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LOS ANGELES---In an unfortunate series of events, this sports writer partially lost hearing on August 20, 2023.
Whether it was from rocking out too hard or swimming obsessively to cope with the bores of her own life, Katareena Roska could not hear out of her right ear.
And at first, it was a minor inconvenience. A mere annoyance. It was only one ear. If Van Gogh got away with it, so could she.
Yet this mysterious auditory affliction couldn’t be ignored any longer. Patient Roska could not hear her mother scold her to sleep earlier, her father critique her writing, nor her sardonic AP Lit teacher tell her to give up on her dreams. It had become an obstacle to normalcy.
With luck, my troubles were fixed with a quick trip to urgent care and an antibiotic miracle. For others, fortune is less favorous. But they’ve never let that stop them.
Seven Chandler is only 10, but she walks with a kind of enlightenment only the Buddha could achieve. Ever positive, ever radiant. A deaf performer and LAUSD student, Chandler’s rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner was delivered using ASL–-American Sign Language.
While some like Fergie can attest to the difficulty of performing such a revered song, Chandler made it look like a cakewalk. Elegantly patriotic, inspiring hope across fans in the stands at BMO Stadium.
This country has never been perfect, but our individual efforts are working towards a better tomorrow. For Angel City Football Club, that tomorrow is today. From Chandler’s recognition, to a fanfest consisting of high school students, a blood drive, a pit bull adoption event, and a special performance from the Urban Voices Project.
And ACFC’s work continues on the field. Right before today’s kickoff, both ACFC and OL Reign joined arms to stand with Spain’s Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s football federation president Luis Rubiales kissed her without her consent to celebrate the team’s historic win. Together, they held up a banner emblazoned: CONTIGO JENNI.
“...There’s a huge backlash against women happening right now,” said Megan Rapinoe in an interview with the Atlantic.
In a press conference with Rapinoe, she praises the progress we’ve made, and also recognizes the areas where we’ve failed. Commenting on the global backlash to Rubiales’ actions, she notes that “Everyone’s like ‘abso-f***ing-lutely not’,” and hopes it will be “dealt with quickly so that they can get back to celebrating the World Cup.”
For OL Reign midfielder Van der Jagt, she’s disappointed to find “...these things are still happening over and over again.” To her, it’s “a reminder that we have to never stop fighting.”
Their responses to me are nothing but chock full of biting truth. These barriers have always existed. We can argue these issues to death, or we can start doing something.
ACFC dares itself to do something greater for the community—they’re more than a club. They challenge you to use your voice or in Chandler’s case, hands.
So speak up, even if your voice shakes. Make everyone hear what you have to say. ACFC is doing it. The NWSL is doing it. When will you?
**Find the full press conference video here.**
Photos by Jonah Breton.
