View from the Bench

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December 1, 2009 • Marta Kotz
Filed under Sports, View from the Bench

Elizabeth Lambert, a junior soccer player from the University of New Mexico, recently took her aggressiveness a step too far in a game on Thursday, November 5th’s game against Brigham Young University.
A back punch, a soccer ball kicked to the face, and a ponytail yank, all led to Elizabeth Lambert being a nationally hated icon.
She earned the title of being the most hated female college soccer player by blogs and Facebook sites.
Her actions were inexcusable and uncalled for.
What she did to the BYU players was not necessary, and way to overly aggressive.
When looking at this situation on the reverse side of athletics (men’s sports, that is), I don’t believe this situation would be blown out of proportion like it is now.
Aggressive behavior defines men’s sports.
An elbow to the chest and other nonchalant moves are constant, both on the collegiate level and professional level.
Lambert obviously crossed the line. If she had been a man in men’s soccer, would she receive this much media attention?
Some of the biggest fights have happened in men’s sports: Pacer/fan outburst, Yankee/ Red Sox, and others. Fights in men’s sports make ESPN weekly.
The media craze over this has set back women’s sports even further.
Playing agressively alone sets you apart from most female athletes, in the HS setting anyway.
How will women ever earn respect in athletics, if they can’t play with intensity and emotion to that of men’s sports?
When you watch the videos more closely, you will notice an apparent and unnecessary elbow to the chest by the BYU player, followed by Lambert punching her in the back.
For the girl that got the ponytail yank, it’s easy to tell that her and Lambert had previous confrontations all throughout the match.
The player was laughing at her right before Lambert pulled her to the ground via ponytail. There were apparent signs all throughout the game that the BYU soccer players had been harassing and mocking her.
In these types of situations, it’s hard not to lose control, but losing control is not an option.
Analysts wondered why Lambert’s teammates weren’t more shocked by her actions.
When examining footage shot from the game, you will see both teams dishing it out back and forth. Lambert was just the first to cross the line.
She even apologized for her actions, and stated she let her emotions get the best of her in a heated situation.
Should she be banned from soccer permanently?
No. Unfortunately, she will never play with the same intense vigor she once had, which is something, I believe, is currently a lost cause in women’s sports.