Why I’m Not Celebrating USWNT and Neither Should You
This guy is not a fan.
I’m in New York City, but most certainly will not be celebrating U.S. Women’s National Team victory in the World Cup solely due to their stonewalling for and unmitigated support of Hope Solo. I can support those whose foibles I don’t know of, but I can’t knowingly support professional athletes assaulting their underage cousins and sisters. Do we care about domestic violence and abuse or don’t we? Here are some things that were said concerning Hope Solo by members of the USWNT during the World Cup:
Hope Solo news, that’s so old news. Hope is my roommate, and we don’t even talk about it. It’s all old news, we just laugh about it.
– Golden Boot winner Carli Lloyd
(The incident) was a long time ago. We’ve moved on. She’s been a fantastic player and teammate. None of that has even resonated with us, and I’m sure some of the players aren’t even aware of it.
– Head Coach Jill Ellis
You would be surprised at how normal life is. This is going to be a spectacular event and for me, I am going to talk about all positives – no matter what happens throughout this tournament.”
– Abby Wambach
USWNT
The coach, the best player and team’s most accomplished player don’t see a problem. Why should you?
To recap the details of the June 2014 event in question, the second of the two domestic violence incidents involving Solo (the first she may have been a victim), according to arrest reports, Solo allegedly appeared drunk in the early morning hours to a family event. She proceeded to call a younger relative expletives and a “Mama’s Boy,” followed by taking a swing at him. After the situation was believed to be resolved, she grabbed the boy by the hair, pulled his head down and “punched him in the face repeatedly.” She jumped on top of him, slamming his head into a cement garage floor again and again. Then when the boy’s mother intervenes, Solo punched his mother (her sister) in the face repeatedly. The case was dismissed following continued refusal to cooperate by witnesses and alleged victims. Who does that remind me of?
A lot of so called domestic violence advocates “celebrating” should take a look at these alleged actions in the arrest report for the “star” goalie of the women’s soccer team. Until there is actual repudiation for Solo’s purported actions or participation in said event, there is nothing to celebrate as far as I’m concerned. Just another domestic batterer whose actions are excused because of athletic prowess. Unsurprisingly, her hometown of Kirkland, Washington is throwing nothing for her. Has anyone signed Ray Rice yet? No? Good. Let’s try our best to be consistent amidst all of this euphoria.
