team player

It’s the same mask Black people, and specifically Black men, have long been forced to wear to conceal their true emotions, lest they risk being unfairly judged to be uppity, angry, hostile, difficult, not a “team player,” arrogant, aloof, dangerous, violent.

If the U.S. had lost its identity, had lost its way, by the end of the Nations League, the absences of veterans Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie this summer gave Pochettino an unexpected opportunity to redefine what it meant to be a national team player.

"She's such a talent. So composed, got two great feet, but most importantly for me, her work ethic is outstanding, a real team player," she said.

Such is the difference between a team player and, well, whatever LeBron is.

The former Luton Town and Kenya national team player appeared via video-link wearing a suit and tie.