Solo Back as Keeper in Women's Soccer Gold Medal Game Against... Brazil

I know what she said about Scurry was over the top but, she did get screwed (by coach and then team to some extent) and the team lost big.

I don't want to encourage tantrum outbursts, team infighting and poor sportsmanship. But, I hope she does well if nothing other than it being a good thing for US women's soccer.

What are the rules to live by in sports?

Don't pinch hit for a hot bat.
Keep feeding the hot hand in basketball.
Don't run the shotgun on fourth and inches.
And especially don't pull a hot goalkeeper.

<----

I apologize, but as a typical American I'm in need of some background regarding this game you call soccer. What did she do in the first place that caused the problem?

She's the US women's national goalkeeper. She hadn't been scored on in 3 and 1/2 games leading up to the semi-final match against Brazil in 2007. Beat Brazil and they go to the world cup finals.

Then, the US dipsh*t coach pulls the keeper for the Brazil game for the more experienced aging star keeper Briana Scurry. Scurry was rightfully rusty as she hadn't played keeper the whole World Cup. She is also not as quick or physical as Solo. Scurry gives up 4 goals against nimble Brazilians and the US has to settle for third.

Hope Solo goes loses her temper, and publicly flames the coach and Scurry (who is very popular). Solo claims that she would have stopped all the goals let in by Scurry. It makes national news.

Coach benches Solo and holds private meeting with team captains. Solo is removed from the team.

Coach gets fired a month later. New coach reinstates Solo as keeper for the Olympics. US is unbeaten in Olympics and now faces Brazil for gold medal.

fangblackbone wrote:

Coach gets fired a month later. New coach reinstates Solo as keeper for the Olympics. US is unbeaten in Olympics and now faces Brazil for gold medal.

And Solo will likely shoot first.

fangblackbone wrote:

Coach gets fired a month later. New coach reinstates Solo as keeper for the Olympics. US is unbeaten in Olympics and now faces Brazil for gold medal.

Ah, I gotcha. Good write-up. This gives me something to watch for in the final. I love when there's a grudge story connected with an event.

Well, well, well. Look who shut out Brazil to get the US the gold. I hope that in three years a certain goalie won't be too upset if some young upstart takes her place.

Where are you seeing this? Is it on TV?

Funkenpants wrote:

Where are you seeing this? Is it on TV?

It was on USA Network live here on the West Coast, but ESPN was showing breaking news announcements on their ticker.

I hope she handles it with class. She can then saver her sweet revenge privately.

edit: I might add that they also won gold without their major star Abby Wambach. She was sidelined with an injury.

Rat Boy wrote:

It was on USA Network live here on the West Coast, but ESPN was showing breaking news announcements on their ticker.

Ah, I didn't realize USA network was playing it live.

I read the NY Times piece about the Solo benching and her relationship with the team, and it seems like there had to be more there than just the one comment to cause so much bad blood with the rest of the team.

Funkenpants wrote:

I read the NY Times piece about the Solo benching and her relationship with the team, and it seems like there had to be more there than just the one comment to cause so much bad blood with the rest of the team.

I think it's all water under the bridge. I heard she had this to say about one of her fellow players recently:

"She's my teammate. *sniff* *sniff* She's my fullback."

Think you're right about that at this point. But when things are going well it's all hugs and kisses. I was talking about back a year or two ago. Maybe some cliques on the team or some other kind of underlying friction. Maybe someone refused to lather one of the other girl's backs in the shower and didn't participate in the group rubdowns.

Funken, that imagery is almost as good as Womens Soccer in the pouring Beijing rain in HD

polypusher wrote:

Funken, that imagery is almost as good as Womens Soccer in the pouring Beijing rain in HD :)

Son of a .... I missed that?? Wait, was it acid rain, 'cause those shirts might not stand up to that.