Once the darlings of US sport for their global success, women’s soccer players are now Internet video hits thanks to a hair-pulling harridan and a set of US teen girls gone wild.
Highlights making the rounds on US television and with on-line video viewers now feature University of New Mexico defender Elizabeth Lambert pulling down an opponent by her ponytail and a late-game brawl between high school girls.
Lambert was handed an indefinite suspension for her actions on Thursday in a 1-0 Mountain West Conference playoff semi-final loss to Brigham Young University (BYU), which including hitting, kicking and punching rivals.
“Her actions clearly crossed the line of fair play and good sportsmanship,” Lobos coach Kit Vela said.
Lambert apologized for her actions, still under review by conference officials for possible further action, but the video of her punch-and-pull performance has proven popular viewing.
“My actions were uncalled for. I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions,” she said.
In the wake of the incident came a Sunday brawl in Rhode Island involving a fight between Woonsocket and Tolman girls soccer teams.
Woonsocket led 5-0 in the final seconds when two players ran into each other, touching off a fight between players who punched and pulled hair and inspired post-game fights in the stands.
Only a decade ago, the host US national team defeated China in the Women’s World Cup final. A second US women’s pro league, Women’s Professional Soccer, debuted this year with top talent from around the world.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
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