The parade of NFL players exiled from the league grows as officials takes a very dim view of those charged with domestic abuse. We have our Ray Rice’s and Adrian Peterson’s either cut from the team, taking leave of absences, entering domestic abuse prevention programs as their cases wend their way through the legal system. Hope Solo on the other hand, arrested and charged with assaulting her 17 year nephew and Teresa Obert, her half sister while clearly intoxicated is free to play. Solo has consistently portrayed herself as the victim on Facebook, in an EspnW article, and on Good Morning America, while claiming the courts have vindicated her version by exonerating her.
This is not entirely true. The case is to be reopened by prosecutors following the World Cup after the judge Michael Lambo, dismissed it on procedural grounds. As Mark Fainaru Wada in ESPN’s Outside The Lines points out, “her case is not over; the facts have never been aired in open court, and she has not been cleared.” Meanwhile, US Soccer turns a blind eye seemingly more concerned about protecting her legacy.
“We are aware that Hope is handling a personal situation at the moment. At the same time, she has an opportunity to set a significant record that speaks to her hard work and dedication over the years with the national team.”
In January of this year, US Soccer got a taste of how much their laxity could cost them. Solo and her husband Jerramy Stevens, a former Seattle Seahawks tight end, were pulled over by California police. Stevens was arrested for DUI while Solo drunk and belligerent was not charged but the incident was enough to disturb coach Jillian Ennis enough to suspend her for a month. Two factors seemingly influenced Ennis’s decision, Solo was at that time attending the national training camp and more importantly, her husband was driving a van belonging to US Soccer exposing them to liability in the event of an accident.
Solo’s missteps in her personal life has thankfully for her and the national side, not followed her onto the pitch. She has been one of the principal architects in the USA’s dominance in the sport for a decade now. Her combination of speed and strength, reflexes, vertical leaping ability, superior eye hand co-ordination are prized assets in the women’s version where the perception is that despite an overall improvement, goalies still struggle with balls and crosses struck high and a swerving trajectory.
These qualities are even more prized now as the USA’s top dog status with an aging midfield and attack is being increasingly threatened; not just from the usual suspects Germany, Brazil, Sweden, and Norway but France and Australia with players who’re younger, athletic, and more technical. Indeed, as the USA struggled against Australia in their opener, Solo came to the rescue with some stunning saves to limit them to a goal, setting up Megan Rapinoe for her second half heroics after the USA resorted to a short passing game abandoning the ineffective Abby Wambach long ball. Against Sweden, the USA battled to a goalless draw. With Alex Morgan having fitness issues, goals are going to be hard to come by against organized and determined defenses. Which makes Solo even more invaluable and at age 33, clearly hitting the peak in her position. Solo will clearly be around for many more helped by the fact with her around she’s left her backups in the shadow as US Soccer neglecting to develop a number 2 good enough to challenge her.
There are two additional perspectives to be considered. The cyclical nature of soccer ensures Solo’s run ins with the law become mainstream fodder only during the build up to the World Cup. Otherwise at all other times, its low level noise, confined to social media chatter and a few dedicated outlets. Unlike the NFL, US Soccer is not confronted by the headache of inveterate law breakers with Solo’s obvious high profile run in seemingly the one exception, thereby the absence of a coherent and effective response.
So from a US Soccer perspective it’s easier to deal on the field with the 2011 World Cup Golden Glove winner who also won the USA the 2012 Olympic gold but off the field it’s strictly hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
One U.S. Soccer spokesman warned reporters looking to talk to Solo after Monday’s game, “No outside questions, just on the game, got it?”
Another said, regarding questions, “All on the field.”
They will not facilitate her downfall, they would rather her fall on her own sword.