'Past incidents' catch up with Hope Solo
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 25, 2016
But that will be tarnished by the series of incidents that have dogged her throughout her career, beginning her remarks after the
USA's 4-0 loss to Brazil in the 2007 Women's World Cup.
She helped the USA win Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 and the 2015 Women's World Cup and has recorded 103 shutouts in 202
international matches, the most a goalkeeper has ever played. Her last two seasons -- the two most important in the national team's four-year cycle -- have been the two best statistically of her
career.
In 2015, Solo had a 0.43 goals-against average, the lowest for any years in which she played 10 or more games, and she finishes 2016 with 12 shutouts in 17 games and
just seven goals allowed for a goals-against average of 0.45.
Solo's troubles began after head coach Greg Ryan benched Solo for the 2007 Women's World Cup semifinal
in favor of Brianna Scurry, the hero of the 1999 Women's World Cup triumph. After the USA lost, 4-0, Solo blasted Ryan.
"It was the wrong decision," she said, "and I think anybody
that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves."
Solo's teammates met and suspended her for the third-place against Norway, but
she had the last laugh. Ryan did not have his contract renewed after having lost one game -- the game Solo didn't start -- and was replaced by Pia Sundhage.
The irony, of course,
is that Sundhage, who put her back in goal for the 2008 Olympics, would be the target of Solo's tirade that got her suspended on Wednesday.
Asked about the quarterfinal loss to
Sundhage's Sweden after the USA finished with a 27-6 edge in shots, Solo responded, "We played a creative game. We had many opportunities on goal. We showed a lot of heart. We came back from a goal
down. I’m very proud of this team."
But then she added: "We played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today. I strongly, firmly believe that."
U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati remarked that Solo's comments "were highly inappropriate
and not in line with the expectations of U.S. Soccer or the ideals of the Olympic movement" and both Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, two of a handful of players who remained in Rio after
the USA's exit and therefore available for comment, said they didn't share Solo's opinion.
Their remarks were rare public rebukes of a teammate on what has always been a close-knit
national team program and were followed by a meeting with U.S. coach Jill Ellis and general secretary Dan Flynn at which they informed her of the decision to suspend her and terminate
her national team contract.
In announcing Wednesday's suspension, Gulati stressed the context for Solo's poor conduct -- at the Olympics, which "celebrate and represent the ideals of fair
play and respect." He added, "We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions."
But what got Solo a six-month suspension from the national team --
she'll still be paid by U.S. Soccer to play in the NWSL for the Seattle Reign -- was not her "cowards" remark in isolation.
"Taking into consideration the past incidents
involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we've had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. national team member," Gulati stated, "U.S. Soccer determined this is the
appropriate disciplinary action."
U.S. Soccer did not suspend Solo after she was arrested in June 2014 on two charges of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in June 2014 for
allegedly striking her half-sister, Teresa L. Obert, and Obert's son in an early-morning altercation. U.S. Soccer later came in for extensive criticism for not suspending Solo in the case that
was first dismissed and later reinstated as appeals continued over procedural issues related to the lack of cooperation of Obert and Obert's son.
But it suspended Solo for 30 days in
early 2015 following the DUI arrest of her husband Jerramy Stevens after they used a team van at training camp in California. TMZ reported Solo was with Stevens when he was pulled over. It was told Solo was "acting
belligerent" and the police "were thiiis close" to arresting Solo for disorderly conduct.
U.S. Soccer has not stated whether there were any probationary terms to Solo's
suspension that were triggered with her remarks in Brasilia after the Sweden game or what other "past incidents" might have taken place.
After being suspended in 2015, Solo
issued a statement that she accepted and respected the federation's decision and "more importantly, I apologize for disappointing my teammates, coaches and the Federation who have always supported
me."
On Wednesday, she was less contrite, saying she was "saddened" by the federation's termination of her contract and could not be the player she is without being the person she is,
"even when I haven't made the best choices or said the right things."
Rich Nichols, the executive director of the U.S. Women's National Team Players' Association, told SI.com's Grant Wahl that the organization believed U.S. Soccer's decision was the "excessive, unprecedented,
disproportionate and a violation of Ms. Solo's First Amendment right" and would file an appeal.
Some people have to learn when and how to keep their mouths shut.
Mouth shot.
Like a goal mouth?
Hope is a great player but with a flawed character. Historically, in literature and life, all the great characters have some serious (fatal?) flaw. Too bad, but a classic tragedy story. I wish her well.
Lots of people have "flawed character". Hope's flaws just gives her the audacity to show it.
All teams at the upper levels are full of players with huge egos.
Maybe it is we, who are willing to accept disrespectful behavior just because someone is talented that are to blame.
It is just a game.
No one is irreplaceable especially now Solo who's a liability to the team's morale, and let in some soft goals for someone that's supposed to be the best.
And if she were a guy? Male athletes act up way more often, get arrested far more regularly, and get slaps on the wrist at the very most.
Ellis and US Soccer are looking for ways to distract the public from the fact that the best team in the world, with the best players in the world, couldn't deal with a simple defensive strategy.
Solo has a big mouth, but she's actually doing the work out there. What has Ellis done?
So we're saying had they won and hope shot her mouth off (in addition to the other historically bad behavior she has exhibited over time), nothing would have happened to her because there would be no loss to deflect attention from? Sorry, makes no sense. What you are saying is that "guys do it all the time, so why do we care if Hope does and besides - she is the best goalie so he behavior doesn't matter". US Soccer should hold all their players to a higher standard, male or female. Sweden's strategy worked (twice), we need to get over it, close our mouths and prepare for whatever is next. Hope acted foolishly. I'm sure there are examples of how our USMNT players did similar things (I personally do not know of any), and I would expect the same discipline vs them.
Sorry, I have defended Hope against critics for some time now but she has not matured and is not the person, male or female, that I want my granddaughter to emulate. There's no male-female thing to it. There are obviously tough, skilled soccer players out there, and I hope we find one who recognizes important boundaries. (She could have said a lot about the tactics of Sweden without insulting them.
A simple defensive strategy that Brazil couldn't handle, either. My daughter used to play against some teams that always seemed to have 10 players in the box whenever our forwards approached. We were luckily that they never had a couple of offensive players who could score, as did Sweden.
Hope Solo is one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever play the game of soccer . It's too bad that she made impulsive statements , however if a man made those statements nothing would have happened . Men can assault their spouses / girlfriends and walk away with a slap on their hand !!! This is a total double standard that not only reaks of retailiation but retribution for other acts that were committed in the past . Why don't we see punishment for Ryan Lochte who committed a few misdemeanors ; which are crimes . Where is his punishment ??? I think I made my point !
Hey Hunny you need to wake up didn't she kick some ass and get away with it
Barbara... You're absolutely right about the double standard. There's plenty to back you up. Women are often given harsher punishments when committing the same offense. Check out http://www.npr.org/2016/06/02/480487259/women-held-to-higher-ethical-standard-than-men-study-shows to start.
Jill Ellis warrants replacement as well but the classless Hope Solo has had the fates finally catch up with her.
To play any sport at the top level, you have to have God given talent, a fierce determination, and a high level of competiveness. Brains aren't necessarily required. I want my athletes to be passionate, and I want them to be able to speak their mind, irregardless of what comes out of their mouth. Firing Hope was a cowrdly way to deal with overarching issues, she deserved much better.
"Irregardless" is not a word. Regardless, should have been used.
Someone trying to give the impression that they are well educated would probably not say "irregardless" or "ain't," but both are words.
Guessing that US Soccer hasn't gotten Nike's permission to stop selling the Hope Solo jerseys and t-shirts on the US Soccer website.
Barbara, regarding Lochte, punitive damages come in all forms.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/22/news/companies/ryan-lochte-speedo/index.html
The termination of Hope's contract is excessive, however my point simply is that these are representatives of our country and bad behavior regardless of gender needs to be dealt with. We all agree on this. The men who beat their girlfriends (or drop them with a single punch) should be banned from playing at any level in this country but money and politics do all the talking. Its a disgrace. Lochte should be banned from any further involvement with US Swimming. Maybe he and Hope will end up on Dancing with the Stars to pay their bills.
Am I the only one that believes in freedom of speech? All she did was question an opponents coaches tactics by calling it "cowards." Jose Mourinho uses this tactic all the time in England, and has been called more than cowardly by the media, pundits, and collegues, should all those representatives lose there jobs for that?
NO, Cisco, I AM WITH YOU!! There are better ways, more professional ways, dealing with an athlete’s emotional reactions than the approach USSF took. The way Sundhage coached her team at these Olympics was disgusting and in strong contrast to the Olympic ideals. It had the potential of setting women’s soccer (its status as an internationally recognized team sport for women) back may years. It saddens me deeply that USSF under the leadership of Mr. Gulati in disciplining Solo is indirectly approving of the unsportsmanlike conduct of individual Swedish players and their coach, Sundhage, at the Rio Olympics.
Cisco...a big YES to freedom of speech! And a YES also to consequences of using your freedom of speech. As an Olympic athlete representing the US of A, Solo and all of our American athletes were supposed to follow certain standards. People get fired in everyday life for complaining about their job, bosses, etc. apparently, Hope has said, "I've gotta be me," despite more than possible reprimands. So she said exactly what she thought and is paying the price for it. And Ryan Lochte is paying a very steep price for so poorly representing our athletes and lying to the world. Hey, it's freedom of speech, but he was lying and has so far lost 4 or 5 sponsors. There may be more after the US Olympic committee and swimming federation look into his case.
Hope does have the right to say whatever she would like regarding how the opposition plays, or even how her own team plays. She will not be arrested for that. And US Soccer, as her employer, has the right to decide if they want to keep a player under contract that doesn't represent them in the manner in which they (US Soccer) is appropriate. Let's be honest, Hope has been given A LOT of rope in which to hang herself. The fact that their are not any qualifying events coming up, the fact that she has been vocal about equal pay / equal play; the fact that all the USWNT players are playing under a memo / extension of an old contract that is to expire anyway in the next few months....this all worked against her. US Soccer is making it easy on Jill Ellis to replace her with a younger GK. Easier to remove her this way than to remove her because of her diminishing abilities
Hey Swedish fish - is that your real name ? You must be a real fucking coward to put on some shit like that . Oh my , can I say that? Lol
Solo's comments about coach Ryan making a mistake when he benched her in the 2007 WC might have been politically incorrect, but she was right--that was a terrible decision.
She'll be back when the Federation needs her. I suppose one must not publicly express disrespect for one's opponents. Was the nephew she struck 6'4", 240 lbs.?
And speaking of double standards, I feel for Ms.Solo, but (pun intended) hope does not spring eternal anymore. In her mid 30's, how many times have we said the same say about Keller, or Howard, or Friedel, etc - age-wise, yet the did keep their mouth shut (or did they) and if they didn't they weren't called out! However, why hasn't there been any calls for Ellis to be shown the door, much like her male cohort (JK)? OK, so it was one Olympic game vs WC games, still, que pasa?
Greg Ryan is still the loser here. Great coach and even better human being. No reporter cared to delve into why he made the switch to Scurry but I think you can all imagine there where qualified reasons.
Greg deserves another shot at the coaching position when the opportunity arises.
Ryan dropped Solo just as Klinsmann dropped Donovan. Coach's decision. Not really anything we could/can do about either, but we're still complaining? At some point we need to let it go.
Thank you Ginger, I couldn't have said/put this in better context. As I've said before, that was then and ... this is now. Put it behind us and PLAY ON!!!
I think this is harsh. True, Solo needs to learn to shut up, but USSF didn't have to destroy her...
Okay, look at it this way...Solo had been playing a game of soccer and badly fouled someone on the opposing team. She did it several times. The ref finally gave her a yellow card for continuing this behavior. Then she violently took out the other team's forward. She was slapped with a red card and suspended for a a game or two. But then she was reinstated and she repeated the behavior that started it all, even though she'd been warned and she knew better. But we continue to try to make excuses for her. And that's what we tend to do, over and over again, with good athletes. Because they win. They're winners. So, a lot of the time we look the other way and we make excuses for them. We do them and whatever sport they play no favors, for we end up with a bunch of athletes who feel entitled and continue to behave badly, where a non-athlete would NEVER get away with such outrageous behavior. It's a situation we, as fans, have created.
Ginger, I think that you are actually making John's point for him. Solo wasn't ejected from a match. She just made some angry and unpopular comments to the press after losing the shoot out. Who is the brilliant person who allowed the press access to an angry Solo after the shoot out? But Solo is getting all the blame. Typical management approach to problems.
Ginger peeler, the Sweden/USA game was not a 0-0 game but a 1-1 game should have been a 2-1 game if AR was not such a flag happy.
So not sure your comparison w your daughter team playing some defensive teams.
So your comment on Sweden not having any players that can score I say is a bit off.
Time for many of you stop being such cry babies.
And to write fire the coach after one loss is absurd. Face it the rest of the world women's team are catching up, and that's a great thing for women's soccer. Hope Colombia will get a proffetional league so that young and very talented team continue to grow.
Canada, Australia and many other teams are playing really well, no more sure winners.
Uffe, I was saying that the teams my daughter played did NOT have players who could score, as the Swedish players could.
I agreed with the substance of her comments - that Sweden played anti-football and the best team didn't win. Sweden did the same thing in the semis and "won" on penalties there too.
She came off like a crybaby and her comments and timing were ill-advised. A six month suspension is absolutely absurd. Suarez got four months for biting someone. And he had a long history of transgressions before that including making racist comments to other players and, of course, other biting incidents.
It's hypocrisy. Shame on US soccer. They suspended Solo for 6 months for the "coward" comment while more serious offenses (beating sister and nephew and confronting police officers and using USWNT van for personal purpose) got no punishment and one month suspension. US soccer needed Solo badly for the World cup; therefore, they couldn't afford to let her out of the team. Now, that there are no important game, they punished her for 6 months? This is hypocrisy at its best.
FIFA did not suspend solo.
As in Suarez suspension.
Comparison is flawed.
US soccer suspended her and they are paying for her paycheck.
"But what got Solo a six-month suspension from the national team -- she'll still be paid by U.S. Soccer to play in the NWSL for the Seattle Reign --...." So what contract did USSF terminate with Solo? Soccer American did not mention the contract termination, but other media (I won't mention them here on SA's forum) reported it.
Sweden didn't do anything illegal according to FIFA soccer rules. Pia knows the USWNT is way more talented than the Swedish team, so she had them play a tactic that is allowed according to the rules. They aren't there to entertain you Cisco, they are there to win. It sucks, but until FIFA changes the rules, so that doesn't happen, everyone is stuck with it. The USMNT has done the same thing in the past against strong teams, and has pulled off a few upsets. "Stats are for losers!"~Vince Lombardi
Okay, she was given a 6 month suspension, but she got 3 months severance play. Her national team contract has been terminated, but ALL the women's US National Team player contracts will conclude with the end of the collective bargaining agreement on December 31st. She can continue to play for her club team, Seattle Reign. She will only miss 4 to perhaps 6 national team friendlies if Ellis still wants her.
Ginger, completion of a contract is very different than termination. It would be very unusual for there not to be significant differences in the rights of the parties. Although this is apparently an unusual contract as severance pay is provided for what is styled a termination for misconduct. The press often just reports what people say rather than what actually happened. It is easier and safer for them.
That's all according to Grant Wahl.
What are the incentives for a 35-year old goalkeeper waiting out the six-month ban in USSF territory?
How much are they paying world class goalkeepers in the Frauen-Bundesliga, the English Women’s Super League, PSG or Lyon, or in China? Would Nike mind? Would there be new possibilities with Audi or Peugeot?
She can go to Sweden and join the club Marta is playing for. Think they pay decent money.
Bet you she be very welcomed.LOL
Gus I think you not getting it.
She is no longer on the national team.
That's it she is done.
They fired her.
She is still paid by US soccer but not paid as a national team player.
Think it's a big pay cut she is getting.
She probebly made close to million $.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
My point is that when they needed her for the World Cup, they didn't dare to punish her because they wanted to win the cup at any price. They knew she is very valuable to the team then.
It's a selfish behavior. Now, they don't care about here being on the team, Therefore, they punished her severely.
I would not worry to much of hope solo.
But more about the league players that is paid by the clubs. I read somewhere that some of them make only $13500.00 a season that is a traversty.
But as long as the games are only on YouTube the league is in big trouble financially.
They got to get a TV contract to get real money to support the league and players.
Look at some teams how many spectators they get it's like the last league we had and that went belly up.
Self-inflicted wound upon her petulant self. US Soccer right & justified in this action. Prior acts justly admissable and included. Would that Solo be a player possessing grace, gratefulness, humility, team-first attributes.
This is not a defense of Hope Solo. What she said was inappropriate. Calling someone a coward is childish, but it is not as bad as calling someone a rapist, crooked or a bigot...all terms that the Republican candidate for president uses regularly. Unfortunately, that's the evolving lexicon in the world today.
Solo's comment does not deserve the severe sanctions US Soccer imposed. There are a lot of factors that should be considered when any authority imposes sanctions. Maybe she wasn't referring to the 4-5-1 formation Sweden used most of the game (most observers seem to assume that was what she meant but she did not say that in the interview), but rather to the repeated fouling from the rear that the Swedish team engaged in...not just legs inadvertently getting tangled up but outright arms' length pushing from behind time and time again that disrupted the flow of play. Does US Soccer know what she was referring to? Did they ask her?
US Soccer also should have considered the incessant booing from the stands whenever Hope touched the ball and the chants of Zika. It was undoubtedly annoying (to players and fans)and probably disconcerting...not at all consistent with the Olympic ideals. Did the US Olympic committee complain about it? Did US Soccer take that into consideration?
After the Ryan Lochte episode, the spectre of the "Ugly American" was on everyone's mind. I wonder if that influenced US Soccer?
I have three hopes. One is that Hope will understand that she is representing the US and not just herself and that inappropriate or questionable comments need to be avoided regardless of her feelings. This is particularly true after a loss because she will sound like a poor loser. The second is that she will work hard on he public persona as well as her soccer and come back for another four years or more and be able to leave the sport with her head held high. The third is that US Soccer becomes more transparent about its activities...the sport has suffered a lot with the various FIFA scandals and every national soccer body needs to raise the level of its performance and that includes being clearer and more transparent about its reasons for disciplinary actions.
Since when is it childish or even worse to say what you believe to be the truth? I watch congressional testimony and when someone apparently lies under oath, in my book they are crooked. Hope said what she thought at the time. It is a window into how she views a fair fight. It all depends on your point of view for it could be said that the USA did not take the chances they could have to score. Given the Swedish defense and the obvious superiority of the USA who played more cowardly? Hope as already been punished enough. Any punishment should come from the coach in my opinion but we have not been given all the background.
I appreciate Mr. Shaw's comments in particular because they offer some possible factors not covered previously. Something not mentioned here, and painfully shown in another series of posts responding to an alternate story on Solo's problems, is the mean-spirited, sexist comments directed at her by, no doubt, some of our finest U.S. male low-lifes...who are truly disgusting in a country that in theory is striving for more gender equality. But then, hey, we have freedom of speech...oh, shoot.
Soccer's answer to Tonya Harding. Good riddance.
Oh come on now, John McD!!!! For you to go back to the Tonya Harding episode of several decades ago and a different sport, while i do not condone neither of Hopes comments, or for that matter US Soccer's ill-thought suspension, even in light of the swimmer Lochte's VERY UGLY AMERICAN episode, and half-arsed apology, is very disingenuous. The Harding episode was to actually injure a team mate and her her out of the competition so she could advance in the process - which backfired and got her in very deep hot water. So one could argue that Solo's comments is equal to that kid's saying that "sticks and stones may hurt my bones (quite literally here Harding) but words will never harm me (Solo's)" Yet it is obvious that US Soccer wanted - and did - to do make a mountain out of a mole hill. But one thing also puzzles, me why did mention of her previous transgressions have to play a big factor here? Though this wasn't a court of law, somewhere during my time as a juror, I remember being told by the judge that someone's previous activities do not play a significant part in whether to find someone guilty for the crime/incident which one is being judged. Seems to me IMHO that her previous transgressions should NOT have played a significant factor.
Hope Solo is 100% correct.
Obviously the best team did not win - however if a team plays Mourinho anti-football tactics it can avoid losing some of the time.
Any coach will tell you that it is easier to destroy than to create.
If a team does not take risks (to try to actually win) then that tactic can be regarded as a cowardly act!
In a country which upholds free speech the action taken against Solo is reprehensible.
Ric, If Hope has been reprimanded previously for both her speech and her actions, she may very well have been "on probation". Judging both by Gulati's and her remarks, she was well aware of expectations about how she is/was supposed to behave. You know, the "3 strikes and you're out" sort of thing? I've worked for some large companies and a major corporation. They all expected their employees to comport themselves in a specific manner during working hours. And if one failed to act in what those businesses consider a proper manner during off hours, they were fired. Nor were they given 2nd and 3rd chances. Call them rules of behavior. If one breaks the rules, one can be fired. Here in Florida, you can be fired "just because". A reason is not required. So it's always best to "mind your Ps and Qs". Actually, that holds true for most jobs. Of course you can go to court and challenge the firing, but I've been here 16 years and never heard of anyone who did. Since she receives 3 months severance pay, she only loses 3 months of pay. She will continue to be paid as she plays for the Reign because she still has that job and it is unaffected by the national team termination. As I understand it, the court case involving her nephew and sister is still going on. If that goues badly, this could all be moot. I believe that she'll be rehired if Jill Ellis wants her. I really wonder why we have heard absolutely nothing about Solo's comments from Ellis. If she was going to come to Solo's defense, surely she would have said something by now?
Bad comparison Ginger. Most US private sector employees don't have an employment contract and are hired "at will" meaning they can be fired at any time for no reason at all, unless there is a collective bargaining agreement otherwise. Whether the firing is for cause or not is only relevant to unemployment benefits. Professional athletes under contract are different.
The booing came from solo insulted the Brazilian people, maybe you are not aware of her tweets.
Not the brightest thing to have done, even if it was just a joke. Sometimes the American ( we are the superior country in the world) attitude will rub others the wrong way. Who likes a big mouth yapping all the time.
She been piling up stuff thru the whole Olympics and it came crashing down on her, with some poor performances to add to it.
I think a bit of humility will do wonders and just accept that today we just where not good enough.
Chester free speech don't come without consecences , think the black movement back in the days will tell you so. Besides this was not free speach it was talking down to a team that just plained beat you, as in a poor looser big differents. So please don't bring in the American rah rah of free speach. Think most western countries have the same free speech as we do here. As a matter of fact they all have that, not an USA phenomena. Maybe you need to travel a bit outside this country. Never heard anyone in my old country been silenced because of an opinion.
Hell even the damn neo nazist can speak.
And frankly you need to get over w the best team didn't win. The score should have been 2-1 Sweden. Never should been a PK situation.
So suck it up and move on.
The best team won and proved it by going to the final, just fell short to the best team Germany.
So congrats to Germany!
Man are you guys the worst looser ever, you all sound like hope solo.
If that surprises you, you don't understand US culture.
Solo spent years doing crap but she was continually enabled by coaches who continued to select her. So of course she was shocked when the federation arbitrarily decided to hold her accountable after years of refusing to do so. I think everyone was surprised.