Solo tossed from US Womans Soccer Team

So Hope Solo, the US Woman's soccer goalie has been kicked off the US team because of comments she made regarding coach Greg Ryan after Friday's devastating and embarrassing 4-0 loss to Brazil in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Solo was upset that she was benched instead for 36 year old goalie Brianna Scurry the 2004 Olympic hero, since she had a successful track record against Brazil.

Apparently the fact that Solo had played almost 300 minutes without giving up a goal, did not matter in the least to Ryan. Apparently he had never heard of playing the hot hand, and not messing with mojo when you are rolling. Apparently he decided to go against every sports cliche in the book and Solo called him on it. And what happens? She gets canned, and in the process probably saved the coaches job. He screwed up and she loses her job.

Now I will be the first to admit I know next to nothing about soccer, especially woman's professional soccer. I remember the glory days a few years ago with Mia Hamm, etc, when it looked like woman's soccer was going to take off, but like the MLS, it has not yet caught on here. I do coach my sons 6 year old youth soccer team. This is more fundamentals, kicking, passing, ball control, etc. I am not knowledgeable enough to coach the game. But I do know that if Hope Solo is the best goalie in the US right now, and represents the best chance for these woman's to win gold next year in Beijing, then perhaps she should be the goalie. Now maybe the talent pool really is that deep, where there won't be a significant drop in talent, but if Brianna Scurry is the 2nd best goalie today and she gives up 4 goals, then maybe letting Hope Solo go may not be the best idea. Even if the other 20 woman on the team support the plan.

I understand that Solo essentially trashed her teammate and her coach, but sometimes an athletes arrogance takes over their mouths and thinks are uttered that should remain unspoken, and the taste of leather permeates. But it begs the question if this were the men's team, would he be playing tomorrow in the consolation game against Norway, instead of his backup. We have seen numerous occasions where professional male athletes wind up choking on their words and are back plying their trade the next game day. Very troubling double-standard here, that is good for sportsmanship and teamwork, but not necessary for the US Woman's Soccer Team going into an Olympic year.

But hey that is just me.