USA’s Solo not alone in dodging controversy
The only thing hotter than the turf at the Women’s World Cup is the firestorm flaring up around Hope Solo, Team USA’s all-world ’keeper.
Kicked off by an ESPN Outside the Lines report that detailed the sordid police report about an unresolved domestic assault case from last June, which involved a fight with her stepsister and nephew, Solo’s presence on the field has been called into question.
Following the domestic violence controversies surrounding Ray Rice, Floyd Mayweather and the always growing NFL police blotter, there are several interesting things about the way the media has handled Solo. And it starts with — are things handled differently when the athletic train wreck is a woman?
When it comes to controversy, Solo is about as all-world off the field as she is on it. She has a long list of incidents, including badmouthing fellow teammates and trashing former players turned analysts. Her husband, Jerramy Stevens, has plenty of his own issues, including driving a USWNT van while reportedly under the influence. Then there’s Solo’s assault case, which beyond just fighting with family members, she reportedly verbally abused the arresting officers. The case was dismissed on a procedural point in September but the charges are being appealed by authorities.
But when it come to sports, talent does tend to trump all, and Solo is a two-time Olympic medallist universally acknowledged as being one of the best keepers in her sport. Solo has also already crossed over, appearing on Dancing with the Stars and writing a memoir that is the best-selling U.S. book about soccer ever. She was also instrumental in the U.S. team’s first game win making three key saves.
“Freaking huge,” was how teammate Megan Rapinoe described her performance.
Officials with the USWNT have been trying to keep the focus on the field, trying to shield Solo from difficult questions (which was bril- liantly skewered by Juliet Macur in a New York Times column).
In the lead-up to the tourney, there were plenty of glowing Solo profiles, which skirted or outright didn’t bother with acknowledging her previous controversies. Of course, that OTL report kicked the assault case back to the fore, and has now the chorus of outrage is growing. Other columnists are being critical of U.S. Soccer, and TMZ is on the case, asking the burning question: What does Charlie Sheen think? (Surprise, he supports her). Keith Olbermann used his TV pulpit to say: “If Hope Solo was a player in the National Football League, she’d be under suspension right now,” he said and lambasted U.S. Women’s soccer officials for letting her on the field.
Gender in sport is much more polarized than ever before, and while some have raised the point that Solo has been treated easier than males with similar issues, the glare on her now is particularly damning, so in some ways, this seems equitable. Let’s not talk about fair, because in this arena, argu-
Solo so far has been a Teflon celebrity, whose troubles pile up but bear little consequence
ments about double standards don’t hold any water. With celebrities and popular athletes, there is no singular standard, and we deal with everything on a case-by-case basis, depending on a number of factors, but much of it comes down to if we find the person likeable.
The consequences are also just as varied.
Solo is similar to Mayweather, in that while there are critical voices there are just as many tied to the idea that her sport needs her. The U.S. team needs her, so can you really blame them for not suspending her?
It’s the same decision any fan faces when something like this happens to player on their team. It is another example of a great player but perhaps not so great a person, and how we reconcile that.
I’m not defending any abuser, but take a look at Rice. Certainly not the first abuser, although the shocking video evidence is what’s different and is likely why he remains a pariah. What is interesting is that ESPNW published a column this week titled “Why Ray Rice deserves a second chance.” The piece talked about how he seems remorseful and has served and dealt with every punishment he’s been assigned, and yet, as he’s quoted as saying to friends in the piece: “Here I am, the poster boy of domestic violence.” Rice’s wife has forgiven him, but that doesn’t seem to matter. The court of public opinion has no statute of limitations, and just as varied as the path is to rock bottom, so is the path to redemption.
Similar to Rob Ford, Solo so far has been a Teflon celebrity, whose troubles pile up but bear little consequence. If she’s on the field, we’ll be mesmerized by her talent. Off the field, we’ll wait too see if there is a next court date.
She does not fit the redemptive heroine role that sports condition us to crave, but with all the focus this past year on domestic violence and athletes, it is our reactions that are most telling.