Celebratory Sip Doesn't Amuse Everyone

The British drink about 100 million cups of tea a day, an industry group reports, per CNN. That's a lot, but they still may not share with US soccer star Alex Morgan. When Morgan scored during the Women's World Cup team's victory over England, she ran to the sideline, stood straight, and appeared to do an impression of someone taking a sip of tea. The celebration didn't amuse some people, and there was disagreement on her message:

• "We love our tea in England," said Lianne Sanderson, a former member of the England's team, per ABC. "I'm not a tea drinker, but that's what we're connected with, so I think it's a little bit distasteful."
• "I wish I was on the pitch to put in a tackle," former English captain Faye White said on Good Morning Britain.
• British broadcaster Piers Morgan expressed the hope, per USA Today, that each British player, in retaliation, "feigns eating a Big Mac and large fries."
• There was support on the US side of the ocean, of course. Hillary Clinton focused on the victory, congratulating the team "for earning that tea."

• Some saw Morgan's miming as a reference to the Boston Tea Party of 1773 — it is the week of Independence Day. One tweeter pointed out that Britain "blew a 13-colony lead" in that match.
• Others thought she was taking a drag of an imaginary cigarette. One poster said that would also work if the US beats the Netherlands in the final Sunday.
• Morgan said after the game that the celebration was in part a response to criticism of her team. England's coach had questioned the US team's visit to his team's hotel as a possible breach in etiquette. "I know Megan Rapinoe has the best celebration," Morgan said, per CNN. "I had to try and step up this game. I feel like this team has had so much thrown at them and us. I feel like we didn't take an easy route through this tournament and 'That's the tea.'" That use of "tea" means "that's the gossip," per ABC.
• Teammate Megan Rapinoe, who struck a pose of her own after scoring against France last week, said, per USA Today: "We had the utmost respect for England and every team that we faced and every team that we will face. ... With that said, we work hard, we like to play hard, and we like to have fun and enjoy ourselves.”

(More Alex Morgan stories.)