-Audre Lorde
A U.S. Soccer Star’s Declaration of Independence - NY Times
LYON, France — The latest attempt at a women’s professional soccer league in the United States begins this weekend, so the stars of the American team at the London Olympics have, for the most part, returned to preaching the gospel stateside. Abby Wambach, the powerful striker, is with a team in Rochester; Alex Morgan, the pixieish, pink-headband-wearing poster girl, is in Portland, Ore.; and Hope Solo, the mercurial goalkeeper and “Dancing With the Stars” alumna, would be in Seattle if she was not recovering from a wrist injury.But Megan Rapinoe is not with them. In truth, this is not unusual: she has always been the different one. She plays a position (midfielder) that is more about making others look good. She has never had an endorsement deal with a skin care line (Solo) nor a desire to pose in body paint (Morgan). And she is, after a matter-of-fact announcement last summer, one of the few prominent athletes to come out as gay while in the prime of her career.
Great article, I suggest reading the full thing!
![fuckyeahmpinoe:
us-wnt:
#THINGS I WILL ALWAYS LIKE AND ADMIRE AND BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT: #PINOE COMING OUT WHEN AND HOW SHE DID #AND CALLING IT ”A WEIGHT OFF [HER] SHOULDERS” #AND THEN PLAYING THE TOURNAMENT OF HER LIFE #AND THEN CRYING WHILE WRAPPED IN AN AMERICAN FLAG AFTER WINNING GOLD #BC IDK IF I COULD BE SO PROUD TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T SUPPORT MY RIGHTS #AND I ADMIRE THAT SHE DOES AND IS SO HAPPY ABOUT IT AND PROUD OF IT #JUST :’) #SOMETIMES I AM JUST WILDLY FOND OF PINOE AND THAT DAY IS TODAY OK
That day is every day.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/d650593efa135aa3b92a5af213ca16b4/tumblr_mjwsxtv1iY1qzechoo1_500.png)
#THINGS I WILL ALWAYS LIKE AND ADMIRE AND BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT: #PINOE COMING OUT WHEN AND HOW SHE DID #AND CALLING IT ”A WEIGHT OFF [HER] SHOULDERS” #AND THEN PLAYING THE TOURNAMENT OF HER LIFE #AND THEN CRYING WHILE WRAPPED IN AN AMERICAN FLAG AFTER WINNING GOLD #BC IDK IF I COULD BE SO PROUD TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T SUPPORT MY RIGHTS #AND I ADMIRE THAT SHE DOES AND IS SO HAPPY ABOUT IT AND PROUD OF IT #JUST :’) #SOMETIMES I AM JUST WILDLY FOND OF PINOE AND THAT DAY IS TODAY OK
That day is every day.
@alexmorgan13: .@ashlyn_harris don’t leave your stuff out or this is what happens.. @mpinoe just got in camp and taking over already http://t.co/P5eSQECb
Oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways …
![notsoanon:
Megan Rapinoe returns to Redding to share her Olympic glory [x]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8wbhvo5621rvuad3o1_500.jpg)
Hey girl.
dang
I am so happy that the US won. My heart is just exploding all over the place for Pinoe. For working so hard to go from riding the bench to being a key playmaker. For taking the risks of being publicly out in a judgmental world. For giving no fucks about anything. For wearing her heart on her sleeve. For making such a huge impact to get them on the podium.
YOU DESERVE THIS, PINOE. YOU FUCKIN’ DESERVE THIS.
Teammates: U.S. Olympic women’s soccer (Megan Rapinoe answers questions about her teammates)
BEST DRESSER: “Lauren Cheney. She is the style queen. Anytime I need a new trend, I just follow what Lauren’s doing.”
DIVA: “Carli Lloyd. She’s a Jersey diva, a soccer junkie with a New Jersey attitude.”
WORST DRESSER: “Nicole Barnhart. She wears joggers and trainers all the time. She could mix it up.”
MOST TRANSFORMED: “Alex Morgan. She’s the baby horse turned stallion.”
LONGEST IN THE MIRROR: “Hope Solo. She’s always in a mirror.”
WORST PRACTICE PLAYER: “Me. I like big games. Who doesn’t? They’re so much easier to get up for than practice. I struggle. I’m not going through the motions, but I need to really focus to be in it at training.”
FIRST INTO THE GYM, LAST OUT: “Rachel Buehler. She is the stretch queen. She’s got it all. The BOSU board, the rolling mechanisms. She struggles to recover. Or maybe she just puts more time into it than all of us.”
LAST INTO THE GYM, FIRST OUT: “Sydney Leroux. She’s a young kid. She’s just having fun, but she will develop a lot more.”
BIGGEST EATER: “Abby Wambach. She puts the mountains of plates together and just takes it down.”
LEAST CAFFEINATED: “Amy LePeilbet. She’s just so chill.”
TOUGHEST: “Shannon Boxx. She’s tough as nails. She is the heart of our midfield, makes these crazy tackles and always come out with the ball.”GOOFIEST: “Heather O’Reilly. She comes up with the funniest stuff. She’s not afraid to laugh at herself. Or to laugh at everyone else.”
MOST SENTIMENTAL: “Heather Mitts. This has been like the trip of lasts. It’s her last go-round, so it’s been like, ‘Mitsy, this is your last first night. It’s your last first ice bath. Your last first bus ride.’”
BOOKWORM: “Becky Sauerbrunn. She always has her nose in a book. Always reading.”
SURF BUM: “Kelly O’Hara. She was just talking to the Nike rep here about getting a new wetsuit. She’s been on her computer watching the U.S. Open.”
BEST SLEEPER: “Tobin Heath. She’s so chill. She’s practically sleeping when she’s awake.”
CAPTAIN AMERICA: “Christine Rampone. She is unbelievable. She has two kids, is 37 years old and is the fittest on our team. She is our rock back there.”
QUICKEST WIT: “Amy Rodriguez. She’s not outspoken, but she comes up with the wittiest stuff super-fast.”