Continuation of a Theme

What a nightmare. This controversy surrounding my previous post has ballooned into a full-fledged disaster. I stand by my previous opinion about Solo's statements. Sure, with a little conjecture and implication, it can seem like she was throwing her teammate under the bus, and someone a little more media savvy may have seen that coming and been a little more cautious. But this is where I add the current media environment to my annoyance along with the U.S. Women's coach Greg Ryan, both of whom deserved to be flogged; Ryan for his idiocy and the media for its hypocrisy. I found Solo's passion, honesty and willingness to address the issue refreshing. The media clamors constantly for these types of people and statements, but, after Solo's comments, many journalists ripped her apart. Embarrassing. Clearly, her comment may have lacked some tact, but she publicly apologized for the implication that she did not support her fellow goalkeeper and other teammates. Some crtics declared her apology to be fake and manufactured because she maintained that her comments were taken out of context, but they were! Her criticism was of the coach and his decision. I've watched the clip a number of times and all I saw was an emotional athlete who had just lost the biggest match of her career and was powerless to do anything about it. Anyone with that kind of unfettered desire to compete and win can play on my team anytime. That quality is more rare than we think. Those who have criticized Hope Solo for anything more than a lack of media awareness and tact should be ashamed of themselves.

Solo apologizes

Solo won't be with team on Sunday

Jackson: Solo Abandoned

Canales: Scapegoat

Hill: On Solo