J-Speaks: NBA Champion Speaks His Hard Truth

The average career for a huge fraction of professional athletes who get that one-in-a-million chance have a very short window of 4.5 years to make their mark. One Asian American who graduated from Harvard got that one in a million shot in the National Basketball Association (NBA), even though he went undrafted in 2010. He reached the pinnacle of pro sports when he was part of the Toronto Raptors who won the NBA title in June over the back-to-back defending champion Golden State Warriors, even though he hardly played. Unfortunately, he said in what was supposed to be a motivational speech to a packed room of his people turned into hard truth telling moment. 

While he was scheduled to give a motivational talk to a Christian audience in Taiwan, Asia on Monday, where his parents Lin Gie-Ming and Shirley Lin were born, current NBA free agent point guard of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors Jeremy Lin instead opened up about the current state of his NBA career which has him still on the free agent market. 

The Torrance, CA native who played collegiately at Harvard and nine years in the NBA  for the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and a brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks before landing with the Raptors last season said to those in attendance, courtesy of “The Waiting Game” on Good TV, “Man, it’s hard. Life is hard.” 

“In English there’s a saying and it says, ‘When you hit rock bottom the only way is up.’ But rock bottom just seems to keep getting more and more rock bottom for me.” 

Lin added, “Free agency been tough because I feel like in some ways the NBA has kind of given up on me.” 

“After the season I had to get ready for this Asian trip, and it’s the last thing I wanted to do. Because I knew for six weeks I would have to just put on a smile. I would have to talk about a championship that I don’t feel like I earned. I have to talk about a future that I don’t know if I want to have. And honestly, it’s embarrassing and it’s tough.”

“I always wanted to come back and be that image of triumph. Of God working miracles through me. When it seems like every year, I get on this stage I just talk about suffering.” 

At first hearing a very rare expression of real truth from Lin, the first thing that comes to mind is sadness and outright shock from a player who around this time a month ago was an NBA champion. While he did not play a great deal of minutes in the postseason for the Raptors, especially in The Finals, he was a part of something that many Hall of Famers like Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing and current NBA great players like Oklahoma City Thunder nine-time All-Star guard Chris Paul; Houston Rockets perennial All-Stars and the two recent Kia MVPs Russell Westbrook, James Harden and current Los Angeles Clippers swingman Paul George would trade in all their individual accolades for, an NBA championship ring. 

On top of that, Lin was has played nine seasons with as mentioned eight different NBA squads, while making close to $60 million in his career. He found a way to do that after stints with the likes of the Shenzhen Aviators, of the Chinese Basketball Association; the then Reno Bighorns, now the Stockton Kings and the Lakeland Magic, formerly the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G-League. 

“I wonder if it there’s more than just simply, ‘I can’t find a job in the NBA,’ because he had a career that’s longer than the average and probably had more highlights than most people would,” regular panelist on ESPN’s weekday show “Around the Horn” Bomani Jones said on the Monday afternoon edition of “High Noon.” 

It can be tough seeing your peers making $200-plus million and you have to wait around for a team’s front office to give you a call for even the opportunity for three-quarters of a fraction of that money before you waive goodbye to the professional sport of basketball. 

There have been players that do not make a fraction of that kind of money or had the kind of career that Lin has had. 

It is understandable that he wanted to walk into the continent of Asia, specifically in Taiwan as an Idol. 

Instead he walked into that rooms with hundreds of faithful Christians, especially young ones disappointed because he feels that he has not earned the right to be held in that high of regard. 

One big reason for that is at age 30 he feels that “The Association” has said during the peak of free agency at the start of July that teams were not inquiring about him signing with them.     

Lin might feel this moment is rock bottom for him, to others if they were in his shoes this would seem like a time to be taking a victory lap. To be patting yourself on the back or to simply be smelling the roses and enjoying the moment. 

“Jeremy Lin had a hell of a career,” longtime Washington Post sports columnist and host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” Michael Wilbon said on Monday’s edition. “He played nine years.” 

“Here’s a guy who wasn’t expected to ever be in the NBA. Nine years. Averaged 11 [points] and four [assists]. He had about a month or two to himself. ‘Linsanity.’ I love Jeremy Lin. If it’s over, it’s over, but he can keep playing somewhere else and make money. But man, I feel bad for him feeling bad. I don’t understand.”  

Lin had the kind of career that is longer than the average and had more highlights then most people would. 

This is a man who for a two-month period back in the 2011-12 lockout shortened season put together stellar play out of nowhere with the New York Knicks that got him on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice. 

That run included a performance of 25 points, with seven assists and five rebounds, all career-highs at that time in a 99-92 Knicks victory versus the then crosstown rival New Jersey Nets and their All-Star floor general Deron Williams on Feb. 4, 2012. 

In the Knicks 92-85 win over future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 10, 2012 Lin scored a new career-high 38 points with seven assists. 

On Valentine’s Day of that season, Lin would break the hearts of the team he would eventually win a championship with by hitting the eventual game-winning three-pointer in the Knicks 90-87 win at the Raptors. 

It was this game where “Linsanity!” was born as then Lakers veteran forward Metta World Peace, also known as Ron Artest after watching the shot on television with his teammates ran past reporters shouting, “Linsanity! Linsanity!” as he waived hands above his head. 

While most players would take that run and become stars, Lin’s star eventually faded to black because like the other 29 teams they have good players and scouts as well, and Lin was eventually figured out. 

It also did not help that as over the next seven seasons he battled injuries and the fact he never reached level of being a legitimate starter, even though he was one for a season with the Rockets in 2012-13, where he averaged 13.4 points, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals. He was always an understudy, but averaged double-figures in scoring. 

Those chances with other teams might not have come to fruition had it not been what Lin did in his time in New York. Even though it was a small sample of great play it allowed him to continue his dream of being in the NBA, even if as co-host of “High Noon” and ESPN.com columnist and writer for ESPN The Magazine Pablo S. Torre said fans tend to “pocket watch” him as this player who did not earn what he earned on the hardwood for nearly a decade in “The Association.” 

We as fans should not expect the stuff that makes any celebrity or person in the spotlight happy to make Lin happy. For Lin, it is not about the money it is about wanting the chance to compete at the highest level of basketball, which is not able to do since no team has not even given him a call to talk about signing him.

That is something that two of Lin’s former teammates with the Knicks in 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith, who are also unrestricted free agents want, and no one at the moment is burning up their phone lines to talk about signing them. 

“And so, for me when it comes to his happiness, we all should be aware that’s not what makes him happy,” Torre said about Lin. “What makes him happy is the very thing that Carmelo, JR and him all have in common, which is they want to play basketball and they can’t.”

While Lin may not feel he has earned the right of getting the praise and be the beacon of light to his people, he has without question been that beacon of light for not just the religious community he worships but he has been the beacon of light for all those “little engines” trying to make their mark. 

He not only overachieved as a basketball player, he has something in his favor that Anthony and Smith do not have, he can continue his career elsewhere like overseas where he played before and can earn the right in his mind be a so-called “God” to those he spoke in front of at the start of this week.  

Why? Because he is still young enough at age 30 to do so and in his mind, he still has a lot to prove. He still wants to play and if that opportunity is not going to come from “The Association.” 

The ability to compete is what Jeremy Line wants more than anything else. That opportunity may come in the NBA again or he may have to go overseas to continue that. 

Whether he plays another minute professionally on the basketball court or not, Jeremy Lin can look back on his basketball career if ends now or later and be proud of what he has accomplished in his NBA career. 

If there is one moment that should give him faith that his NBA career is not over is what took place back in the middle of February.  

When he was waived by the Hawks on Feb. 11, he was signed by the Raptors 48 hours after he cleared waivers. 

While he played only 27 minutes in the 2019 NBA Playoffs, which included in Game 3 at the Warriors, where he NBA journey began in the 2010-11 season, Lin became the first East Asian American and the first Harvard grad to play in the NBA Finals. 

Fellow “Pardon the Interruption” co-host and longtime sportswriter and columnist for the Washington Post Tony Kornheiser said of Lin to Wilbon “This is an undrafted kid out of Harvard, alright?” 

“He played nine full years in the NBA. He got a two-month period playing for the Knicks with ‘Linsanity!’ as you mentioned, where he was back-to-back covers on Sports Illustrated.”

“Whoever thought that Jeremy Lin would be in that situation? I understand that he feels he really didn’t earn a championship in Toronto because he didn’t play. Maybe he’ll play again, maybe he won’t. Jeremy Lin can look on a remarkable career,” Kornheiser said. 

Wilbon added, “I’ll bet you right now, if somebody can write this down Jeremy Lin gonna play for an NBA team this season.” 

“It won’t be great minutes. It will be great money for the rest of the world, not the NBA.”  

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 7/29/19 4 p.m. edition of “High Noon” on ESPN with Bomani Jones and Pablo S. Torre; 7/29/19 5:30 p.m. edition of “Pardon the Interruption” on ESPN with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Lin.  

J-Speaks: California Natives Introduced as Newest Clippers

Nearly a decade-and-a-half ago a Los Angeles and Palmdale, CA native competed against each other on the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball circuit. They then battled against each other for two seasons playing for opposing universities in the Mountain West Conference. They were drafted to the same team one year apart with the soon to be two-time Finals MVP being dealt on draft night to the he helped to lead to their fifth NBA crown. Yesterday those two players who have become to of the best not just at the wing position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) but two of the best in the entire league were introduced as the newest members of a team that hopes to make a serious run at their first NBA championship in franchise history. 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Clippers held their introductory press conference to introduce their newest additions in two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who just led the Toronto Raptors to their first Larry O’Brien trophy in their 24-year history. 

To put into perspective how big of a moment this was for this franchise, a mural was made outside of the recreation center that Leonard and George did an interview with the host of ESPN’s “NBA: The Jump” Rachel Nichols after their introductory presser. 

“It feels great,” George, who averaged career-highs of 28.0 points (2nd NBA), 8.2 rebounds and a league-leading 2.2 steals on 44 percent shooting in the 2018-19 regular season said to Nichols about being a Clipper officially, adding about the symbolism of the mural, “I think seeing that kind of solidified it. Opening that chapter of this new journey that we’re going on.” 

Leonard, who averaged career-highs of 26.6 points (6th NBA), 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals (7th NBA) on 50 percent from the field added, “Still kind of surreal. Just able to have Paul on my team and even just being back home and playing, it’s a great experience.” 

“It’s probably going to be my first time playing with an elite player of his level around the same age as me. Same talent and, you know, I’m excited to play. I can’t wait until training camp starts you know. Get into season mode, put on the jersey, passing him (George) the ball, just talking on the floor. I’m excited.”

Leonard three-time All-Star was signed by the Clippers on July 10 on a three-year, $103.1 million deal, which includes a player option for the 2021-22 season. 

“The front office is very transparent with me,” Leonard said. “They want to win, want to win again, and just an opportunity for us to just build our own. To make history. They haven’t been to an (NBA) Finals. They haven’t won a Finals. So, that was something big an exciting for me to, you know, make my decision.”

Alongside Leonard, Clippers’ Owner Steve Ballmer, Head Coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers and Team President Lawrence Frank at the introductory presser was the other new addition in six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection (four-time Third-Team), with him making the First-Team this past season swingman Paul George, who was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder officially on July 10, in exchange for lead guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; forward Danilo Gallinari, First-Round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026; two First-Round picks via the Miami Heat (2021 and 2023) and the right to swap First-Round picks in 2023 and 2025. 

This upcoming NBA season, the 2019-20 campaign will be the golden 50^th for the Clippers, their 36^th in the “City of Angels.” They have made the playoffs 11 times, with seven of those coming in the last eight seasons. They have made it to the Semifinals of the Western Conference playoffs three times (2012, 2014 and 2015) only to lose in a four-game sweep to the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs the spring of 2012; the Thunder in the spring of 2014 in six games and to the Houston Rockets in seven games one year later, after leading the series 3-1. 

Last season, the Clippers went 48-34 and made the playoffs as the No. 8 Seed in the rugged Western Conference after a one-year absence and gave a herculean effort against the then back-to-back defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the opening-round before falling in six games. 

The Clippers used a gritty, focused, undeterred mindset in that playoff series and throughout the entire season that got them to the playoffs and what they brought to the hardwood was something that George said he is looking forward to. 

“To be a part of that, you know, comradery. To be a part of what they already had. Just sprinkling what we have to offer that’s what made it such an attractive spot for me to be at,” George said on Wednesday.  

To many people it seems remarkable that the Clippers in their prior 49 seasons they have not gone beyond the Semis in the postseason. On the other hand, it is not all that unthinkable considering who used to run the organization prior to Mr. Ballmer in disgraced owner Donald Sterling and how often he ran the organization. 

For years the Clippers were often called the “little brother” to the 16-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, which is very much and understatement considering how the two L.A. teams fortunes have gone over these past 30-plus decades. 

That is what made the introductory presser of Leonard and George such a proud and remarkable moment. 

It was not just the fact that the Clippers signed and acquired two of the elite players in the game to help them compete for the first Larry O’Brien trophy this upcoming NBA season, it was the famed “thumbs up;” “stamp of approval” that the organization, and all the hard work them smartly and wisely compiling assets from signing players to salary cap friendly contracts and acquiring draft picks to pull off the precise trade they would need to lure the NBA’s biggest prize in the 2019 free agent market to pick them over their more glamorous and accomplished rival. To have both players, in this case Leonard and George stand up on stage with the brass of the organization talk about how the team itself from the front office to the roster itself; the culture of the team and its reputation was a major part of the reason they came. A notion that would have been laughable, out loud laughable in years past. 

The only laughing that was taking place yesterday came from Mr. Ballmer, the team’s owner since Christmas 2014 who in his trademark high energy, enthusiastic fashion expressed the kind of joy one would show when you just signed as mentioned a player in Leonard, who along with Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and current Laker LeBron James are just one of three players in NBA history to win Finals MVP with two different franchises and a player in George, who not only led the NBA in steals per game a season ago, but is a four-time All-Defensive selection. 

“I have these notes, but I got to say ‘I’m just fired up to be here today. Pretty cool. Pretty damn cool,” Ballmer said to the media in attendance while enthusiastically clapping his hands and letting out a “Whoo!” 

“I’m pumped to say hello as Clippers to Paul and Kawhi. Common! Common! Common! Get up! Get up if you are as excited as I am,” Ballmer said very enthusiastically. 

While there is enthusiasm and jubilation in L.A., there is a sense of disappointment and sadness in both Toronto, Canada Oklahoma City, OK because two players who were very important parts of the Raptors for Leonard and George of the Thunder respectably are no longer there and their prospects for this season and beyond completely changed. 

The Raptors went from being a Top 3 team in the Eastern Conference and a very good possibility to repeat as champions are just another team in the East hoping to make the playoffs. In the case of the Thunder, who just recently traded 2017 Kia MVP and perennial All-Star Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets to be reunited with 2018 Kia MVP James Harden for nine-time All-Star Chris Paul are a possible playoff team in the rugged Western Conference, but are more than likely a team that will be in the lottery for the next few seasons. 

In the case of George, he told Nichols that from him being in OKC for a long time as he re-signed on a four-year deal last summer to now he was traded to the Clippers that it was a “mutual, you know, respect amongst myself; amongst Russ; amongst Sam [GM Presti] Mr. Clay Bennett [Thunder owner].” 

“We were all on the same page. This was nothing that came out of the blue. The initial plan was to give it another year and see what we can do. I did that, played another. I felt like we were just stagnant. The next thing was let’s go for it and go on with other plans.” 

George also said to Nichols about when he and Westbrook talked about this being the time to break ties and go their separate directions that it was an “easy conversation.” 

It was a man-to-man conversation where both understood where the other was coming from. Westbrook George said he was happy for him doing what was best for him and his career. 

While the Clippers plan to get Leonard worked out, he was very close to re-signing with the Raptors or possibly signing with the Lakers to join forces with four-time Kia MVP LeBron James and perennial All-Star Anthony Davis, who the Lakers acquired earlier this summer.  

As Leonard said to Nichols, he was “very close.” When the Clippers though presented the opportunity of them getting George to play alongside him it was very easy for him to say “yes” to signing with L.A.’s other team. 

Leonard’s decision was so big that at the start of free agency this summer that media helicopters were following his every move he made when he was back in Toronto, Ontario. 

He said to Nichols that he really did not understand what all the hoopla was about. That he was not going to come out to those fans that were standing outside his hotel to make a big announcement. 

Leonard took it all in stride and felt very appreciative of the year he had in helping the Raptors win their first Larry O’Brien trophy. 

For Leonard, he based his decision, which ultimately was the Clippers on going to a team where he and his family was going to be happy. A team that had some serious pedigree in the front office. 

The possibility of Leonard and George joining forces as Nichols pointed out on the Thursday edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” came up as earlier as the summer of 2017 when George wanted out from the Indiana Pacers and wanting to be traded to the Lakers. 

Leonard and George known of each other since they played against each other as youngsters in AAU and when they played in the Mountain West Conference as collegians when Leonard played for San Diego State University and George played for Fresno State at the close of the first decade of the 2000s. 

One year after the Pacers drafted George No. 10 overall in the 2010 draft, the Pacers selected Leonard No. 15 overall one year later. 

Along with coming home and playing for a great organization, both Leonard and George will have a chance to play in front of the most important people in their lives, their families. 

In the case of George, his mother Mrs. Paulette whose has had health issues recently has not been able to travel to OKC to see here son play said to Nichols this decision “means a lot.”

George, the father of two daughters with Daniela Rajic said when he was a Fresno State, his parents would make the three-hour drive on every game day to come see their son play and were super supportive. 

“My parents, my mom and Dad [Paul, Sr.] both ever since I was little watched all my games and made it to every game,” he said. “So, I think at this point in my career that’s me giving back to them. That they can continue on what they started with catching every game and being their full support.”

When Coach Rivers came to the Clippers in the summer of 2014, he was brought over to get the Clippers to the top of the NBA mountain with All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and then starting center DeAndre Jordan. 

Rivers said to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne after the press conference that threesome had some baggage that kept them from achieving the lofty goal of winning a title. The group that he has now with the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is a team that wanted to be together. That wants to make their own legacy together, which they are all very excited to do. 

Shelburne also said that Coach Rivers drove down to Delmar, CA last week where Leonard resides and the two talked for two hours about the roster of him and George, along with new additions in Rodney McGruder and Maurice Harkless and the other key players on the roster in guard Patrick Beverly, forward JaMychal Green and center Ivica Zubac,  who all re-signed with the Clippers earlier this summer, and Kia Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, sharp shooter Landry Shamet and forward/center Montrezl Harrell. 

Leonard mentioned in his conversation with Rivers that success only will come if he is coached hard and at times is going to need to hear what he needs to be told about his play when it is good and when it is not living up to what he is capable of.  

That early success these next couple of years will dictate if Leonard and George finish their careers with the Red, White and Blue of the Clippers as they can opt out of their contracts and become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2022. 

For Leonard and George, they said to Nichols that a team with them on the court together will be one that plays on both ends of the court, especially at the defensive end. That is unselfish and does whatever it takes to win. 

“You’re going to see us compete on the defensive end for sure,” Leonard told Nichols. 

George added that the Clippers with them on the hardwood will be a team that will have,” grit. Toughness and grit.” 

On Wednesday was the official welcoming of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers family and it was a warm welcome for two California natives who hope to bring championship glory to L.A.’s other team as they embark on their 50^th season in franchise history. 

As Lakers Insider for ESPN Dave McMenamin said on Thursday’s edition of “NBA: The Jump” about Leonard and George, “Their excellent players in the prime of their careers. They play both ways. If you’re gonna start with foundational pieces in 2019 NBA, where its position less basketball…this is a blueprint on of how you would like to start with your two best players.”

The Clippers from top to bottom understand though that this journey will not be an easy one and it will take all of them being in a cohesive, focused mindset for their dream to become NBA champions a reality. 

“This is still not over yet,” Leonard said of the long road ahead for the Clippers to be NBA champions. “We still, all three of us got to get in a room. Not just us three. It’s going to be a team effort making this work. The 15^th guy on the bench has to be in that room as well to know what he needs to do as well, his role.” 

George added, “I’m not a guy that come in with an ego. With, you know, that, ‘I’m the man.’” 

“I want to be a part of something special. I want to help build something special, and it’s surreal to be home and do it for a team that I grew up and wanted to be a part of ever since they missed out on me in the draft, but that’s another story.”    

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 4/16/19 https://heavy.com story, “Daniela Rajic, Paul George’s Girlfriend: 5 Fast Facts;” 7/24/19 6 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” with Kevin Negandhi and Sage Steele, with reports from Ramona Shelburne and Rachel Nichols; 7/25/19 3 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “NBA: The Jump” with Rachel Nichols, Malika Andrews, and Dave McMenamin;  https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26914752/2019-nba-free-agency-latest-buzz; https://www.nba.com/draft/2019/trade-tracker; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawhi_Leonard;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_George ;and http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Los_Angeles_Clippers_seasons. .  

Lessons The U.S.A. Women's National Soccer Team Taught In Winning Their Second Straight World Cup

When you are a team that is expected to win, there are two ways you can go. You can live up to that expectation and accomplished that goal, no pun intended or you will crumble in the face of that expectation. For the United States Women’s National Soccer team (USWNST), they not only rose to the expectation of winning another World Cup, they exceeded it and taught their nation and the world some very important lessons along the way. 

The first lesson the now four-time FIFA World Cup champions after their 2-0 win in the Finals over the Netherlands at Stade de Lyon in France on Sunday showed that their teamwork and collective togetherness got them to their goal along with their individual talent. 

As a reward, they will be celebrated an honored at a victory parade down the Canyon of Heroes beginning at Battery Park in New York City, NY on Wednesday morning starting in Battery Park beginning at 9:30 a.m. 

With a team that consists of the like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, the Silver Boot Award recipient for the 2019 World Cup, Kelley O’Hara, Carli Lloyd, Rose Lavelle, The Bronze Ball recipient as the third best player in the tournament, Tobin Heath and Rockville Centre, NY’s Crystal Dunn, it can be really easy to try to overshadow each other to be lead in a supremely talented cast of players. 

Rapinoe and Morgan each had six goals and three assists to tie for the lead in those categories for the US in 490 minutes played by Morgan and 428 minutes played by Rapinoe. 

Like the World Cup titles before them in 1991, the inaugural World Cup, 1999 and 2015, the 2019 squad's triumph came down to coming together as a team and making each other better. Working together. Believing in each other and putting each other in position to win. 

Like how the 2019 FIFA Golden Ball (MVP) and Golden Boot recipient Rapinoe, the team captain for the U.S.A. converted a penalty kick in the 61^st minute to put the Team U.S.A. on the board 1-0 to become the oldest player at 34 years and two days old to ever score a goal in FIFA Women’s World Cup Final. 

That opportunity for head coach Jill Ellis’ team came courtesy of Morgan getting fouled by Stefanie van der Gragt of the Netherlands team. 

Then Rose Lavelle, who was just four years old when she watched the U.S.A. win their third World Cup 20 years ago expanded the U.S.’s lead with by scoring a goal in the 69^th minute. At 24 she became the second youngest player to score in a World Cup final, with her teammate in Morgan being the youngest at 22 when she scored in the 2011 World Cup Final. 

“She’s been missing, just that little bit all tournament. She’s been on the dribble, so dangerous for us, she’s opened up everything for us” Rapinoe, the 2019 FIFA World Cup player of the match said of the 24-year-old Lavelle to FOX Sports sideline reporter for this tournament Alex Curry. “For her to get that reward tonight on the biggest stage that you possibly can. I’m so proud of her. She’s a superstar, not even in the making. She’s straight up superstar at this point.” 

Putting these great players in position to become stars was in the hands of Coach Ellis, whose every move during this tournament came up smelling like roses as her team set a new FIFA Women’s World Cup Record for goals in a single tournament with 26, surpassing the 25 set by the U.S. 1991 squad and 2004 Germany squad each with 25. 

Coach Ellis with her second consecutive World victory as manager of the U.S. Women’s squad tied Men’s head coach Vittorio Pozzo, who led the Italian men’s team to World Cup wins in 1934 and 1938.  

“I mean, this is just an amazing group of players, but an even better group of people,” Coach Ellis, who became the first to win two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles said to Curry. “It’s just chemistry. They put their hearts and souls into this journey, and I can’t thank them enough. It’s been fantastic.” 

The U.S. Women’s Unbeaten streak of 14 games at World Cup is the longest in the history of the tournament. 

The second thing this team taught those that watched when you have the opportunity to jump on your opponent right from the jump of a competition and you can put them away you do it. 

That is what they did in the group stage of the tournament when they took down Thailand 13-0 on June 11 to open the 2019 FIFA World Cup, scoring a World Cup record 13 goals in front of a pro-American audience of 19.951 at Stade Auguste-Delaune. 

Seven different U.S. players scored a goal with Morgan tied her with former American great Michelle Akers for the most in a single World Cup match. Akers’ performance came in the US’s first World Cup title in 1991. 

Morgan’s teammates in Lavelle and fellow midfielder Samantha Mewis each scored two goals as the U.S. also set a record as the first nation with three players to have multi-goal performances in one soccer match. 

It was the first World Cup scores for Lavelle and Mewis, as well as for Midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Mallory Pugh. 

Unfortunately, the headlines that came from that were primarily negative by not only how they ran up the score but how they capped each goal by collectively and individually celebrating as described in a June 13^th Washington Post article by Steven Goff as “too enthusiastically.”  They specifically took amends to Rapinoe’s celebratory twirl and slide after the ninth goal really galled some observers.   

“I feel like we were pent up, and that sort of explosion of joy was very genuine,” Rapinoe said of her celebration during an appearance on FOX’s World Cup television broadcast with that particular Thursday. 

Mewis, 26 added, “It can be really consuming if you are caught up in it. A lot of us have spent less time on social media or looking at media in general. At times, there are so many positive things and you want to interact with people. I get a lot of messages from friends, but [the team is] just staying focused on our goal here, and everything else is not super important.” 

What these celebrations and this victory did more than anything is provide inspiration for future generations of women who want to be in the same position as these women of the USWNT were in this World Cup. 

“Think of a mom to have these kinds of girls as a role models for my daughter, incredible,” one mom with her daughter said to ABC’s Eva Pilgrim in Lower Manhattan, NY on Monday. 

Another young lady said to Pilgrim that these 23 women are “so important for the younger generation to just see this. And to have women be fierce and strong.” 

While one other young girl said to ABC News said what the USWNT did on Sunday in France, “absolute magic.” 

Rapinoe saw that magic firsthand when she was in the stands during the 1999 World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA to see her inspirations in Kristine Lilly, who was a part of the awards presentation and many of her 1999 teammates were in attendance for the final on Sunday. 

U.S. defender Brandi Chastain helped to win the third World Cup 20 years ago in front of an audience of 90,185 spectators, setting a world record for a women’s sporting event with the game-winning goal in that shootout scored the winning penalty in the shootout and created one of the most iconic moments in U.S. sports history when she celebrated by removing her jersey and revealing her sports bra and ripped physique. That moment appeared on all the front covers of all the major magazines and newspapers in the nation.  

Rapinoe had her own celebration displays when she received her aforementioned awards of the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, as the top scorer with six goals during this tournament. 

A friend of Rapinoe’s sent her a picture from that day when she was 13 years old, which was shown on the Monday night edition of ABC’s “World News Tonight,” with David Muir. 

“All those kids that were over their supporting us, and supporting us at home, you could be standing in front of these microphones any day,” Rapinoe said in Lower Manhattan, NY on Monday afternoon to ABC’s Eva Pilgrim and other members of the media. 

Heather O’Reilly, who was part of the 2015 Women’s World Cup championship team said that squad winning it all was about capturing that one prize that had eluded them in 2011 and 2007 in Germany and China respectably. The 2019 team as she put it “cemented themselves as legends.” 

“Incredible. Their winners. Their icons. They do things their way. They get it done on the field, and they enjoy it off the field.”  

That brings us to the third lesson of sticking together and not letting outside of the confines of the situation distract you. 

Coach Ellis’ squad faced a serious challenge in their Semifinals match against England last Tuesday as Rapinoe was sidelined due to a hamstring strain. 

The U.S. broke the seal of this Semifinal when Rapinoe’s replacement Christen Press scored a goal as for the sixth consecutive game in the opening 12 minutes. 

England tied things up at 1-1 nine minutes later thanks to a score by Ellen White. 

The teams continued to trade shots with both goal keepers in Carly Telford for England and Alyssa Naeher for the U.S.A. keeping their respective opponents from scoring into the 25^th minute of action. 

Morgan broke the standoff scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal at the half-hour mark on her 30^th Birthday. 

While Morgan’s goal got the US within one game of repeating as World Cup champions, the timely saving of Naeher by the tip of a finger saving the game-tying goal just before intermission. 

The 31-year-old Naeher proved that she could make a big save with the game hanging in the balance, just like the supremely talented and controversial Hope Solo. 

“She’s has been my No. 1,” Coach Ellis said. “There’s a theme of the tournament, ‘Dare to shine.’ So, I said to my players the other day, ‘We’re going to add to that, dare to shine the brightest.’ I said to her she shined tonight. She was the brightest.” 

“People are starting to see glimpses of what I see everyday in training. She is making her own mark and creating her own legacy.” 

A legacy of not just winning championships but one of togetherness amongst others, belief in one’s self to reach their goals and that we are all equal and that we should be treated with the same level of respect, especially when it comes to what they are paid. 

FIFA recently has faced criticism of its pay gap between the Men’s and Women’s Soccer national teams. 

While the women’s prize pay for this tournament was set at $30 million, the pay for the men was set at $400 million in Russia last year. 

The President of FIFA Gianni Infantino proposed to double the World Cup prize money for the women to $60 million for 2022, which falls $380 million short of the $440 million projected for the men.  

While the women have been getting the job done on the field in the last two World Cups, the level of interest in men’s soccer has been higher, which has resulted in them getting paid more, despite their play on the field. 

That play has been on the low side, especially after their 1-0 loss in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final loss versus Mexico on Sunday night at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. 

“If you don’t win. If you don’t generate TV ratings merchandise sales, ticket sales you’re not gonna make as much money,” “Chasing News,’” sports anchor George Falkowski said on Monday night’s edition. “The women have taken over soccer in the United States on a national level and with the men losing, the fact just last night to Mexico in the Gold Cup, which is sort of like a little lower tournament it just brings it home.” 

“The women are getting the ratings. Their selling the merchandise. They should be getting paid as well as the men.” 

In a time where we see more divisiveness in sports that one can remember from former San Francisco 49es quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling in protest of the Star Spangled Banner to how U.S.A. Women’s National Soccer team dragging the American flag the question is whether this is the right time to be having this discussion about pay, especially after what this team accomplished. 

As Communication Strategist Ronica Cleary said this moment by the USWNT demonstrates their short-term focus to wear they should be talking about fair pay, instead of equal pay. 

“I don’t know a lot about soccer, but it sounds like these women might be better players than the men,” she said on Monday night. “Why are they asking for the same pay that these losers can’t even get out of the Gold Cup?” 

“I just feel like they should be asking for what they deserve.” 

Councilman Peter Brown (D-NJ) added to that by saying sports this day in age has become big business and what the two-time champs are pointing out is their people at the top of their league to put a lot more heft into promoting them and their sport. 

He feels though that the team can go about making their point of the major pay gap in a better manner, especially how they go express their feeling about President Donald Trump, who congratulated the ladies on their win via Twitter @realDonaldTrump saying, “Congratulations to the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team on winning the World Cup! Great and exciting play. America is proud of you all!” 

“Swatting the flag, we shouldn’t be doing it,” Councilman Brown said. “This is America’s team and if you’re asking to invest in it you got to embrace America as well.” 

On Sunday, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team completed their journey of winning back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles and their fourth all-time, the most in the history of this tournament. They played to the level where that was equal to the 1991 team; the 1999 team that was full of moms; and the 2015 squad, while creating a legacy of their own. 

They performed as a team to where they displayed a confidence, relentlessness, determination, and fortitude that gained respect from their opponents, gave inspiration to their fans in attendance and watched at home in the states and answered their critics with an unrelenting, undeterred confidence that was all their own. They also started a long overdue conversation of being paid to a level that is worthy of their accomplishments. 

On Wednesday in New York, NY the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup champions will be celebrated and revered for what they accomplished, how they did it and how they began a conversation that will one day result in the next generation and generations after them being seen and treated and paid at the level they are worth. Something that Coach Ellis made sure through her horse voice that she got across to her record setting team. 

“I could barely speak, but I just said to them their unbelievable. Congratulations. They made history. Enjoy it. I mean, this is unbelievable,” She said to Curry. 

FOX’s World Cup studio analyst Alexi Lalas added by saying “Never once did they nor should they apologize for what they did. They were bold. They were brash. They were arrogant, whatever word you want to use. But ultimately, when somebody is like that or when a team is like that there’s a lot of people that come and look to see them fail. And yet with all that pressure, and all that understanding they didn’t fail.” 

“They brought it and they lived up to all the hype, and it was fun to watch because it was a different type of personality, and character for a US team, but ultimately with the same result.” 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 7/3/19 New York Newsday article, “Naeher Saves Best For Last,” by Michael Lewis; 7/7/19 11 a.m. 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between “United States versus Netherlands” on WNYW FOX 5 with commentators JP Dellacamera, Aly Wagner and sideline reporter Alex Curry, and studio analysts Rob Stone, Kelly Smith, Heather O’Reilly, and Alexi Lalas; 7/7/19 ESPN news crawl; 7/8/19 6:30 p.m. edition of “ABC World News Tonight,” with David Muir, with report from Eva Pilgrim; 7/8/19 New York Newsday articles, “U.S. Women Rulers,” and “LI’s Dunn Shows Versatility,” by Michael Lewis; 7/8/19 11 p.m. edition of “Chasing News” on WWOR TV My 9 with Bill Spade, and the A+ panel of Communications Strategist Ronica Cleary, Linden, NJ Councilman Peter Brown (D-NJ) and sports anchor George Falkowski; 7/13/19 www.washingtonpost.com sports story, “With Larger Goals In Mind, USWNT says It’s Not Worried About How It Celebrates Them,” by Steven Goff;  https://www.ussoccer.com/competitions/fifa-womens-world-cup-2019;   https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_FIFA_Women’s_World_Cup#Final; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_O’Reilly.