Bravo Elizabeth Lambert ... Sort Of

Elizabeth Lambert has become an overnight sensation ... but not in a good way. Thanks to the viral power of youtube, her decidedly unsportspersonlike (we can't say unsportsmanlike any longer) behavior during a recent college soccer game has landed her in the Deplorable Behavior Hall of Fame along side such luminaries as Kermit Washington, Bill Romanowski, Mike Tyson, just to name a few males, and, the only other female athlete to meet its lofty (or should I say base) standards, Tonya Harding.

Ms. Lambert's repeated and unprovoked physical assaults on opposing players during a recent game are truly appalling in their own right. But that's not what really shocked me. You can see that sort of outrageousness regularly in men's professional sports. And it's usually a badge of honor (unless truly over the top or injurious) for male athletes. Such behavior from men is usually rationalized as being expressions of their passion, intensity, and commitment to winning. This sophomoric behavior typically receives a wink, a nod, and a conspiratorial grin -- boys will be boys! -- and a place in the daily ESPN Sports Center highlights, right along side the trash talking and touchdown dances.

What made Ms. Lambert's behavior stand out was that it came from a woman. Quite simply, it violated our long-standing perceptions of lady-like decorum and our belief that female athletes are somehow above the lowly behavior so often exhibited by their male counterparts. Plus, it flew in the face of the uber-sportspersonship we typically see among professional and Olympic female athletes; their message on and off the field usually is "it's just a game!"

From the reports I read and watched, I also sensed a perverse attraction by male viewers in the same vein as women's wrestling (whether of the mud, vegetable oil, or other varieties) and the Lingerie Football League. Sort of a lesbian dominatrix thing going on. Men love a good cat fight, even if it's one sided. Male viewers may have been morally outraged, but they were also viscerally titillated.

I also heard and read a number of "you go, girl!" reactions from women. My guess is that many women were conflicted. Consciously, they were appalled by Ms. Lambert's shameful behavior. At the same time, based on comments I received from a handful of young female athletes, some n actually respected her aggressiveness and were quietly envious of how she gave her opponents "the smackdown" (doesn't everyone want to do that to someone periodically?).

I certainly don't approve of Ms. Lambert's incredibly inappropriate behavior and I hope that her punishment far exceeds a simple suspension. At the same time, I find myself applauding what she did, at least in the big-picture symbolic sense. Ms. Lambert has blown our antiquated notions of women out of the water. No longer can we think of women as subtle, back-stabbing passive-aggressors (bye, bye Gossip Girls and Desperate Housewives). She showed us that women can be just as nasty, vicious, and "in your face" as any guy. And isn't that an important step forward in the evolution of women in our society?

 

Comments

[Lori H]

Wow. This girl is hot. I think it's being blown way out of proportion. It's a rough game and she certainly knows how to play it. Gorgeous + Athletic + Aggressive = *Interesting* Not only does she make me want to watch soccer....­.but I think she could get me to switch teams!

[FHTB]

She showed us that women can be just as nasty, vicious, and "in your face" as any guy. And isn't that an important step forward in the evolution of women in our society?


UH, NO...

Emulating the worst aspects of male behavior, which shouldn't even be acceptable for any male athlete, is not anything to offer BRAVAS to Ms. Lambert for( and get the Italian right...NO­T bravos...H­ELLO!)

When they came out with those hideous "dress for success" woman's suits in the 80s, it was as absurd as this emulation of a woman who shows no class and no style on the field...th­is era where people feel they can act badly and somehow that is a plus is absurd...a­nd I don't care whether you are a male or female athlete...­what does this teach young athletes? That shoving, pushing, jabbing, and kicking are acceptable ways of taking out frustration on the playing field??? That acting as repulsive as a man does is cool?

Who also gives a s--t if this titilates men?

[ConHuff]

Lambert was provoked by dirty play from BYU nos. 7 and 21. As in most sports, Lambert, the retaliator, is being scapegoated while the dirty players go unpunished.

1. (0:18-0:23 in the YouTube clip) a hard intentional elbow in the breast from BYU number 7 (let's call her "Breastbane").

2. Two aggressive but legal and well done tackles by Lambert (0:24 – 0:31).

3. 0.32 – 0:35, BYU number 21 (let's call her "Materazzi") illegally pulls Lambert down.

4. 0:36 – 0:40, only moments after 3, Materazzi surreptitiously grabs Lambert’s shorts. The hair pull follows. Materazzi flopped, hoping to draw a foul.

5. 1:01-1:07, Lobos number 13, not Lambert, tripped the BYU forward, who appears to be Materazzi. Lambert kicked the ball into her face. I say, “Huzzah for Lambert. Feed Materazzi her supper.”

6. 1:10 – 1:15, Lambert was again exchanging fisticuffs with Breastbane. It's certain that Breastbane threw her own share of elbows and knuckles.

Did Lambert cross the line? Yes. Was it provoked? Without question. Does it warrant suspension from the team? No. Nobody was seriously injured, the game was not decided by the plays, and the officials were otherwise allowing roughness.

YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC-pF3OHY1c

[Gigaman]

"You can see that sort of outrageousness regularly in men's professional sports. And it's usually a badge of honor."

I think that is a pretty sexist statement to make about men. Look at the case of Blount earlier this year (a male college football player). He acted out violently against another player and the video was spread across the internet and the predominant public voice was that he should be punished for his actions.

There was nothing honorably in his aggressive violence towards another player. There was nothing honorable about Elizabeth Lambert's violence against the other team.

Fair people can see the line between aggressive play and outright violence, regardless of gender. Trying to make this case into a men vs women perspective shows more about the sensibilities of the author than it does about the general public.

[MorganSmith]

As a former athlete and supporter of fair play I understand that at the height of competition players will be judged not only on their ability but their ability to succeed within the limits of the rules that govern a sport. There are specific rules and implied 'conduct' rules. I disagree with the perspective of both the author and many who have condemned Elizabeth for her behavior. After watching the entire soccer match, and close up replays of the BYU and New Mexico confrontations, BYU is not exactly innocent. It is the job of referees to establish a 'tone' of a match. If they let rough play slide it usually escalates as players test the waters to see what they will get away with. If a call is made players will understand their limits. Albeit, the elbow the BYU player gives to Elizabeth before she punches her in the back would go unnoticed if not watched, but I'm sure that's why she threw the elbow. Was the BYU player suspended for the provocation, or was her behavior silently condoned because she has received little attention for it.

Elizabeth, shake it off. I hope that when you return to the field you've either skilled yourself on how to get away with it or you've raised yourself above the behavior.

[GreshamGuy]

The elbow was thrown because Ms. Lambert was living in the other player's back, constantly crowding, not with an occasional push, but with body blocks. Not technically illegal, but the elbow was probably meant as a warning - there wasn't much force there.

[DariaC]

Maybe my chest is a little more sensitive than yours, it didn't look gentle to me.

[knamahoe]

There's a difference between a "dirty player" and an "aggressive player". Liz Lambert is a dirty player and a disgrace to the sport. What she did bordered on assault. Real players don't have to stoop to hair pulling and punching in order to be effective on the field. The sport is full of women who play a very physical game--Natasha Kai, Abby Wambach, Marta, Shannon Boxx--without resorting to dirty tactics.

Shame on you, Elizabeth.