Carli Lloyd dismisses Chronicle reporter

For all of her brilliant play on the pitch, Houston Dash midfielder Carli Lloyd exhibited the very reason why fans don’t like petulant star players. In an unmatched air of arrogance,  the USWNT co-captain waved away Houston Chronicle reporter Corey Roepken with a wave of her hand and a turn of her back in her postgame meeting with the media.  Lloyd refused to answer any questions until Roepken stepped away from the gathering.

The Chronicle reporter along with other members of the media had been critical of Lloyd’s prolonged absence following the end of the USA’s run at the Olympics in the last few weeks.

One would think that at the highest level of professional soccer that players with a public profile could and would discern the difference between personal and professional.  Lloyd had until this round been accessible to the media however after blocking many from her Twitter account over the last few days and now Saturday night’s action following the Houston Dash’s 4-2 win over the Orlando Pride this is clearly not the case with number ten.

The actions of Lloyd only exacerbate the issue and have done nothing to improve her image. Fans may be ready to forgive and forget the fact that the midfielder’s unexplained absence might very well have cost the Dash a playoff berth but it is obvious after Saturday night that Lloyd is not ready to do the same of a media that have been asking the tough accountable questions that many who do not have access to the players would like hear the answers to.

Lloyd who had a brilliant assist on the game’s first goal when she sent a ball through the box to fellow Olympian Janine Beckie should have been in a joyous mood knowing that the team she had hoped and expressed at last week’s media gathering would finish the season strong took a big step in that direction against Orlando.  Instead she searched out Roepken as she came to media center under BBVA Compass Stadium sending a personal message that she will not allow certain reporters that ask tough questions to which the answer may have held her more accountable for her absence to be in her presence.

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Although many of the fans who witnessed the wave of her hand and the turning of her back may not have understood what was going on, it is hoped that they will now. Houston needs players of character in the good times and in the moments of adversity.  They need players who are willing to be held accountable and know that they are in the public eye because they play a game at level only a few will ever achieve.If they are not willing to accept being inn the public eye and all that comes with it, they need to go away and become a fan of the game like the people who pay their hard earned dollar to see them perform. In life we teach out children accountability and responsibility and that is something one should never outgrow.

The action of one put a damper on what until that point had been a celebration of Kealia Ohai’s continued scoring brilliance and the Dash’s second consecutive win of the week as they head to Portland on Wednesday.  Ohai who scored twice now has a club record nine goals in 2016.

It’s a sad day for everyone who enjoys everything that is Houston Dash soccer when one player can control to whom she will and will not speak because of personal feelings.