No Hope

The U.S Soccer Federation has ended its relationship with the talented but controversial goalie, Hope Solo, today terminating her contract and suspending her from the national team for six months.

The move was allegedly due to Solo's comments about Sweden playing "like a bunch of cowards" after beating the U.S. in a shootout in the Olympic quarterfinals.  My guess, however, is that the drastic action would not have been taken if Solo had not had the history she does. 

The New York Times quoted Rich Nichols, the general counsel for the women’s national team’s players’ association, as calling Solo’s suspension “excessive, unprecedented, disproportionate, and a violation of Ms. Solo’s First Amendment rights.”  He added, “She was fired for making comments that a man never would have been fired for.”  While his understanding of constitutional law may be a bit off (the First Amendment does not apply to actions of non-governmental entities such as U.S. Soccer), I think he is correct with the latter statement.

Some thought Solo got what she deserved because of her history and because she represents an entire nation in the Olympics.  I think what she said came out of frustration and heat of the moment, which is understandable given the circumstances of a shootout loss on an international stage.  Poor sportsmanship?  For sure.  But worthy of significant punishment?  No.

Grant Wahl points out on www.si.com that Solo's suspension applies to only some meaningless friendlies, that she is getting three months severance pay and that her contract would have terminated on December 31 anyway because that's when the collective bargaining agreement ends.  And she can still play for her club team, the Seattle Reign.  Wahl wonders if U.S. Soccer is trying to keep Solo from having influence when collective bargaining negotiations resume and notes that she is one of five players (along with Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn) pursuing an EEOC complaint against U.S. Soccer alleging wage discrimination.

My guess is we have not heard the last of Hope Solo.