles per hour. After a football game, ambulances carry off the wounded. After a soccer game, every player gets a ribbon and a juice box." Oh Ann... clearly you haven't been to Europe or Providence Park... the Timber Army could teach you so so much. Not to mention the only ribbons my kids have EARNED have been after 5 grueling games in a 3 day period where they worked hard and beat their bodies to exhaustion for the title- Champion. How about you suit up and give it a go. I have a pair of cleats that should fit. Can you keep up with 14 year old athletes?
"You can't use your hands in soccer. (Thus eliminating the danger of having to catch a fly ball.) What sets man apart from the lesser beasts, besides a soul, is that we have opposable thumbs. Our hands can hold things. Here's a great idea: Let's create a game where you're not allowed to use them!" Hmm... and yet you just use your mouth for your job, maybe since using one body part is apparently bad you do something with the rest of yours and show us how it ought to be done. I've seen every body part used in soccer and do more good for a nation then one of your interviews...way to knock that in Dempsey! Ann may need a few lessons and it would also help enlighten her about her point 6. ;)
"One group of sports fans with whom soccer is not "catching on" at all, is African-Americans. They remain distinctly unimpressed by the fact that the French like it." lol. Have you seen our national team or any of the others?! A whole beautiful kaleidoscope of colors and nationalities there. Research is your friend. Really.
"In soccer, the women's games are as thrilling as the men's." Well you got that part right at least. GO Thorns!!
"I promise you: No American whose great-grandfather was born here is watching soccer. One can only hope that, in addition to learning English, these new Americans will drop their soccer fetish with time." Of course they are... because most of us came from Europe to begin with!! How do you think it got here in the first place?! It may not have been on the Mayflower but it did come through Ellis Island!
Such a fun read Ann, really. These days there isn't much that gets a rise out of me enough to actually write a response. I mean I laughed and rolled my eyes more times than I did at the last State of the Union and that's saying a lot. At the end of the day, this I know for sure... soccer is here to stay and generations of American kids will be playing it weather you like it or not or deem it moral decay. I mean really, you couldn't find a more pressing matter to talk about that better fit that little trendy title? Why will it be here, well because we soccer moms and dads on both sides of the political spectrum see the things that matter and are raising generations that have seen Beckham, Messi, Donovan, Howard, and so so many more play in moments that electrified and inspired them. They have seen Morgan, Rampone, Wombach, and Leroux further break through barriers for women that Hamm and the players of her time started and it's inspired young women to keep reaching...and we have seen what it does to teach our kids to be better moral people, and to excel. What I am most proud of, regardless of your opinion, or anyone else's is what I see in my children as a result of the sport... that through soccer my kids have learned first hand about teamwork, disappointments, that life isn't fair and even when you should win sometimes you don't. One minute you're a hero and one minute a bad pass or a mistake you made just cost the team a game, but there will be another one tomorrow so fix it and be ready for success because of that failure and what you learned from it. They've learned you have to work hard to achieve what you want and to make big goals, and then chase them. They've learned that sometimes you hurt and you're tired and you just can't take one more thing, but you get up anyway and go again. Most importantly they've learned that the work you put in is directly related to your success and skill and that only through that comes the reward. Sounds pretty darn American to me even if it is a sport that originated in China or Europe a thousand or so years ago. Frankly Ann if that's immoral, I'll take it and hang out with the sinners while you and the rest of the "saints" keep flapping your mouths about things you will never hope to understand, and that is what Americans really are.
Sincerely, A Proud Conservative Soccer Mom.
