Natasha Kai Appreciation Post

If you’ve been reading the USWNT blog, you know the team is up to a lot of traveling and training this week. Hope Solo is trying to figure out which cleats to wear. Heather Mitts is, uh…

And Lori Chalupny is taking up knitting. Thrilling stuff.

NBC recently rolled out their official Olympic website with a pretty big section on the both the men’s and women’s soccer teams. At the top of that section is a link with the text: “No reason for concern” accompanying a picture of of Natasha Kai celebrating (I think) one of the bazillion goals she scored this year (ok, just twelve). So perhaps it is safe to say that everyone is moving on from the Wambach incident and looking ahead to the rest of the roster to pick up the slack (and if you haven’t had a chance to read Andrea Canales’ recent ESPN article on the team, I highly recommend it). I think NBC is on the right track by highlighting Kai as one of the impact players during this tournament. This year has definitely been her year as she inched her way into the starting line-up and became the team’s second highest goal scorer. Not only are her stats impressive, but she’s an emotional powerhouse on the field – or rather – “one of those dynamic personalities and players that, when put into a situation or game, makes the most out of the opportunities she gets.” (Wambach’s words)

And she’s also got hella tattoos. The most prominent being the sleeve on her right arm. It looks super cool and I HATE ARM SLEEVE TATTOOS. Seriously. If I see someone walking down the street and they have an arm sleeve tattoo, my emotional reaction is not pretty. I often find myself wondering why someone would choose to waste so much time and money to mark up their entire arm. It’s almost like a weird OCD thing. No lump of skin on my arm will be left untouched! Just bizzare I say. Anyways, for some strange reason, Kai’s sleeve is great and totally fits her and doesn’t look stupid but I’m not sure why. So I decided to compare her to another arm sleeve enthusiast, John Mayer – who tends to elicit an unpleasant reaction from me. Here is a photo comparison and my thoughts.

<– Look at that? What is that mess? Nope. Not impressed.

<– Seems to be a bit of a self-gratifying douchebag (don’t believe me? go read his blogs).

<– Plays terrible music.

<– Dates vulnerable and needy women.

–> Lovely clean lines and a matching pattern. I found inner peace when I gazed at that arm.

–> Scores hella goals. Remains fierce while doing so.

–> Makes opponents rethink going back to school and getting that Accounting degree.

–> Probably dating the person who will cure cancer.

See? There you have it. Yes, this post is completely pointless. Look for Kai to rise to the occasion during the Games and really lead the team both on and off the field. That is all.