Brenda Elsey
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brendaelsey.bsky.social
Brenda Elsey
@brendaelsey.bsky.social
Prof and Historian of politics, gender, and pop culture esp fútbol in LatAm. Views expressed are my own. Co-host www.burnitalldownpod.com; anti-discrimination work with www.farenet.org; she/her, books on gender and sport: https://utpress.utexas.edu
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Art Briles has been hired as the head football coach at a D2 school and so is back in the news. If you want to understand why this hire is upsetting for many, here's the long piece @dansolomon.com and I wrote back in 2019 about How Baylor Happened: web.archive.org/web/20190208...
How Baylor Happened
WACO, Texas — There’s not much to recommend spending four years in Waco. Driving into town up Interstate 35 from the south, the endless stretch of Texas nothing fills out slowly. It’s flat in the way ...
web.archive.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Sources: MLS has drastically scaled back its hiring policy around front office and coaching positions. The league has eliminated its minority interview requirements and many of the enforcement mechanisms surrounding those mandates. More details here.

www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Sources: MLS trims 'Rooney Rule' hiring policies
Major League Soccer has drastically altered its hiring policy around front office and coaching positions by eliminating its minority interview requirements and many of the enforcement mechanisms surro...
www.espn.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I published a piece in this special issue of Social Research, “The Devil is in the Details:Gendered Violence and Corruption in South American Football.” I know it is behind a paywall for many, but the abstracts alone are pretty exciting.
Our long-awaited Fall 2025 issue, "Football Politics," is finally out! And just in time for the final round of the qualifying matches for #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup #WeAre26.

It is available to read on @projectmuse.bsky.social
🔗 muse.jhu.edu/issue/5...

1/2
November 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
A woman reported that Ronaldo assaulted her in Vegas in 2009. "In recent months, Ronaldo has also been part of diplomatic efforts to woo the U.S. President Donald Trump."
The United States Soccer Federation and the Portuguese Football Federation will soon confirm a match between their men’s teams to take place in Atlanta in March 2026.

The match could end an almost 12-year absence for Cristiano Ronaldo from playing football in the U.S.

@adamcrafton.bsky.social
USMNT pre-World Cup game vs. Portugal to be announced as Cristiano Ronaldo set for U.S. return
The exhibition match will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in March 2026.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Christina Burkenroad didn't have the same advantages of her high school teammates.

She was worried about what she could eat, worried about where she could sleep. But that didn't stop the young San Diegan from dreaming.

Soccer saved the future Mexican star.

www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Soccer as sanctuary: How the beautiful game saved Liga MX Femenil star Christina Burkenroad
Christina Burkenroad had a turbulent childhood, at times sleeping in the family car, but her love of soccer got her through to the top of the sport.
www.espn.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Very excited that this Wednesday, at 12.30 PM, @brendaelsey.bsky.social will give the second GT-UGA lecture on Soccer and Politics at UGA. All welcome!
November 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
So excited that, after a very unfortunate attempt in Spring, @brendaelsey.bsky.social will come to UGA on November 5 to give the second GT-UGA lecture on Soccer and Politics. Open to all @universityofga.bsky.social faculty and students but also to the broader ATH community!
October 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
A lot of people think that every international student admitted means one fewer spot for domestic students, when the opposite is more likely true - the tuition revenue international students bring allows public universities to provide substantial discounts to domestic students, improving access.
September 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Sharing. Because we need to know. Also because “John Brown Gun Club”.
September 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Chile 🇨🇱

Mexico’s Katia Itzel García will make history as the only woman main referee at the U-20 World Cup in Chile, leading an all-female officiating team and breaking barriers in international football.
Katia Itzel García, única mujer árbitra principal en la historia del Mundial Sub-20
Chile.- Katia Itzel García se prepara para escribir una página inédita en la historia del fútbol mexicano. La árbitra será la única mujer designada como árbitra central en el Mundial Sub-20 que se…
buff.ly
September 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
How do billionaire team owners not only pay a lower tax rate than some of their superstar players, but also a lower rate than the people who sell concessions at the games?

➡️ Revisit our 2021 story: https://propub.li/47ZbFJ3
How a Billionaire Team Owner Pays a Lower Tax Rate Than LeBron James — and the Stadium Workers, Too
YouTube video by ProPublica
www.youtube.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Publicly targeting one of the most prominent Jewish public intellectuals in the country right now is one way to "fight antisemitism," I suppose.
September 12, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
WSJ just retracted its report that the shooter’s ammo was engraved with “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.”

It smelled like bullshit from the beginning, and every conservative who ran with it should be shamed into obscurity.
September 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Obligatory sharing of John Oliver's take on this administrations fight against research and Universities #academia

youtu.be/xk94il8L820?...
Trump vs. Higher Education: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
September 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Thousands of protesters marched in Chicago on Saturday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to the city.
Photos capture Chicagoans’ protest against ICE and Trump’s intervention plans
CHICAGO (AP) — Thousands of protesters marched in Chicago on Saturday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to the city.
bit.ly
September 7, 2025 at 2:00 AM
For thinking on Luis Suárez this is about the best profile I have read on him, in any language: roadsandkingdoms.com/2018/the-sua...
The Suárez Conundrum
Liverpool star Luis Suárez is Uruguay’s best hope in the World Cup. But he also makes them one of the most despised teams in the tournament.
roadsandkingdoms.com
September 4, 2025 at 3:29 AM
I am really open to correction, but I wish there were limited subs for pitchers in MLB, like maybe 3 a game or something, Idk, but seeking dramatic relationships between pitcher/batters. Maybe it’s a footy bias.
August 21, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Have an idea for an article on an aspect of history? #AHAPerspectives welcomes pitches and submissions from all kinds of historians, at all degree levels, and of all professional ranks. Visit our submissions page to learn more. 🗃️
Write for Us - AHA
The Newsmagazine of the American Historical Association Perspectives welcomes articles on all aspects of the practice of history and by all kinds of historians, at all degree levels, and of all profes...
www.historians.org
August 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.
August 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
This is a dark stain on football, and will always be remembered as such.
That UEFA nor FIFA did or said anything about the hundreds killed and complete anhialation of football in that region is deplorable.
August 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
Mexico 🇲🇽

Katia Itzel García, the first woman to referee a men’s Liga MX match, received death threats and gender-based abuse after officiating Monterrey v FC Cincinnati. ONU Women and Mexico’s FA condemned the harassment, pledging support and security measures.
Katia Itzel García recibe amenazas tras el Monterrey vs Cincinnati; FMF y ONU Mujeres exigen alto a la violencia
Aficionados responsabilizaron a la silbante por la derrota de Rayados y desataron una ola de violencia marcada por la violencia de género.
buff.ly
August 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The USWNT has finally won its first Euros!
July 27, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Does anyone else feel like Jenni Hermoso could have been a really useful addition here?
July 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Brenda Elsey
The Netanyahu government’s extermination of Gaza intensifies. Malnutrition is rampant, children are starving to death, people are shot while waiting for meager food rations — and US weapons allow it to happen.

Trump and Congress must act NOW. Stop the slaughter. Feed the people.
July 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I have always felt the “obviousness” of goal scoring opportunity is a painful question.
July 26, 2025 at 12:37 AM