Despite A New U.S. Soccer Overture, Differences Remain
LFG (2021)
A Quick Film Review So...the continuing issue of equal pay within U.S. Soccer - the national governing body for the men's and women's national teams - resurfaced publicly today with an offer by the office to serve both teams an equal contract. A win? Well....let's revisit how we got here through a look at this summer's LFG, documenting the multi-year effort by the women's team (USWNT) to receive equal pay to the USMNT.
I'll be brief: in 2019, the USWMNT filed a lawsuit against their employers (U.S. Soccer) alleging illegal pay discrimination based on gender. While the USWNT receives pay and bonuses based on performance and play, the amount (per performance and play) pales in comparison to what the USMNT receives - by multiple factors. Although in recent years, the USWMNT has earned more in total, it's been a result of working harder - i.e. performing better - than the USMNT. In essence, the women have to work harder (win more) to earn the same as under-performing men.
There's the essence of LFG, as the production speaks with both team members (notably Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O'Hara, Jessica McDonald, and Sam Mewis), and legal & PR representatives as they navigate the proceedings. It's a compelling argument. Simply put, the USWMNT is paid less than the USMNT, even despite comparative over-performance. LFG presents an entirely empathetic view toward the USWMNT's plight, aided by the absence of direct U.S. Soccer contribution (a disclaimer notes the federation declined comment). Any discussion of U.S. Soccer's position is examined through the plaintiff's interpretation of the federation's often ham-handed public posturing and court actions. It's a good watch. And will pull you toward the USWNT cause...and cause wonder at what strategy U.S. Soccer is really employing. By the end of the film, taking us into early 2020, the equal pay argument in the lawsuit is dismissed (with an appeal pending) but an equal treatment portion proceeds. Cut to yesterday, and U.S. Soccer announces an offer of equal pay contracts. The catch, of course there is one, is that for USWMNT pay to rise, USMNT pay will need to drop...a condition that is hard to envision the USMNT accepting. And the ball now is back in the USWNT's court. Of course, a real win for the women is for rate-of-pay to rise up to the men's level - without the men dropping. U.S. Soccer is also passing the buck a bit by shifting the root of pay discrepancy to the bonus discrepancy offered by FIFA (the international federation). True, FIFA doles out more money for the men, but how each national body (like U.S. Soccer) distributes that is up to each body. Regardless, there doesn't seem to be any immediate thawing of positions, at least in public, with tit-for-tat announcements on social media.
Granted, it's confusing, and nuanced. On one hand - yes, women deserve equal pay, especially in the U.S. It's equal pay for equal work...and there's the rub. Maintaining dominance in a less-competitive (but, yes, strengthening) global women's game is not exactly equal to competitiveness on the men's side. Where that "not exactly equal" lies is hard, as certainly the women work, train, and commit just as much - if not more - than the men. Where do you equate global competitiveness? Add in that the women are arguably as popular and audience/revenue-generating as the men, and, well...
Sigh. In any case...can't we all just get along? And agree to pay everyone what they agree they deserve? Not sure we'll see the end soon. Olympic athletes - including Naomi Osaka, Russell Westbrook, Simone Biles, and Megan Rapinoe - make a fashion statement at the 'American Independence'-themed Met Gala on Monday. And...Osaka, Biles, and gymnast Sunisa Lee also made the annual Time's 100 Most Influential People list for 2021.
Can Tokyo 2020 Olympians Onathile Zulu and Guy Morgan make a mark for Team South Africa at the upcoming Junior World Cups for field hockey? Tokyo 2020 wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson...next WWE star? Australian swimming great Stephanie Rice finds support after revealing struggles over the last few years since retirement. Meanwhile, colleague Bronte Barratt gets a role with Brisbane 2032. Sandra Ygueravide leads Spain to a key 3x3 basketball title and eyes Paris 2024. (in Spanish) Breakout badminton star Kevin Cordon looks to inspire fellow Guatemalans to believe in big things. Brazilian beach volleyball sees a shakeup in its men's pairings that competed at Tokyo 2020. Long jump champion Malaika Mihambo still aims for long jump great Carl Lewis' advice after this Olympic championship season. Nijel Amos was part of one of Tokyo 2020's enduring images with a fall in the 800 meter semifinals, but he's not letting that disappointment deter his continuing Olympic dreams. Lost in the depth of reporting on the Creative Arts Emmy Awards from this past weekend was the award for 'Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series' for Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, produced by Rio 2016 track gold medalist Morolake Akinosun. Congrats! Allyson Felix makes magazine history as the first-ever cover model for Grazia U.S.. Simone Biles and other champion gymnasts take their stories to Washington and Congress in the on-going Larry Nassar abuse saga. Austrian figure skaters Miriam Ziegler and Severin Kiefer are ready to share their wealth of experience as they head toward Beijing 2022. Sun Weijing: A domestic league volleyball player in China takes a rare step and goes public as LGBTQ. JC Pretorius and Team South Africa's Blitzboks look to put Tokyo 2020 disappointment behind them as the Rugby Sevens Series in Canada approaches. Untold: Breaking Point (2021) A Quick TV Review With tennis on the mind after a great weekend of the U.S. Open, I finally got a chance to dive into Netflix's new "Untold" documentary, Breaking Point, focusing on the impact of anxiety on the career of U.S. tennis star - and Athens 2004 silver medalist - Mardy Fish. It's certainly a timely episode of "Untold" to release this late summer, with both the U.S. Open representing the site of pivotal moments in Fish's saga, and the recent discussions on mental health prompted by Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles. "Untold" isn't quite right a moniker for Fish's story - as he publicly discussed his anxiety disorder diagnosis back in 2014 - but this documentary does frame his mental health struggles within the context of the pressure of carrying the U.S. mantle of men's tennis. It's also the first I've seen the subject of his rivalry / friendship with Andy Roddick explored to this depth. Rising together at the famed Saddlebrook Academy, the two were groomed to be the next generation of star U.S. men in tennis in the early 2000s. But Fish quickly falls under Roddick's shadow. His close friend, as the more naturally determined and focused player, rises steadily in the rankings. Of a 2003 Cincinnati match in which Fish lost two championship points and retrospectively define the two's immediate futures, Fish offers, "it still hurts". Compounding the prospect of success in the mid-2000s was the rise of the soon-to-be greatest ever trio: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Federer is even referred to in Breaking Point as "the U.S. bubble buster", as his rise thwarted Fish, Roddick, and any other U.S. man's ambitions. Despite a resurgence of confidence after a reinvigorated training regimen that leads to a career-high ranking of seventh, the wheels fall off in 2012. Facing a too-packed early season schedule, Fish struggles and is hit with a tachycardia diagnosis...leading to another diagnosis of severe anxiety disorder. That severity culminates with a withdrawal from the 2012 U.S. Open, ahead of a much-hyped 4th round match against Federer. Fueled by Fish's own words, Breaking Point is an interesting, sympathetic look at one athlete's struggle to find drive, coupled with an expectation of success. Certainly a compelling look at someone who, as a casual tennis fan, I never paid much attention to - for all the reasons that swirled around him: not breaking through amongst the stranglehold Roddick and the "Big Three" had on the sport. Breaking Point is also a testament of wonder for the rarity of athlete that can come out unscathed from elite competition. Even Roddick refers to a level of trauma association to this day, with certain foods as triggers. While we may not get deep on his "troublesome thoughts" as he calls them during the depth of his affliction, Fish's openness in sitting down with this "Untold" production is welcoming. Any dialogue that opens acceptance on the sensitivity of mental health awareness is needed. As Fish says, "Talking about what I was feeling made me feel better". 12-year-old Xander Graham makes a mark at the Tour of Britain road cycling race. A Refugee Team of Joseph Loboi Morris, Emmaculate Napeyok, and Alice Ilam Samuel took a stand with mere participation at the recent World Athletics U20 Vhampionships. With two golds and a world record, Simona Radis helped power Romania to the medal lead at the European U23 Rowing Championships. 17-year-old Alexandra Trusova lands five (!) quad jumps at the 2021 Russian test skate this weekend...can anyone beat Team Russia in ladies figure skating?
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Above: Athens' Kallimarmaro, the site of the 1896 Summer Olympics
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