American mid-fielder Michael Bradley says soccer is a man’s game. Kozo Hattori argues that shouldn’t preclude showing vulnerability or admitting that criticism hurts.
Like many Americans, my heart stopped in the last seconds of the World Cup game between the United States and Portugal and restarted after the finish of the games on Thursday. The US team survived the “Group of Death” by the skin of their teeth.
Unfortunately, I felt more disheartened when I watched an interview with bald headed mid-fielder, Michael Bradley.
“Fairly or unfairly some people criticized you after the draw against Portugal, how do you think you played today?” asked the interviewer. In the game against Portugal, Bradley missed a point-blank shot on goal with no goalie and turned over the ball at the end of the game which lead to a last second goal by Portugal to even the match.
Bradley responded, “I’ve been around the game long enough to understand that it is a man’s game, and it is not for the guys who want to hide, and it’s not for the guys who aren’t strong enough to take it.”
In America, I wouldn’t pigeon-hole soccer as a man’s game, especially since the US Women’s team holds two World Cups, while the men’s team has never sniffed at a championship.
|
A man’s game? Really? In America, I wouldn’t pigeon-hole soccer as a man’s game, especially since the US Women’s team holds two World Cups, while the men’s team has never sniffed at a championship.
But what really disturbs me is how manhood is being defined for all the world to see. Manhood equals guys who don’t hide and are strong enough to take it. Under attack, real men take the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and toughen up, not feel a thing. They don’t hide behind soft emotions like hurt and disappointment.
Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate all Bradley has done to get the US team into the World Cup and out of the “Group of Death.” His stability and leadership in the mid-field ground the US team. I have nothing against Bradley’s performance on the pitch. My critique is of his pitch in front of the microphone.
When asked about Bradley’s performance in the World Cup, Landon Donovan stated, “Michael will tell you that he’s not played as well as he can play, but the one thing you get from Michael always, is you get a guy who competes, and so no matter how Michael plays technically. . . he always competes and he always battles.”
Actually, Landon, Michael won’t tell you that he’s not played well because we asked him and he said something about soccer being a man’s game.
[W]hy does a man need to compete when the game is over? Why can’t a man admit his mistakes and emotions?
|
I agree with Donovan that Bradley always competes, but why does a man need to compete when the game is over? Why can’t a man admit his mistakes and emotions?
Wouldn’t it have been great if Bradley replied to the question about criticism with an honest response, such as, “When people say things like that, it hurts. I know I haven’t played as well as I could, but I’m going to keep trying.”
In the men’s group I run, one of our ground rules is “no competing.” It is amazing at what happens with a group of men when we stop competing with each other. A number of older men have told me that they have never been in the company of men without competing.
When we stop competing, we are free to reveal our mistakes, our pains, and our tenderness. From what I’ve seen, this authenticity and vulnerability is more manly than hiding behind the tough guy façade.
I really hope that Bradley performs well in the elimination round. I would love to see the US advance and possibly play against Argentina. But if they lose, I hope they act like men and show the full range of their emotional spectrum.
Photo: AP/Rock Scuteri
I’m a pretty smart guy but sometimes I feel like I don’t understand most of what is talked about here at GMP.
So, basically this is an entire article about how this guy should be sorry for stating you need to be strong to play soccer? I get that the “Man’s game” thing is a bit ridiculous because women play soccer too, but he is a male soccer player – so his frame of reference would be men’s soccer…
America is about 270 years older than the USA. It’s kind of rude and disrespectful of the USA , or USAers to say that they are the only Americans. The USA is the least American of the American nations.
100% agree with you. This Bradley, he should just admit his mistakes. It won’ t even get him killed.