Ok, ok… I must admit… these past few weeks I have been a total bandwagon jumper — my entire family, in fact.
[No, not for Bernie or the Donald… with all due respect, doubtful either of those will be happening anytime soon.]
We just couldn’t get enough of the 2015 American women’s World Cup team!!
Setting our days and schedules around each match, we found ourselves again huddled Sunday night, when the women won the cup, dominating reigning champion Japan, 5-2.
There were so many reasons to love this year’s team — starting, of course, with the women’s oh-so-cool, glow-in-the-dark, neon yellow socks…
There was first the obvious manifestation of perseverance and hard work — a lesson all students and athletes and young entrepreneurs can learn from. Note that World Cup qualifying began in April of 2013. Then — out of 134 teams — only 24 made the field. That means the athletes had to work hard, fight through adversity, and keep their eyes fixed on the prize… for over two years. I am struck by how that completely contrasts with current culture, which way too often embraces entitlement and instant gratification — equivalent to the total absence of perseverance and hard work.
The women also modeled how success is found in teamwork. Said arguably best by the Hope Solo, awarded the cup’s best goalkeeper, who has notably faced significant off field controversy: “As for my Golden Glove award, I’d like to dedicate it to my teammates and all the coaches that have stood by me all this time, in good times and bad, when I needed their support. It may be an individual award, but there are a lot of people who enabled me to be here holding this trophy today, which is the greatest moment of my career, and I thank them. I dedicate it to my coaches and my teammates, especially my defenders.”
[America’s team won this cup. How often in American do we forget we are a team?]
I also jumped on this enthusiastic bandwagon because I was attracted to what seemed to be just the right amount of pride laced within the accompanying patriotism… Too many proclaim themselves as “patriotic” but still shout insults at others. Too many scream at others and their flags. Too many from the left and the right adopt a sense of patriotism that excludes any opposing viewpoints on our team. Too many are too arrogant. My sense is that those “too many” don’t know what patriotism really is.
[How awesome, no doubt, it was to witness the women wave and wear the flag, running around the field, as the victory was sealed. ]
A few more random notes…
I loved the pomp and circumstance. I loved the national anthems. I loved the kids in the crowd and the creative, painted faces. I loved the respect and civility between the countries — between the players. I will not quickly forget soccer great, Homare Sawa — the 36 year old beloved icon in Japan, who found a way to smile and sincerely congratulate the American women even in her disappointing defeat.
And one more thing…
America loves a good hero. I think that’s why we too quickly fall prey to worshipping a candidate or celebrity; we’re always looking for that deserving hero — the one that’s “gotta be strong… gotta be fast… gotta be fresh from the fight.” And Sunday we found one. Amid this totally team game, captain Carli Lloyd emerged as the hungry, humble star. Lloyd scored 3 goals within 16 minutes. She scored one goal from approximately 60 yards away. She was the best player in the biggest moment on the biggest stage. And when her teammate, soccer legend Abby Wambach entered the game as a substitute in the 78th minute — playing in her last World Cup — Lloyd took off her captain’s armband, wrapping it instead around Wambach. The crowd swooned.
[Again, we all love a good hero.]
It was a fun month and a special, American team — one the bandwagon jumpers will always remember… such great reasons to love them…
[… did I mention the neon socks?]
Respectfully…
AR