When I look at US hockey, I see role models. Not invented outrage. | Opinion - USA Today

When I look at US hockey, I see role models. Not invented outrage. | Opinion

As a mom of boys, I'm proud of our men's hockey team − they're fantastic athletes and role models. As a mom of girls, I'm proud of the women's hockey team − they show my girls they can do anything.

I don't understand it, and I think as Americans, we should reject it.

I don't know about you, but I'm inspired by Team USA's extraordinary Olympic athletes. As a mom of two boys, I'm proud of our men's hockey team − they're fantastic athletes and role models. As a mom of girls, I'm proud of the women's hockey team − they're inspiring and show my girls they can do anything. As a woman who's given birth four times and feels nostalgic about my days as an athlete, I'm blown away by the strength of the Olympic moms − of whom there are nine.

I think we can learn a lot from these Olympians about how to handle our own wins, losses, setbacks and successes in life, not just in sports.

US hockey controversy is nonsense. Do we need to be offended about everything?

The U.S. men's hockey team won gold against Canada, longtime foes, in a riveting 2-1 win on Feb. 22. It was the first time they'd won gold since besting the Soviet Union in 1980. It was historic. Victorious, the team's buoyant joy flooded their locker room, where they took a call from President Donald Trump.

Trump congratulated the team and invited them to Washington, DC, then joked he'd have to invite the women's team or else: "I probably would be impeached."

High on adrenaline, the teammates laughed and went on about their much-deserved celebration.

On Feb. 24, the president announced most of the men's hockey team at his State of the Union address.

The women's team, Trump said, would be coming to the White House later, although that's not certain yet. Controversy ensued: Did the women's team snub the president because of his comment? Why did the men's team laugh at Trump's sexist joke?

Everyone needs to calm down. First, U.S. women's hockey star Kelly Pannek has reiterated that her team missed the State of the Union over logistical challenges, not Trump's joke. Second, Trump's joke was unnecessary, but as a woman, I didn't find it offensive. Do we need to be offended about everything? I think not. Third, when the men's team came down from their incredible high, some actually felt bad for laughing.

Reporters asked goalie Jeremy Swayman about it, and he said he and his teammates "should've reacted differently." Swayman then gushed about the women's team. "We know that we're so excited for the women's team. We have so much respect for the women's team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we're forever grateful for."

I'm glad for the men's hockey team. They seem like good role models. I hope my sons strive for greatness, celebrate when they succeed, and have the courage to admit when they wish they'd acted differently in hindsight.

Women had historic success at Olympics. There's enough Olympic inspiration to go around.

In that manufactured controversy, I still see hope and inspiration.

While I'm applauding the guys, it's important to note that women had historic success at the games. I love this. As a mom of daughters who have been or are athletes, I find this inspiring. Among those were figure skater Alysa Liu, who won America’s first Olympic gold in women's single figure skating in 24 years. Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson won gold in alpine skiing, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor was a legend, Elizabeth Lemley dominated in freestyle moguls and, of course, the U.S. women's hockey team. This should be a much larger story. It's a story I'll tell my daughters.

Applause for our Olympic women doesn't detract from the success of our Olympic men and vice versa. There's room in the world for all of us to reach for our dreams, attain our goals and be successful. These Olympics showed that even well-meaning gestures can turn political and even politics can taint even the most extraordinary moments − but we don't need to let that be the case in sports or in life. There are far greater lessons here.

Most of us will never be Olympic athletes. It's a privilege for a select few. But there are lessons in all athletic endeavors that go far beyond the ice skating rink or the ski slopes:

It's better to lose with grace than win with hubris.

Victory is sometimes decades in the making. Savor it when it comes.

You might finally achieve the dream of a lifetime, only for someone to make a joke out of it. That doesn't make the win any less valuable. In fact, it might make it that much sweeter and doesn't mute the inspiration of the games.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. This column originally appeared on USATODAY.com