From page 9C of the 8/22 USA Today: Announced F Meredith Beard has taken a leave of absence. Activated M Sarah Kate Noftsinger from the reserve team.
So what's going on here? Why do you think she wouldn't wait the extra couple of days for the cup to be over? Is it possible that she doesn't feel comfortable playing, or this was strategic? Or what? Smells fishy... Well good luck to Flo and I hope that everything is ok with her.
Someone on the WUSA boards said that Meredith's sister is getting married on Saturday so that is why she will not be at the game.
The WUSA Insider newsletter said Meredith took the absence because she was attending her sisters wedding.
So who would have rather seen Beard instead of Milburn come in for Barr? Or seen Emmy just moved up to forward for that matter...
I most definitely would have rather seen Beard, but given the fact that she had not played or even traveled to the last 4 or 5 games, it is no wonder she opted for her sister's wedding. Hopefully she will be back next year and be able to get into the mix from the start. Dumping Milburn and keeping Beard is a no brainer.
Yeah, when Milburn came in I thought that that was about it for the Freedom. I sure hope she's not back here next year.
But if she was not getting minutes during the season ahead of Milburn, then why would she expect to be back on the team next year. She probably knew the situation and made her decision based on that.
I did a little asking around and she left with the team's, coaches, and gm's blessing and the promise it would not effect her status. Whether she is on the team, will have to do with her ability, not the fact she "was excused" for the championship game. Skipping a game (albeit a championship game) for a huge family event (she was the maid of honor), is not a career ending move, despite the apparent "wisdom" of AndyMead. Pro athletes do it all the time. Meredith was not in the mix for the past few weeks, and the coach excused her on that basis. If the coach really thought he needed her, he did not have to release her and she would have been dropped from her contract had she not been in Atlanta. Meredith is a promising player and I believe she will be back next year. And yes, towards the end she was getting minutes ahead of Milburn.
I disagree. She was not injured, and nobody died. She's paid to be a member of the team. The team plays only 23 out of 365 days. The "team" may consider her status fine, but I bet a fair number of her teammates, or possible future teammates will question her dedication to the team. Everyone makes sacrifices. Professional athletes miss anniverseries, weddings, funerals, etc. all of the time. It is the nature of the business. It's one thing to miss a regular season game on family business, but we're talking about the championship game. The one thing that these players are playing for. She placed herself before the team. Maybe some players won't have any problems with that, but I bet that some will. This isn't my wisdom. It is my opinion. That's all. I think she made a professional mistake. I'm not saying that it was wrong of her to attend her sister's wedding. We all make choices, and this may have been the best choice for her. It is my opinion, however, that there will be negative professional implications because of the choice she made.
No they don't, not for a championship match. If someone died it might be different, but even then a player will usually make every attempt to get back for the title match itself (even if they miss training and surrounding events). This didn't sit well with me before the match, and it sits even less well with me now since we really could have used her in the last 10-15 minutes and had to deal with @#%^* Milburn instead. If having Meredith at the wedding was so important to her sister, why did she schedule it at the most important time of the WUSA season where Meredith could face the biggest possible obstacles to attending?
1) When was the last time Jimmy played Meredith in a match? No guarantees she woulda played in this match. Jimmy has a thing for Milburn. 2) Could be a multitude of reasons why her sister scheduled the wedding on the day that she did. How could she have known that Beard was going to be on the roster at the end of the season and that the Freedom were going to be in Atlanta on August 24th?
I was thinking along the same lines. I'm wondering if the reason she's not getting playing time is because she's really not that motivated. It would explain this situation as well.
Flo Meredith's sister probably scheduled her wedding a while ago. I know most people schedule a year ahead in order to get the place they want most. How was she to know a year ago where Meredith would be, title game or no. Plus, I would be disowned if I back out of my sister's wedding.
your opinion. My sister and I have a bond that no one else can share. Most siblings have that bond in some way shape or form. I am sorry if you never experienced that Andy, but from personal experience my wedding 8 yrs. ago was planned 13 months in advance. The USMC tried to change that. They lost. Sorry, even the military could not change my wedding plans. Being the matron of honor at my sister's wedding was the most important thing to me. Pro athlete or not. No I am not a pro athlete now. But family will and always has come first in my life. Whether it be a wedding or what. I remember Lorrie Fair missing a game last season for a "friends" wedding, I guess that is something men don't understand. Sorry Andy, you are wrong!!!