Elizabeth Lambert Spurs Facebook Interest
November 9, 2009 by Megan Hueter
Filed under Soccer, Sports Headlines, Sportsmanship
This blog post is part 7 of a series discussing my experiences with social media as they relate to advocacy issues that highly affect the women’s sport sphere. This is an assignment for a class I’m enrolled in as part of John’s Hopkins University’s Digital Communications program.
On Friday, we all saw the below video of New Mexico professional soccer player Elizabeth Lambert, who astonishingly displayed unsportsmanlike conduct in a game against Brigham Young University. (She’s since been suspended indefinitely from the league).
The cultural fascination with violence displayed by women in sports is nothing new. The 2008 WNBA fights gave the league more attention than they’ve ever gotten. And we all know how upset everyone got when Serena Williams gave a tennis ref a piece of her mind.
But what I find particularly interesting with the case of Elizabeth Lambert this is the varied Facebook interest that this act of violence has spurred.
Three notable groups were formed in the past few days.
First, there’s one titled “BAN Elizabeth Lambert From Soccer” sports the description “Can you believe it! How sad,” with a link to the YouTube video – it has 1,435 fans. A wide variety of advocates are posting their opinions about Lambert and engaging in an interesting dialogue.
BAN Elizabeth Lambert From Soccer Facebook Fan Page
On the other hand, we have another Page on the rise, called GO ELIZABETH LAMBERT, with 2,937 fans. Interesting how this one is more popular, huh? Not surprisingly, the “Just Fans” tab sports comments such as “She’s my American Hero” and “Now here is a chick who likes a good donkey punch every once in awhile.”
Go Elizabeth Lambert! Facebook Page
The third notable Page is one called “Free Elizabeth Lambert,” with 1,131 Fans. Comments include “Intimidation and playing over the line are part of the game” and “I’m not sure why she apologized.”
Free Elizabeth Lambert! Facebook Page
The difference of opinion with these three groups is amazing. There’s no obvious commercial interests involved, so that means they’re all general interest pages, meaning this is a cultural phenomenon spurred by the media. Seems people are taking it upon themselves to identify with this issue in a variety of ways.
Which group would you join, and why?
Hmmmm. Those who want to ban her would probably label their favorite athlete a “loser” if he/she failed to win. And those who say “Intimidation and playing over the line are part of the game” would probably tell you they don’t condone violence in any other situation. And if you say “She’s my American Hero” then what kind of moral fibre do you have if a violent person willing to cross the line into poor sportsmanship is your hero? Is that the kind of role model you want for your little boy or girl?
How about a 4th group – confused by society!
She’s a vicious thug who should never be involved in intercollegiate sports again. The BYU player who was pulled down should have pursued an arrest warrant.
As the Mother of 5 daughters, I am extremely proud right now that not one of them is capable of such disgraceful and unlady-like behavior. I am appalled at this beastly conduct. She is a disgrace and doesn’t deserve to play, nor does she deserve the title “professional”. It saddens me to see someone treat another in that brutal way. What is wrong with her? She is a disgrace!
Look at the BYU player #21-before Lambert grabs #21′s ponytail, #21 is pulling on Lambert’s shorts. At the 53 second mark, #21 is almost wedging Lambert’s shorts into her crotch.
Not exactly exemplary play. I’d be pissed too
I was a defender too, and remember matches in which the referee let things get out of hand and I took things into my own hands. TV has made Ms Lambert into a monster for doing things all defenders have done under such circumstances. It may take a player to note this, but she committed no “professional foul”– clearly she was trying to intimidate but not to injure. She’s a fine defender and I hope the present notoriety does not drive her out of the game.
I’ve watched the video and it appears to me that she was, to a large degree, provoked. And, in addition to the elbowing, shorts-grabbing that was going on, I’m sure there was also a fair amount of trash-talking going on. So, people that call her a “vicious thug” are, in my opinion, blowing it way out of proportion. And, no, she’s not a “professional”, she is a college aged girl. Seems to me she was playing hard, not taking any crap from her opponents, and all you arm-chair PollyAnnas that are now excoriating her should get over it.
The media have a fascination with what is considered unusual, and over-report those crimes, eg. aggressive female athletes and women who commit (other) violent crimes.