Flashback: Humble Victory of US Women's Hockey Team Speaks Volumes About Their Character

By G.S. Hair July 17, 2019 at 2:01pm

The U.S. Women’s Soccer team has been in many, many headlines for many, many reasons. And only a few of those were related to soccer.

From insulting President Donald Trump to making the victory stage a personal megaphone for indulgent political messages, the “woke” U.S. Soccer Team would rather make their legacy off of the field than on it.

Their choice stands in stark contrast to the Women’s U.S. Hockey team that won the gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

After their victory, the women’s hockey team was invited to the White House to meet and be congratulated by Trump — an invitation they accepted.

The American women defeated Canada 3-2 after a dazzling shootout to win the gold medal at the PyeongChang Olympic Games.

“On behalf of an entire Nation, CONGRATULATIONS to the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team on winning the GOLD! #GoTeamUSA #Olympics,” Trump tweeted.

On behalf of an entire Nation, CONGRATULATIONS to the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team on winning the GOLD! #GoTeamUSA #Olympics pic.twitter.com/3cUZwLVGua

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018

As the national anthem played in Korea, the players all stood in solidarity and sang together.

The team’s solemn respect for the moment, their incredible victory and the nation whom they represented stands as an example of how champions should act. Their counterparts on the U.S. Soccer Team have squandered their opportunity to do the same.

Instead, the soccer team has worn an ungrateful mantle of political grandstanding and used their spotlight to highlight their own political agendas.

That is not to say athletes should never use their fame to advance a worthy cause. Nor does it mean that they do not have a right to advance it, but there are moments that transcend division.

Unity does not have to ignore imperfections in the collective, and patriotism does not have to be an endorsement of injustice.

Taking a stand for what you believe to be right shouldn’t prevent you from receiving the extended hand of congratulations from someone who disagrees with you.

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Tags:

Culture, Donald Trump, Hockey, Soccer, Sports

G.S. Hair

Former Executive Editor, The Western Journal

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G.S. Hair is the former executive editor of The Western Journal.

G.S. Hair is the former executive editor of The Western Journal and vice president of digital content of Liftable Media.

After graduating law school from the Cecil C. Humphries School of Law, Mr. Hair spent a decade as an attorney practicing at the trial and appellate level in Arkansas and Tennessee. He represented clients in civil litigation, contractual disputes, criminal defense and domestic matters. He spent a significant amount of time representing indigent clients who could not afford private counsel in civil or criminal matters. A desire for justice and fairness was a driving force in Mr. Hair's philosophy of representation. Inspired by Christ’s role as an advocate on our behalf before God, he often represented clients who had no one else to fight on their behalf.

Mr. Hair has been a consultant for Republican political candidates and has crafted grassroots campaign strategies to help mobilize voters in staunchly Democrat regions of the Eastern United States.

In early 2015, he began writing for Conservative Tribune. After the site was acquired by Liftable Media, he shut down his law practice, moved to Arizona and transitioned into the position of site director. He then transitioned to vice president of content. In 2018, after Liftable Media folded all its brands into The Western Journal, he was named executive editor. His mission is to advance conservative principles and be a positive and truthful voice in the media.

He is married and has four children. He resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

Birthplace

South Carolina

Education

Homeschooled (and proud of it); B.A. Mississippi College; J.D. University Of Memphis

Location

Phoenix, Arizona

Languages Spoken

English

Topics of Expertise

Culture, Faith, Politics