"When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates. And the name on the front is a hell of alot more important than the one on the back!"

What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander!

Have you heard that expression before?  In my family, we love cliches, especially “southern” ones.  There is a reason why cliches are so popular–they have a fun way of saying exactly what you mean.  For example, Memaw would say “You can’t swing a dead cat….”.  She would finish it based on what there were a lot of.  “You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Dunkin Donuts”.  That means there are many Dunkin Donuts.  If you lived in Texas, “You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting an oil well.”  Michigan–”You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a lake.”  You get my meaning.  More about the goose and the gander (male goose) later.

Milan, Italy

We did so well in the Winter Olympics!  We did better than expected.  There were some disappointments, which is normal, and some exhilarating wins!  Our Men' s and Women’s hockey teams were phenomenal.  In fact, I woke up this morning to my husband rewatching the Men’s victory against Canada.  As I am sure you are aware by now, that victory hasn’t happened in over 45 years–1980 to be exact and created the Disney movie “Miracle” which the title of this blog came from.  There is even a Netflix documentary of that 1980 Olympic win.  If you have Netflix, make sure to see it.  It’s a tear-jerker.

Washington, D. C.

As expected, both hockey teams were invited to the White House.  This is a tradition in which the sitting President invited championship teams to visit him and the White House.  The championship teams (or sometimes individuals) are from all sports and levels:  Olympics, Professional teams like the NFL or NBA, and collegiate teams that win the NCAA championship in football or basketball (March Madness).  This tradition is an invite, which works two ways.  The sitting President doesn’t have to invite the championship team–it is up to him.  But also the championship team does not have to accept the invitation.  They can decline, but hopefully respectfully, because it is the President and the White House.

This is what happened to the hockey teams.  The women’s team respectfully declined the invitation and the men’s team accepted.  I like this tradition and I do think everyone involved in this invitation should have the power to offer it, accept it, or decline it.

I know there was some controversy about how the women’s team was invited.  President Trump made a joke about inviting them to the men’s team on the phone.  However, the women’s team said they were not offended by the joke and I take them at their word.  If they are not offended, then neither am I since I am a bystander and was not part of the interaction at all.  

Switching gears, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a Medal that the President decides to give.  It is totally his discretion, he can award it to anyone he feels deserves it.  It was created by John Kennedy in 1963 to recognize anyone who has made “an especially meritorious contribution” to security or the national interest of the U.S., world peace, or other cultural and significant contributions.  So, in other words, anyone that the President feels worthy.  It is usually awarded to individuals.  But sometimes, groups of people have gotten the award.  For example, the entire Apollo 13 operations team was awarded the Medal in 1970.

February 2026

In President Trump’s State of the Union address, he talked about many things.  I will address none of them.  I really don’t know a lot about politics, probably because I don’t understand it.  However, I want to talk about one thing he did say in that address.  He was awarding Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Connor Hellebuyck was the goalie for the Men’s Olympic hockey team.  He played remarkably during that game and the other games to get the men to the championship game in the Olympics.  He is an Olympian with a Gold Medal.  Very few people can say that.  The win from the hockey team was a shiny beacon that brought everyone in the U.S. together for a brief time.  It didn’t matter your culture, your race, what hockey team you usually rooted for, what politics you engaged in.  We were all one team, the U.S. Hockey Team, and we were very proud at that moment they won.  Does Hellebuyck deserve the Presidential Medal of Freedom?  Absolutely!  It was a wonderful Olympics!

So, what’s the problem?  Here’s the list:)

1. Why just the goalie getting the Medal?  Why not the entire team who contributed immensely to all those Olympic wins?  President Trump stated “I asked all his teammates if they would be ok with me giving Hellebuyck the Medal and they all said yes.”  Well, of course they said yes!  Are they going to say no he doesn’t deserve it?  Or how come I don’t get the Medal too?  Of course not.  

   
   

2. What about the Women’s Hockey team?  They won gold.  They beat all their opponents.  Why don’t they get the Medal?  

   
   

3. Ok, so let’s say President Trump says, “I can’t give out all those Medals.  That’s too many!!”  Is he restricted on how many he can give out?  No.  As I mentioned before, the Apollo 13 team received the Medal.  But maybe he personally feels that is too many.  So then why doesn’t the Women’s goalie get it too?  Aerin Frankel didn’t just help her team win.  She DOMINATED her net.  In the 7 Olympic games, including the Gold Medal game, she allowed 2 goals–TOTAL!!   The Men’s team allowed 10 goals total (still a magnificent feat but more than 2).  If your criteria for the Medal is performance (in this case as a goaltender), then doesn’t Frankel meet that criteria?

This is where the goose and gander cliche comes in but in reverse.  What is good for the gander, is good for the goose.

Has the Women’s Hockey team said anything about not receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom?  Not that I know of.  Will they?  Probably not because I think of these reasons.  First, they don’t want to disrespect the Presidential office.  Second, it is his decision alone, so he gets the final say.  Third, they don’t want to take away from Connor Hellebuyck getting the award.  

Here's where you say "Hey, didn't you just say that if they are not offended by the other situation (the joke), then you shouldn't be offended? You are a bystander!"

My answer is this: you're right. I shouldn't be offended by who he gives the medal to. It is his decision. But...I am offended because I think, once again, women get slighted because of their sex. I HATE discrimination, in any form.

Also, this is my blog...so I can do what I want:)

I think the Women’s team won’t say anything just like the Men’s team–they all have class….and a Gold Medal in the Olympics.  

Congratulations to both Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams, along with all the other United States Olympians who participated in the games.  What a lifetime achievement.  Recognized by our president or not, nobody can take that experience away from you.  

Now, onto Los Angeles and the summer games 2028!!

Blog Website: https://www.lifelessonsfrommemaw.com/ 

Email: LifeLessonsFromMemaw@gmail.com