Racing v Reign Preview…but not really
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My wife once bought me tickets to a Pacers Cavs games back when LeBron was in his second stint with the Cleveland. As the game approached I noticed that it was the second game of a back-to-back part of the schedule. Of course LeBron had the night off and didn't travel with the team. I still had fun, but it would have been nice to see LeBron. The Cavs got destroyed (deservedly) and seeing Kevin Love just wasn't that big of a thrill. On a side note I saw a Warriors game in Oakland minus Steph Curry too, but I did get to see Durant, Thompson, Green and Anthony Davis on the Pelicans.
This little preamble is to say that fans like to see stars from the other teams. When I bought season tickets for Racing they didn't even have a coach (history repeats) let alone players. It wasn't the first thought in my mind or a deciding factor in why I bought tickets, but one of my early thoughts was “I will get to see Megan Rapinoe play in person.” She was the player I most wanted to see.
Flash Forward over a year, and now I realize that I may never get to see her play in person. I just got confirmation from Susie Rantz who covers the Reign that Coach Laura Harvey said that Rapinoe is out this weekend. I know she didn't travel with the team, so I am all but 100% sure she won't be in the stadium this Saturday. Hear this loud and clear: I DO NOT BLAME HER OR THE OL REIGN ONE BIT. How opposing fans might feel is very low down on the list of a team's concerns if it's even on the list. Megan Rapinoe is 36 years old and has played twice already this week. I don't know how many more years she is going to play, but I hope that Louisville hasn't missed its only chance to see one of the greatest soccer players to even play the game. I have said before that I don't watch a ton of international soccer, but what I do remember from watching is this: Megan Rapinoe in the 2019 World Cup was the best player on the field and it wasn't close. I’m not talking Messi or Ronaldo being the best player in their primes on the field. I’m talking it looked like she was playing FIFA on easy mode different. She did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. I don’t want to or mean to insult any of the other players, but she was so much noticeably better than it almost seemed unfair. Now memory is a funny thing and not a great discerning tool for finding facts or the truth, but that’s what her performance felt like to me and it's how I personally remember it. I’m sure others remember it differently.
Now on to the game. The Reign will be without Rapinoe, but had no trouble defeating Racing without her or the other Olympians in Tacoma. Racing has had a tough week and is on a 2 game losing streak. This is not a prediction but a wish…I HOPE RACING BEATS THE OL REIGN BY 5 GOALS. I HOPE THEIR FLIGHT HOME IS DELAYED. I HOPE THEY MISS THE PLAYOFFS BY A POINT AND LOOK BACK ON THIS GAME AS THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. HOW DARE YOU DEPRIVE THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE THE CHANCE TO SEE ONE OF THE GREATEST! OUR CITY IS HOME TO THE GREATEST AND YOUR LACK OF RESPECT WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN.
In case that wasn't clear I’m obviously being hyperbolic, but a win would be sweet.
