But deep down we know Megan Rapinoe isn’t going away

Is anybody else tired of talking about Megan Rapinoe? I’m officially retiring the subject… after this post, of course. Maybe I should’ve retired the subject a long time ago, just like Rapinoe retiring from soccer a few years too late. I’m not saying she cost the U.S. the World Cup title, but I’m also not saying she didn’t cost the U.S. the World Cup title. It was like 11 v 10 every time she was on the field. Just terrible. From the evidence in the U.S.’s 4 games, it’s clear she should’ve stepped away from the game before the tournament, but that’s all history now. We can now leave Rapinoe in the past… or can we?

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A dog returns to its vomit. Proverbs gives us such a great metaphor with this verse. Except this time, the vomit (Rapinoe) is returning to the dog (soccer fans). In other words, she ain’t going anywhere. Like a spider in your car that you’re absolutely sure you swooshed out. You didn’t actually see it on the ground but you can’t find it in the car after frantically brushing it from the floorboard out of the open door on the driver’s side. It’s gone, you’re sure of it. And you gotta get to work so you close the door, buckle up, and get on the highway. Sudden consternation when you feel the spider CRAWLING ON YOUR NECK WITH IT’S BIG BODY AND A HUNDRED LEGS!!!

This is Rapinoe.

You’re visiting a beach for the first time in your life. You set up your chair, umbrella, spread your towel on the sand. Waves steadily crashing on the shore. A few hours later you observe the weirdest thing. There’s a whole bunch more sand on the beach. The water has receded and it boggles your mind. You concede, “This is how it is now.” The thing is, you’ve never heard of tides and what you’re seeing is just low tide. You think all that water that just went away is the new normal.

This is Rapinoe.

Narcissists who love the spotlight find a way to stay in it. I predict she’ll end up being a commentator for the Olympics or the World Cup or women’s professional soccer. She’s a legend, after all, right? So don’t be surprised if she pops on your TV and you know what, be grateful you sexist, bigot!

She’s the vomit. She’s a spider. She’s the tide. Those things are as constant as the sun is bright. We haven’t seen the last of Megan Rapinoe and the popularity of women’s soccer will suffer for it.

-Out of the Wilderness