Millions of Americans across the country watched intently as the United States faced Germany on Thursday in the final game of the group stage at the World Cup. The Americans lost, 1-0, but still advanced to the round of 16 thanks to Portugal's victory over Ghana.
One person who was most likely not glued to a television during this time? Ann Coulter.
The conservative political commentator wrote an incendiary column ripping soccer and its fans that was published by several media outlets across the country. Coulter, who was named to Time's 2005 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, comes up with several rather ridiculous reasons for why soccer is overrated. Among them are:
--"You can't use your hands in soccer. (Thus eliminating the danger of having to catch a fly ball.) What sets man apart from the lesser beasts, besides a soul, is that we have opposable thumbs. Our hands can hold things. Here's a great idea: Let's create a game where you're not allowed to use them!"
--"It's foreign. In fact, that's the precise reason the Times is constantly hectoring Americans to love soccer. One group of sports fans with whom soccer is not 'catching on' at all, is African-Americans. They remain distinctly unimpressed by the fact that the French like it."
--"Individual achievement is not a big factor in soccer. In a real sport, players fumble passes, throw bricks and drop fly balls — all in front of a crowd. When baseball players strike out, they're standing alone at the plate. But there's also individual glory in home runs, touchdowns and slam-dunks.
In soccer, the blame is dispersed and almost no one scores anyway. There are no heroes, no losers, no accountability, and no child's fragile self-esteem is bruised. There's a reason perpetually alarmed women are called 'soccer moms,' not 'football moms.'"
Coulter has always been somewhat of a political troll, and now she seems to be extending her reach to the sports sphere. Despite soaring interest and record TV ratings for the tournament, Coulter can't wrap her mind around the fact that soccer is enjoyable.
Judging by the reaction on Twitter, it doesn't seem like Coulter is fooling anyone with her words:
No comment. RT @Mediaite Coulter Trolls U.S. World Cup Fans: It's a 'Sign of the Nation's Moral Decay' http://t.co/vrrA5VTyPL #WorldCup
— Josh Elliott (@JoshElliott32) June 26, 2014
Look, I'm not a soccer/World Cup fan, but at least I'm not like this about it. Hell, this practically turned me. http://t.co/UlHI0xPZR1
— J. Holtham (@jholtham) June 26, 2014
Ann Coulter wrote maybe the worst column about the #WorldCup ever. And that’s saying something http://t.co/JgIklba9rc pic.twitter.com/DIA4Ir6ILo
— BostInno (@BostInno) June 26, 2014
Ann Coulter links American's interest in World Cup to "moral decay," once again proves she's an idiot: http://t.co/OZS09whX6v
— Michael O'Keeffe (@MOKNYDN) June 26, 2014
Brazilian TV showing footage of US servicemen abroad watching World Cup. Wish Ann Coulter would tell them how un-American they are.
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) June 26, 2014
(H/T to SI.com)