Woman Ruins Soccer

So, you may have heard about Elizabeth Lambert, the New Mexico University soccer player who effectively assaulted other players on the field during a recent game with Brigham Young. Her coach has suspended her indefinitely as a result, and Lambert has apologized, saying:

I am deeply and wholeheartedly regretful for my actions. My actions were uncalled for. I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary from the coaching staff and UNM administration. This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player that I am. I am sorry to my coaches and teammates for any and all damages I have brought upon them. I am especially sorry to BYU and the BYU women's soccer players that were personally affected by my actions. I have the utmost respect for the BYU women's soccer program and its players.

Which is frankly about the best possible outcome after a situation like that.

But Lambert being rightfully punished for her unsportswomanlike behavior, and subsequently owning her actions and apologizing for them, isn't good enough. She needs to be shamed—for ruining soccer.


[Transcript below.]
"On soccer fields across the country, many kids, parents, and coaches had seen the video and wondered what had happened to the beautiful game." LOL! This is a joke, right?

Is that the same "beautiful game" in which Vinnie Jones famously crushed Paul Gascoigne's nuts?


The same "beautiful game" in which Zinedine Zidane headbutted…well…someone. Who knows? He headbutted a lot of people.


The same "beautiful game" in which Eric Cantona launched himself into the stands with a flying kung-fu kick at an abusive fan?


The same "beautiful game" in which Wayne Rooney casually stomped on another player's balls?


Et cetera. These are some of the biggest names in football/soccer. What they did isn't right and it doesn't excuse what Lambert did. But these images should serve to underline the manifest absurdity of this hand-wringing over Lambert as if she's single-handedly tarnished the entire sport.

The problem is that when men are aggressive to the point of violence in sports, it's frequently seen as a good thing—at worst, evidence of a player who's mad, reckless, not to be messed with. But when a woman is aggressive to the point of violence, she's a monster.

Men who are violent give the "beautiful game" character. A woman who is violent destroys it.

[H/T to Shaker Peggy Sue.]

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Meredith Viera: And now to that ugly scene during a women's college soccer match. NBC's Kevin Tibbles has the rough play caught on tape.

[Video of Lambert pulling another player's hair and yanking her down to the ground; sportscasters briefly heard with shocked commentary.]

Tibbles, in voiceover: It was a ponytail takedown. This hair-raising hair-pulling infraction came during a women's soccer tournament between the University of New Mexico and Brigham Young. Cameras zeroed in on New Mexico's number 15, Elizabeth Lambert, a junior who'd been involved in a series of rough plays, including this one-two punch to the head of an opponent.

[Video of Lambert punching an opponent; sportscasters briefly heard with shocked commentary.]

Tibbles, in voiceover: And this blow with her fist after receiving an elbow.

[Video of Lambert punching an opponent; sportscaster is heard saying, "The referee missed that one."]

Tibbles, in voiceover: But it was this move [footage again of the ponytail grab and throw-down] that has made her the center of attention for all the wrong reasons, as she grabbed hold of opposing player Cassidy Shumway's ponytail, and yanked her to the ground. Lambert was not penalized at the time for the hair-pulling, but afterwards her coach suspended her indefinitely. In a statement, Lambert says, "I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary."

Young unidentified female player being interviewed: I thought the girl was absolutely insane, and I just can't believe she did that.

Tibbles, in voiceover: On soccer fields across the country, many kids, parents, and coaches had seen the video and wondered what had happened to the beautiful game.

Rachel Matthews, 17-year-old soccer player: You're just supposed to play the game; have fun; you're not supposed to go out there and just beat other players like that. That's not right.

Alex Preston, 16-year-old soccer player: To think that someone could have that amount of anger, and, like, that, like, amount of aggression in the game…? Like, it's ridiculous.

Mary Matthews, soccer mom: The fact that coaches and referees allowed that style of play is a shame.

Tibbles, in voiceover: Lambert's coach calls her a good student, but adds her actions crossed the line—something many young soccer players clearly agree with. For Today, Kevin Tibbles, NBC News, Chicago.