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And while she expressed shock and regret for how she carried herself on the field, rather than accepting full responsibility and attempting to move on, she wants to make the story in part about the media’s portrayal of women’s athletics.
“I definitely feel because I am a female it did bring about a lot more attention than if a male were to do it,” Lambert said. “It’s more expected for men to go out there and be rough. The female, we’re still looked at as, Oh, we kick the ball around and score a goal. But it’s not. We train very hard to reach the highest level we can get to. The physical aspect has maybe increased over the years. I’m not saying it’s for the bad or it’s been too overly aggressive. It’s a game. Sports are physical.”
I’m not so sure that the fact that a woman was engaged in deliberately violent play brought the footage undue attention so much as the fact that is was so brazenly outlandish. Granted, it was a story with easy appeal for media in a sport that receives, at best, sparse coverage. Shocking over-the-top violence in sports is going to be noticed, whether it’s done by a man or a woman. Are there those who are shocked to see women’s sports be so chippy? Perhaps. But they’re the exception. Most of us have long accepted the fact that women’s sports aren’t dainty, aimless affairs. While it's true that the hair-pulling involved in Lambert's highlight reel of attacks gave a few wags fodder to make sexist jokes, that doesn't mean the episode was covered with a viewpoint dismissive of women's soccer as sport. To suggest the reaction to her dirty play is merely the result of condescension is a weak attempt to deflect criticism.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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C’mon, who doesn’t like seeing hot, sweaty women punch, kick, and grab each other’s hair? She should be happy she’s getting so much attention now.
by chi34 on Nov 18, 2009 9:03 PM EST reply actions
Elizabeth sounds like Sarah Palin. Now she’s a "victim" of sexism. Yeah, right. What a lame excuse for unsportsmanlike conduct.
She’s hoping to be reinstated at UNM next year. IMHO, she should never be allowed to play on the collegiate level again.
If I were the player who she elbowed in the back, I’d have stood up and bent Elizabeth’s nose to the left an inch or so.
by BrettsHereNow on Nov 18, 2009 10:58 PM EST reply actions
I think what this young woman is trying to do is understand and cope with the mania surrounding what happened, and she’s absolutely right to question it. No one, and i mean NO ONE, should have to be dragged through the national media and personally attacked on a level like this for what she did. It makes me crazy to see it. I’m amazed at how much people love someone to hate. The NY Times, to their credit, tried to lend some balance to things by providing some context. Sounds like there was a lot of dirty play on both sides. And only 2 yellow cards in her 2,500 minutes of play? We don’t know everything that led to her behavior, and everyone loses their cool sometimes under pressure. What she did was wrong, and she should be disciplined appropriately. But let’s let her coaches and the school deal with it. BrettsHereNow apparently understands losing your cool. After chastising her for unsportsmanlike conduct, he says were he on the field he would have "bent her nose." I guess if you feel justified, the rules don’t apply. Just go ahead and swing away.
by jinkies on Nov 19, 2009 4:14 AM EST reply actions
If you can’t make an argument, attack your opponent — in this case, as "sexist" or "hater".
It wasn’t "physical", or "rough", or "emotional" play. It was "violent conduct," misconduct that gets you shown a red card and sent off — male or female.
The reason is because you’re a danger to other players. While it may be argued that serious foul play is an unfortunate part of soccer — that also gets you sent off — violent conduct is not a part of soccer at all.
I and other USSF referees were not impressed that the referees missed so much, especially the one-two punch in face and back of the head.
by Bob-Tuba on Nov 23, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply actions
You people are ridiculous. clearly she was provoked by the elbow into the stomach from the BYU girl. And was her name on every sports channel and station. I bet if she didn’t do that then lambert would have never had to get even with anyone. Soccer is I believe the softest sport and I think lambert should leave that for rugby which actually takes skill. Lambert is a victim of the latest in todays sports. All in all, I think there should be a little less spotlight on lambert and put some on from that BYU girl who started all the chaos.
Just cause the girl’s from BYU and religiously isn’t suppose to do anything "bad" until she’s married, doesn’t show who she really is… a bully. I’m sure if Joseph Smith saw this he would be shocked and wouldn’t allow her to attend BYU anymore.
by ILoveLambert on Nov 24, 2009 9:16 PM EST reply actions
That would have been cool with some face-sitting
by L'etat, c'est moi on Nov 25, 2009 5:37 AM EST reply actions
these 2 should square off in a cage match to be held on the Isle of Lesbos!
we could eliminate the violence in women’s sport by simply making them play topless, like hugh hefner does. the playmates never fight.
by scurds on Nov 25, 2009 4:03 PM EST reply actions
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