The Rush: Megan Rapinoe on quarantine lessons, Olympics and an overdue WH visit
Soccer great Megan Rapinoe is on The Rush choppin’ it up with Jared about a myriad of topics, including the 2021 Olympics, being the lone “superfan” in the WNBA Bubble, how quarantine created clarity in her relationship with basketball star Sue Bird, advice for basketball players in the NCAA Tournament bubble, how athletes are making a tangible impact on our society where she’d put a “Pino Pose” statue and her plans to cash in on her IOU visit to the White House.
Video Transcript
MEGAN RAPINOE: I did say-- I was like I want my retroactive visit to the White House. The whole I'm not going to the White House thing became a very, very big deal to the last president. When this pandemic's over, I just want to be rolling up like I'm here.
JARED QUAY: Because everybody who won a championship in the last five years just, just to go hang out at a barbecue--
MEGAN RAPINOE: Exactly. Everybody who wasn't invited, who didn't want to go.
JARED QUAY: What's up, everybody. Today on The Rush, we are honored to welcome soccer legend, activist, author, and American icon, Megan Rapinoe. Megan, how are you doing?
MEGAN RAPINOE: I'm good. I'm good. That was quite the introduction.
JARED QUAY: You deserve it
MEGAN RAPINOE: Thank you.
JARED QUAY: You're coming off a kick ass performance in the SheBelieves Cup, so I want to know how are you feeling going ahead towards the Olympics? Are you feeling good?
MEGAN RAPINOE: I am. Yeah, I'm feeling good. I feel like it's still a little bit up in the air, but eventually somebody will tell me if it's not going. So I'm just preparing as if it's happening. I'm optimistic. I think it'll be-- if we can do it safely, it'll be a really amazing gathering of the world back together for the first time for a sporting event, which everyone loves to watch.
JARED QUAY: The WNBA, which is now in its 25th season-- but you were really involved in the 24th season, supporting your fiancee, Sue Bird. And so I want to know, what was it like being in The Wubble?
MEGAN RAPINOE: I mean, I was the best fan. I was the only fan, really. But I was the best fan. So being able to just like be a fan, see the game, and watch her was incredible. And just to really bear witness to what the WNBA players did off the court during that year, with the amazing play on the court, was just incredible. The way they used their platform, the way they centered Breonna Taylor and the social justice movement. They basically had a huge hand in flipping the Georgia Senate, which gave the Democrats-- this is why people are getting stimulus checks, this is why we even have a vaccine rollout. So it was really, honestly, just exciting to see them have such a positive impact and get their flowers in a lot of ways. It was just really amazing. Those women deserve it all, for sure.
JARED QUAY: Yeah. March Madness is about to start on both Men and Women's. And they're going to be bubble-ized, and obviously you were just in one with Sue. So can you tell any advice for the athletes for being quarantined?
MEGAN RAPINOE: Bubble-ized, I like that. Bubble-ized, I'm going to use that. I mean, listen it's just-- it's going to be boring. You're going to feel restricted a little bit. But I think ultimately, you get to play your sport and you actually get to do what you want to do. So obviously a lot of other people are in a worse position. But it's kind of fun too. It's just unique. Kind of like a cool opportunity to just sort of, in the moment, live through something that we've never been through, and kind of take advantage of it in a way, I think.
JARED QUAY: What have you learned about yourself and society during this pandemic?
MEGAN RAPINOE: I'm definitely a lot more social. But honestly it's so nice to spend time with Sue. I feel like we solidified like we're not going to kill each other. We love each other. We're going to be married. It's going to be great. It's given us an opportunity to really stop and then have the choice, do we want to continue how we were going or maybe we probably should do something different and reshape society, so that it's better for everybody.
JARED QUAY: Millions of the people around the world have been experiencing all kinds of FOMO. How are you helping people deal with FOBO?
MEGAN RAPINOE: Yo, FOBO is a real thing and it's probably just as strong as FOMO, to be honest. Fear Of Body Odor. Obviously, I've partnered up with Schmidt's, which is a really amazing female-founded brand out of Portland, Oregon. You never want to the person that-- that stinks. You know, you don't want to have body odor. So it's trial tested. I feel like I've trained in it. And it actually holds up to the test and it works. So I would encourage everyone to try it. And they have really nice smells. We have like a lavender, there's a rose vanilla. And it's all like gender neutral. So all these smells are for everyone.
JARED QUAY: Yeah, after you celebrate, you want to celebrate with your arms up. Or, you know, do the cool--
MEGAN RAPINOE: You want to get one of these. You don't want to be like--
JARED QUAY: Yeah. We know that's an iconic pose and it's going to be a statue somewhere, someday. My question to you is, where would you want that statue to be?
MEGAN RAPINOE: Woo, man. Well maybe in New York somewhere.
JARED QUAY: It's right behind you-- I see-- I don't know why I feel like you need a, you need a monument. Like it's not just a statue. You need like a DC, right--
MEGAN RAPINOE: Yeah, maybe DC.
JARED QUAY: Yeah.
MEGAN RAPINOE: Get me on the mall. Get me on the mall.
JARED QUAY: Yeah, as much history as you've changed, it's more than just sports. You know Megan, thank you for coming to Rush with me. You are amazing I appreciate all you do. And when the Olympics happens, go back and bring that Gold for us. That's what we need.
MEGAN RAPINOE: Word. Thank you so much for having me on. Appreciate it.
JARED QUAY: All right. Take care.
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