PREFACE: I do want to thank Rusty Silber for filling in on Saturday’s Red Stars match for me and thanks to Leslie Smith for supplying the photos for the Red Stars this year. Let’s begin.
RED STARS: The Red Stars continue to roll and have put some distance between themselves and the red line with nine matches to go. They are also two points from the top of the NWSL table as well. Sam Kerr has to be a runaway favorite for league MVP this season while it was another fine match for Emily Boyd in goal in the absence of the US National Teamers (again).
I mentioned prior to the North Carolina match that they Red Stars were entering their toughes stretch of the season and they are passing it with flying colors.
FIRE: The targeted number of points for the last ten matches was estimated to be about 21. The including winning at least three matches assuming they could hold serve at home by winning there. Saturday night was a first step in that direction by taking advantage of a struggling Houston Dynamo team.
We shall see if they continue that momentum by indeed holding serve against Montreal this coming Saturday night.
BEDOYA: I need to lay this out here right now. If you have a problem with Alejandro Bedoya speaking out against the recent gun violence in El Paso and Dayton (and points elsewhere) and that they should “just stick to sports”, then there is a problem with you. The gun epidemic has gone far beyond a political issue and has become a moral issue.
I don’t think enough athletes speak their mind on social issues given the platforms available. Like it or not, and it cuts both ways for athlete and fan, people look up to athletes and there are those who like to emulate them. If you find yourself disagreeing with the view of an athlete such as a Alejandro Bedoya or a Megan Rapinoe, saying that they should “just stick to sports” is means of being occupied while being selective in what you want to hear.
It will require a multitude of measures to quell the gun epidemic in this country. Ultimately “thoughts” should be towards how we solve issues with guns, hate mongering, urban blight, climate change, etc. “Prayers” that we may come up with the “thoughts” that lead to (constructive) ideas which lead to actions.
