Mark Madden

Mark Madden

The Super Genius of Pittsburgh Sports.Full Bio

 

GOOD PROTEST, BAD TIMING

Megan Rapinoe of the U.S. women's national soccer team isn't singing the national anthem before women's World Cup games. The rest of her team is. Rapinoe isn't.

I'm surprised anybody bothers to watch that closely.

Rapinoe is gay. She's protesting discrimination and, she says, saying "F you" to President Donald Trump. She previously took a knee during the playing of the anthem.

I understand the idea of using a big platform to protest. Our country was founded on protest.

But I'm not a big fan of what Rapinoe is doing. 

I question the notion of protesting your country while representing it. She's wearing a U.S. kit, not a San Francisco 49ers uniform.

I question the wisdom of starting this conversation while you're trying to win a second straight World Cup. Don't trigger a distraction.

I question inviting Trump into the mix. Ask the NFL about that.

Win the World Cup first. Protest on the medal stand, like Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics. They already had their medals.

I appreciate the protest. I question the timing. It's just not real smart.

On the other hand...

Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images.


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