Sunday, July 8, 2012

Out Spotlight

 Today's Out Spotlight is an American soccer midfielder who is currently a midfielder for the Seattle Sounders Women of the W- League, a member of the United States women's national soccer team and Olympian. Last week she came out in Out Magazine.  Today's Out Spotlight is Olympian Megan Rapinoe.

 Megan Anna Rapinoe was born July 5, 1985 grew up in Redding, California with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including her twin, Rachael.

In high school, Rapinoe did not play soccer for her school's team instead playing for the Elk Grove Pride club team.  She was a part of the club from 2002 through 2005. Elk Grove plays in the Women's Premier Soccer League.  The club won state and league championships, and were the national runner-up in 2003. Over her four years, she scored 25 goals for the club. But she did compete in other sports for her high school including track as a freshman and sophomore, and basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and senior all while making the honor roll every semester. She was named Parade and NSCAA All-American as a junior and senior and to the McDonald's All-American Game in 2004.

Rapinoe and her twin, Rachael, both attended the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. The Rapinoe twins almost committed to Santa Clara University before choosing to play for the Portland Pilots.  They both played soccer competitively until Rachael was critically injured and sidelined from the game.

In 2004,  she did not play college soccer what would have been her freshman season in order to play in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship where the United States placed third.

In 2005 as a freshman (in terms of her eligibility status), Rapinoe helped the Portland Pilots to an undefeated season and the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. She was a NSCAA First Team All-America and was on the Soccer America First Team Freshman All-America. She made the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship All Tournament Team and was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. She was also an All-West Coast Conference First Team and an All-West Coast Conference Freshman Team selection. Rapinoe played and started all 25 games as an attacking midfielder, scoring 15 goals and added 13 assists for 43 points. That year, she also had seven recorded game-winning goals.

As a sophomore in 2006, she was among the nation's leading scorers with 10 goals and 2 assists in just 11 matches before suffering her first season-ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury against Washington State University on October 5. She joined Tiffeny Milbrett and Shannon MacMillan as the only Portland Pilots to score 25 goals and 15 assists in just two years.

As a junior she appeared in just two matches off the bench early in the year before suffering a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury for the second consecutive season. She was granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA, but never used it.

As a senior in 2008, Rapinoe started all 22 games of the season and was named a Soccer America First-Team All-American and a NSCAA Second Team All-American as she led the Portland Pilots and the West Coast Conference in assists (13). She was also voted West Coast Conference Player of the Year.

 She had one more season of college eligibility remaining, due to her NCAA medical hardship waiver, but opted to enter the Women's Professional Soccer draft instead. Rapinoe's 88 point career (30 goals, 28 assists) is 10th in the school's history despite playing just 60 total games.

She was selected second overall in the 2009 WPS Draft to Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Rapinoe appeared in 18 games (17 starts, 1375 minutes) and scored two goals and assisted on three others. She was named a Women's Professional Soccer First-Team All-Star. In 2010, she struggled with illness, but played in 20 games (19 starts) scoring one goal on the last touch of the last game of the season.

In December 2010 she moved on to Philadelphia Independence after the Chicago Red Stars ceased operations. Rapinoe appeared in four games and scored one goal before she was traded to the MagicJack.



While in Germany playing in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe was traded to the MagicJack. It was reported that the "cash considerations" involved in the transfer were $100,000. This was the most expensive trade in WPS history. On October 25, 2011, the Women's Professional Soccer League voted to terminate the MagicJack franchise, leaving Rapinoe and many other big names as free agents for the 2012 season.


In October 2011, Rapinoe signed with W-League (Australia) team Sydney FC as a guest player for two games. In her second and final game against Melbourne Victory, she scored with eight minutes remaining to seal three points for Sydney.

Rapinoe trained with the team at 2006 Residency Training Camp in Carson, California. She came into training with the team early in 2006 and played in four matches. Rapinoe made her United States Women's National Team debut on July 23, 2006 against Ireland. She scored her first and second senior team goals on October 1, 2006 against Chinese Taipei.

Due to two separate anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Rapinoe did not play for the senior team in 2007 or 2008. She did not play in either the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup or the 2008 Olympics.

Upon her return to the United States Women's National Team in 2009, Rapinoe led the team in points with five (two goals and one assist). She played in seven games, starting in six. Rapinoe scored against Norway in the Algarve Cup in a 1-0 victory, and also added a goal against Canada in Toronto.

In 2010 Rapinoe started eight of the ten games she played and scored four goals with two assists. One of the assists came in the second match of the Women’s World Cup playoff series against Italy that set up Amy Rodriguez’s game-winning goal. Rapinoe scored against Sweden and China and twice against Guatemala at the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament, in which she played three games.


Rapinoe was selected as part of the U.S. team for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She came on as a substitute in a group stage match vs Colombia in the 50th minute and scored almost immediately to put the U.S. up 2–0. Rapinoe started in the USA's last group stage match versus Sweden, in which the U.S. lost 2–1. During the quarterfinal match against Brazil, Rapinoe came on as a substitute and lofted a cross into the box for Abby Wambach's game-tying extra-time header; she would later convert her shot during the penalty shootout to help send the United States to the semifinals. Following the match against Brazil,  she was named ESPN's Next Level Player of the Week for completing 5 of 10 crosses while the rest of the team was 0 for 18.   She went on to notch two more assists in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final and final against France and Japan, respectively. She ended the tournament with 1 goal and 3 assists.

Following her appearance in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe's hometown of Redding officially made September 10, 2011 "Megan Rapinoe Day". Rapinoe won the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year award at the 60th annual Oregon Sports Awards held on February 12, 2012.



She is a member of the Women's USA Olympic Team.  Later this month  she will join her teammates to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"Known for her killer crosses (one in overtime to Abby Wambach during the World Cup last year helped Team USA tie Brazil and send the game to penalty kicks) and fabulous crop of short blonde hair (which has its own T-shirt and Twitter account), Rapinoe has long been a favorite among soccer fans and gay women for her infectious attitude and intense play."

On July 2, 2012, Rapinoe came out as gay in an interview with Out magazine. It was confirmed that Rapinoe was dating Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh for three years and had even taken her home to meet her family at Christmas time.

Rapinoe feels women’s teams are generally more accepting. “In female sports, if you’re gay, most likely your team knows it pretty quickly,” she says. “It’s very open and widely supported. For males, it’s not that way at all. It’s sad.”


Her twin sister Rachael remains a passionate supporter of her sister’s achievements and stressed her admiration of her sister’s decision to be transparent concerning her personal life. “I think it’s incredibly brave to use this talent and platform that she’s been blessed with in a positive way,” Rachael says, “not just on the field, but providing an example of how to treat people off the field as well.”

 “I feel like sports in general are still homophobic, in the sense that not a lot of people are out,” she says. “I feel everyone is really craving [for] people to come out. People want -- they need -- to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol’ U.S. of A.”










24 comments:

Florida Tom said...
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Florida Tom said...
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prairiegirl said...
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another Austin TX tweet said...

(@One_mackdaddy)
7/8/12 22:15

I SAW JAKE GYLLENHAAL TODAY AT RAZZOOS!

Shared via TweetCaster (http://tweetcaster.com)

prairiegirl said...

Do you get the feeling we're in a Twilight zone or something? lol

I'm looking back. I'm checking the calendar, double checking the clock. Checking the list twice, so to speak. LOL.

Just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

No, no, no, no! Just waiting to see what it is all about, that's all.

Can't wait to see what the temperature is outside this morning.

prairiegirl said...

The Troll reveals their unrest and lack of answer by personally attacking.

That's all they have.

humm said...

With Jake's filming obligations, plus a houseful of children, I don't think he'd be able to run over to Paris at a moment's notice. They've had other opportunities if one were to believe the J&A saga. Having multiple births and then leaving them with nannies could only be thought of as acceptable parenting by the OMG'ers. Where are the usual shoutouts like rings, etc., by Austi?

I don't mind reading their speculations, and they are even entertaining, but they get to defensive, nasty, and trollish about it. Just take the high road and ignore the trolls. Right now you can tell they are circling the wagons and the silence about Ted's leaving is noticeable.

Is this tre said...

With Jake's filming obligations, plus a houseful of children, I don't think he'd be able to run over to Paris at a moment's notice. They've had other opportunities if one were to believe the J&A saga. Having multiple births and then leaving them with nannies could only be thought of as acceptable parenting by the OMG'ers. Where are the usual shoutouts like rings, etc., by Austi?

I don't mind reading their speculations, and they are even entertaining, but they get to defensive, nasty, and trollish about it. Just take the high road and ignore the trolls. Right now you can tell they are circling the wagons and the silence about Ted's leaving is noticeable.

destiny said...

Good Spotlight as usual Special. Megan and Sarah are a cute couple.

Austin said...

AUSTIN NICHOLS ‏@AUS10NICHOLS
Thank you to the French Fans and Comic Con! A life-changing trip. But I ain't leavin. i have to enjoy Paris for a few more days.
16m ago

prairiegirl said...

BWAHAAH!!!


AUSTIN NICHOLS ‏@AUS10NICHOLS

Thank you to the French Fans and Comic Con! A life-changing trip. But I ain't leavin. i have to enjoy Paris for a few more days.

8:51 AM - 9 Jul 12 via web · Details


Gonna start calling you Windex, Austy.

LOLLLLL. Priceless.

prairiegirl said...

i have to enjoy Paris for a few more days.


whatever you say, buddy. You just enjoy yourself over there across the pond.
;D

prairiegirl said...

I'm going to liken Austin to one mr. Louis Tomlinson, who I understand had his trip home to London abruptly curtailed and detoured to France along with his beard, Eleanor. This was to avoid him arriving home after the long concert tour at the same time as one mr. Harry Styles. Because you know, Harry and Louis share a home. But because Harry and Louis were shoved into the closet, Management couldn't have both boys arriving home at the same time. Someone might see something through the windows, you know. So poor Louis has been stuck in France waiting for someone to snap their fingers so that he can return to his own home.

And I guess such a stink was raised by the Larry/One Direction fans that some members of Louis' immediate family were actually flown to France to join Louis because the separation was deemed human torture and inhumane. Not sure whose dime this was on. I hope it was on Simon's credit card.

How funny that this is the same country (France) that Austin has now been exiled in until the All Clear will be issued. I guess Jake and any tiny cargo will be bundled up and sneaked through the Underground railroad so to speak, and smuggled to safer ground. Then, the All Clear will be issued to Austin and we will get a "Honey, I'm home!" tweet from Austin.

Cool !!!!! I get to use my All Clear avatar. Can't wait!

prairiegirl said...

I dunno, guys. I think maybe we should take up a collection for mr. Austy since he is in exile, away from his family.

Like extra undies. Because I'm sure he didn't pack enough since the stay in Paris has now been extended.

I am going to spearhead an Underwear Drive for Austin, that's what I'm going to do. And this must be done immediately so that the extra supplement can be Fedex'd to him overnight. This kind of thing can't wait. Either that or I can Fedex a bottle of Woolite.

Virtual donations, please!! Donate what you can, boxers or boxer briefs. We need to help this man out.

He's stranded. This is tragic!

lol

Methodical Muser said...

So Austin is going to stay in Paris now. Priceless. Given Syco's (the joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment)recent "banishment," of One Direction's Louis Tomlinson to Nice after the group's American Tour, there must be something about France and closeted gays hanging out there when they or their partner slip up on the heteronormal front.

With Jake's filming obligations, plus a houseful of children, I don't think he'd be able to run over to Paris at a moment's notice.

Oh, don't worry. Nothing Austin and Jake do is on "a moment's notice." Living in the closet is hardly conducive to spur of the moment decision making.

prairiegirl said...

Wow, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have already reached a divorce settlement.

What does that tell you?

prairiegirl said...

Wow, Adam Lambert is trending right now on Twitter. Did American Idol lose a judge?

Wouldn't that be incredible if he was going to be a judge?

sass said...

Have fun...You deserve it.

Florida Tom said...

I have never heard anyone here say that is ok to leave your children with nannies. What I have heard is that at all times it seems when Jake is working Austin is not and visa versa. I am one who belives that kids need a solid home with parents that are there for them 24/7. Why do people think we are making a big deal out of Jake being in Austin, Texas when Austin is overseas.

the end said...

1. Harry and Louis no longer share a flat.

2. There are department stores in Paris to buy underwear.

3. Jake is filming today, pictures on Tumblr, and not in Texas.

prairiegirl said...

HA HA HA HA, 19:41. Get in line.

Jake has been dispersed and everyone can take their pick where he's at today. I can tell you that I'm sure he is gone from Texas by now. He was packed up and sent out during the night, as if he was skipping rent.

Hey, how about New York? He was "seen" at Prune today.

prairiegirl said...

It's too late. Some of you just don't get it.

It doesn't matter where Jake is today. Gee, I would have been gravely disappointed if Jake hadn't been moved today, just like he is in the Witness Protection program.

The point is he was seen. He was caught. Damage was already done.

What happens today is pointless.

maybe the beginning said...

Everyone is aware about Simon Cowell throwing a hissy fit over the One Direction boys. It's so apparent what is going on now. There is even a BI circulating that Niall Horan is going to be hooked up with Demi Lovato for a four month bearding contract. Young people are pretty savvy about all this. Still, the guys are acting out and up and are not that easy to control. Even their families support the relationship between Harry and Louis. If there is true love there, (which I think there is), it will find a way to survive all of this homophobic industry crap.

Given what we know said...

Tumblr is not a verification for real time.

There haven't been any further pictures of An Enemy filming since the first day of filming at the school shoot. There was chatter indication online that Jake was vigilant about cell phone cameras.

My bet is whatever pictures someone is claiming to have seen, they are not current.