Hope Solo suspended from USWNT for 'cowards' remark towards Swedish team

Hope Solo will have plenty of time to think about choosing her words more carefully after U.S. Soccer announced it has suspended the rabble-rousing goaltender from the U.S. Women’s National Team for six months citing conduct that is contrary to the organization’s principles.

The suspension comes after Solo called Sweden cowards following the Americans’ elimination from the Olympics in the quarterfinal round. The Aug. 12 loss to Sweden on penalty kicks ended the U.S.’s run of three consecutive gold medal wins.

“The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players,” U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said. “Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.”

Hope Solo responded to the suspension:

pic.twitter.com/z4lCvGnQDq

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 25, 2016

Sweden, coached by former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, eliminated the U.S. on penalty kicks after the teams remained tied 1-1 after 120 minutes. Solo took exception to Sweden playing conservatively, which forced the U.S. to be in the rare position of chasing, not controlling, the pace of play.

“I think we played a bunch of cowards,” Solo said. “Sweden dropped off. They didn’t want to open play. They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t want to play great soccer. It was a combative game, a physical game. Exactly what they wanted and exactly what their game plan was.”

Solo sort of apologized for using that particular c-word but her post game comments were not supported by teammates, who roundly criticized the outspoken goalie.

This was the full context of my comments today. Thank you @GrantWahl. Losing sucks. I'm really bad at it. https://t.co/s5Mckg8o6B

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 12, 2016

And this isn’t the first time Solo has stirred up controversy.

Solo was arrested and charged with two counts of domestic violence in 2014 when an alleged drunken incident which involved her half-sister and nephew went public. The charges were dismissed in 2015 but subsequently reinstated.

The trouble-making goal keep was also suspended for 30 days last summer after taking a joy ride in the team van with her husband, former NFL tight end Jeramy Stevens — who pleaded no contest to driving the van while intoxicated.

Conveniently, that benching was over before the USNWT started play in the  World Cup. 

As a result of her most recent suspension, Solo will not be eligible for national team selection until February.

Just guessing there aren’t any important tournaments for Solo to miss during that six-month time-out.

Obama shuts out Hope Solo at White House ceremony (VIDEO)

President Barack Obama welcomed the U.S. women's 2015 World Cup champion soccer team to the White House Tuesday, saying the team's 5-2 victory over Japan inspired the whole country.

"They've inspired millions of girls to dream bigger and, by the way, inspired millions of boys to look at girls differently, which is just as important," Obama said to applause in the White House East Room. "This team taught all America's children that playing like a girl means you're a bad ass."

Adding, "Perhaps I shouldn't have used that phrase. Playing like a girl means being the best."

And with everyone from the World Cup championship team gathered at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Obama called out several players by name including Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, Sydney Leroux, Becky Sauerbrunn, Megan Rapinoe and Heather O'Reilly.

But Obama distanced himself from Hope Solo ... with POTUS refusing to acknowledge the goalie at the ceremony.

Solo — who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in the World Cup — was notably left off the list of shout-outs.

And it's a good guess it has to do with the soccer star's domestic violence case.

Hope is facing criminal charges for allegedly beating up her half sister and nephew in a drunken rage back in 2014 ... allegations Solo still denies.

Solo was arrested following the alleged rampage — and cops say she went on a tirade, berating several police officers  calling one a "bitch" and saying she'd kick his ass.

And, despite the charges, soccer's bad girl was allowed to play.

While the President's apology for using the term 'bad ass' scored as a joke — his shut out of Solo said much more.

U.S. Women's World Cup team told to quit whining and just play

It seems like all of the non-stop drama and excuses surrounding the U.S. Women's National Team is wearing thin in Canada. As the Americans get set to face China in a World Cup match on Friday night, those connected to the tournament are gritting their teeth every time Team USA opens its mouth.

Organizers and analysts are reportedly growing tired of the U.S. complaints about the artificial turf, conspiracy theories regarding referees, and the Americans' long list of alibis for their overall lackluster play. Not to mention the Hope Solo situation.

"It is just getting tiresome around this U.S. team at the moment," Kristian Jack, soccer analyst for Canada's tournament broadcaster, TSN, told USA TODAY Sports. "There's far too many stories around this team. We've had the turf, we've had Hope Solo, we've had [Abby] Wambach moaning that she can't score a goal because it wasn't on grass. They are not playing that well. That should be the story."

Even Alexi Lalas, the former men's national team star and Fox analyst, is getting tired of the women's complaints.

"There is no conspiracy theory against you or the U.S. team," he said in a telecast while talking to Team USA. "As a matter of fact, stop trying to make the U.S. into this poor little U.S. team that everybody is against — the downtrodden United States women's soccer team.

"You are a superpower, you are one of the best teams, if not the best team in the world. Act as such."

Not surprisingly, all of this whining has much the rest of the world rooting against the Americans.

"Boy, the American team sure talks a lot," Gilles Blondeau, a member of an Ottawa fans group, told USA TODAY. "You don't hear Canada talking like that. ... People up here don't appreciate that kind of thing too much. You're winning. Stop complaining."

While we're at it, can they get the rah-rah American TV announcers to stop turning every call against the U.S. into Watergate.

Hope Solo's history of violence goes back to high school: Report

It appears that Hope Solo's pattern of violence off the pitch started back when the U.S. soccer team's star goalkeeper was still in high school. 

Documents uncovered by TMZ Sports claim that when the troubled Solo was a senior at Richland High School in Washington state when she harassed and bullied another student so badly she was hit with a restraining order. Solo was required to stay 300 feet away from the student at all times.

The documents quotes the student saying:

"(Solo) punched me in the cheek. Then she said, 'I f---ing hate you, you fat a-- whore!' and punched me two more times. Once in the eye and once in the mouth."

According to the gossip site, documents filed in 1998, Solo was hit with a restraining order and was required to keep away from the student at all times.

The 17-year-old incident comes to light after a string of violent behavioral incidents for Solo. Last year, she was arrested on domestic violence charges — where she was allegedy drunk, called a police officer a 'b----' and said to the cop that if she weren't in handcuffs, "I'd kick your ass."

In April, Solo's husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was convicted on a DUI charge. 

Solo was a passenger in the car at the time of his arrest. She was given a short suspension by the U.S. soccer team after the incident.

The athletic, 5-9, 150-pound goalkeeper will be on the field Friday in Winnipeg when the U.S. soccer team plays its second game of the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Critics claim the U.S. team swept Solo's abusive behavior under the rug long enough to get her into the World Cup because she is too important to the squad and its take-no-prisoners — just use them —quest for the title. And despite her apparent penchant for violence, they still promote the alleged domestic abuser in their commercials during the most prestigious and visible women's soccer tournament in the world.

If that doesn't scream double-standard for women who commit the same crimes as men — what does?

Hope Solo could be left off US World Cup team: Report

Hope Solo faces the possibility of being left off the American roster for this year's Women's World Cup if the goalkeeper fails to complete tasks set for her by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which may include alcohol counseling.

The troubled soccer star was suspended for 30 days last Wednesday for what the U.S. Soccer Federation called "an incident that occurred during the current WNT training camp" in Carson, California.

On Monday, USSF President Sunil Gulati answered questions about Solo being left off the team.

"Look, that's possible," he said. "We hope that's not the case. We hope she's making progress and joins the team. That's certainly the goal, hers and ours."

Jerramy Stevens, Solo's husband, was driving a team vehicle when he was arrested last week on suspicion of driving under the influence, a person familiar with the details of the arrest told The Associated Press last week. 

Solo was ordered to refrain from drinking alcohol last June after she was arrested on domestic violence charges at her sister's home in Kirkland, Washington. The charge was dropped this month.

Speaking on a conference call with U.S. coach Jill Ellis, Gulati said he had to speak carefully because of the involvement of "health-related issues." Asked whether Solo had been asked to undergo alcohol counseling, Gulati said "I think neither of us denied or confirmed that."

"She's been given time to deal with some issues, and we think that in this period she'll certainly start that process, and we'll evaluate," he said.

Gulati said the length of the suspension was determined during conversations he had with Ellis and USSF Secretary General Dan Flynn.

"Thirty days seemed to be the appropriate suspension under our rules and given the circumstances," he said. "So there are a number of things that Hope is being asked to do in that 30 days. We're not going to get into the specifics of that. And then we'll evaluate where things stand at the end of that period and make the decision going forward."

Solo will miss exhibition games at France (Feb. 8) and at England (Feb. 13). She could return for the Algarve Cup tournament in Portugal in March.

Hope Solo to stand trial for domestic violence charges: Report

Hope Solo will stand trial early in 2015 on misdemeanor assault charges following a brawl with two members of her family last summer.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who has won two Olympic gold medals with the USA women's national team, has pleaded not guilty to the domestic violence charges.

The trial is set to begin on January 20 with Kirkland Municipal Court Judge Michael Lambo setting Solo's next court hearing for January 6, according to the Seattle Times.

Solo is charged with two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault stemming from the June 21 altercation with her sister and 17-year-old nephew at a family gathering where alcohol was being served.

The nephew told police (via the Times) that Solo had been drinking and was angry because her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, refused to take her to the airport to catch a flight. 

 She reportedly told her nephew he was “too fat and overweight and crazy to ever be an athlete,” the documents allege.

The teenager called Solo a name, told her to get out of the house and then walked to another part of the house, documents say. Solo allegedly followed him and called him crazy.

Prosecutors allege that Solo attacked the teen, punched him in the face and tackled him after he retorted that both she and her father were crazy.

When the teen’s mother tried to intervene, Solo attacked her as well, the document says. The teen tried to pull Solo off his mother and then broke a wooden broom over her head, the document reported.

The 17-year-old then allegedly “got an old gun that did not work” and pointed it at her in an attempt to get her to stop assaulting him and his mother and to leave. The handgun was ultimately determined by police to be a broken BB gun.

Solo has claimed she was only acting in self-defense.

There was also an email from a Kirkland city prosecutor to Solo's attorney, Todd Maybrown, three and a half weeks ago, which offered a plea deal to Solo if she plead guilty to at least one count. It is not clear if Maybrown or Solo responded. It may be, because at this point, Solo's career and endorsement deals could be affected if she is found guilty of a crime.

In the interim, Solo will continue to play for the U.S. national soccer team as it prepares for next summer’s World Cup. Her presence on the national team has been met with some criticism after the NFL was grilled by the media for the league's lax handling of domestic violence by its players.

US Soccer president defends Hope Solo playing despite domestic violence charges: Report

U.S. Soccer defended its decision to allow goalkeeper Hope Solo to continue to play for the women's national team while she faces domestic violence charges.

The 33-year-old Solo is charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in Washington state stemming from an altercation with her sister-in-law and 17-year-old nephew in June — but is still allowed to compete.

In a statement issued Monday night, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said the federation would stand by its decision to allow due process to take its course before ruling on Solo's national team status.

"From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo's status with the National Team," Gulati said. "Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it."

The statement was issued hours after U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun called the allegations against Solo "disturbing and inconsistent with our expectations of Olympians," but he stopped short of saying she should face immediate disciplinary action from the team.

And contrary to a seemingly double-standard which applies for male athletes in the NFL charged with the same crime.

"We have had discussions with U.S. Soccer and fully expect them to take action if it is determined that the allegations are true," Blackmun told USA Today Sports in an email. "Abuse in all forms is unacceptable."

Solo, who has been with the national team since 2000 and recently set the team record for the most shutouts last week, continues to play for the United States in meaningless exhibition matches and with her National Women's Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign, following her arrest.

Gulati said Monday the organization will let her play until the legal matter is settled.

Solo has pleaded not guilty and the case is scheduled for trial on November 4. She faces up to six months in jail if convicted.

Hope Solo still playing despite domestic violence charges

In case you haven't noticed over the past few weeks, the NFL and its commissioner Roger Goodell have come under fire for their lax punishment of no less than five players being charged with various domestic violence and child abuse incidents.

While the media seems to find numerous angles in crucifying Goodell and team owners over their less than sparkling record for disciplining these players, these same crusading, self-righteous reporters seem to have ignored one domestic violence case where the charged person is still playing and have even celebrated the person charged with the offense.

Hope Solo.

While fans burn their Ray Rice jerseys and media-types rake the NFL over the coals, where are the do-gooders' outrage at Solo continuing to play while Adrian Peterson, who has been accused of child abuse, is suspended (rightfully so) from playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

The 33-year-old Solo, one of the biggest and most marketable stars in women’s sports, is accused of the same criminal charges as the NFL players, but continues to play for her pro team as she waits for the national team trials in November.  Solo was even cheered for extending her shutout record to 73 games as the U.S. women’s national team beat Mexico 4-0 in a friendly Thursday night in Rochester, N.Y.

Would Peterson get this type of reaction for gaining 200 yards?

As Cindy Boren of The Washington Post wrote:

Unlike some of the biggest NFL stars, Solo, who is their counterpart in women’s soccer and someone touted as a role model, quietly goes about her business of keeping soccer balls from going into the net. NFL stars like Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Jonathan Dwyer and Adrian Peterson were banished after massive sponsor, political and fan pressure, but Nike, for instance, has remained silent on Solo.

At least some social media has noticed the double standard:

If we're going to criticize #NFL teams for their handling of domestic violence, how do we feel about #USWMNT letting Hope Solo play?
— Robert Flores (@RoFloESPN) September 18, 2014

Hope Solo is playing in a US soccer game tonight despite 2 domestic assault charges. No outrage here though, right? pic.twitter.com/edJNBeFWcH
— Phillip Mena (@phillipmenaKPRC) September 18, 2014

Comparing hulking NFL player Rice punching and knocking out his fiancee to a female soccer player accused of assaulting her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew is arguable — but it is still domestic violence. And if this behavior shouldn't happen in the NFL, it shouldn’t happen in women’s sports, either.

Solo's team, the Reign, rationalized their decision to keep her on the field by saying they were still collecting evidence on the case. The U.S. Soccer national team is apparently following suit.

If she wasn't one of the most high-profile players, in a low-profile league, Solo probably wouldn't be playing.

Solo has apologized on Facebook for what she characterized as “a highly unfortunate incident.”

But, if abuse is abuse, then fair is fair.

Olympic Village becomes one big yard sale

If you've ever wanted to sleep in the same bed as Hope Solo or dry off with the same chlorine-scented towel as Michael Phelps, here's your chance.

A website called 'Remains of the Game' has been launched to sell off the contents of the athletes village  and items from the Olympic Park.

Everything is for sale including mattresses, sheets and furniture from the athletes' bedrooms.  You could plop into your own lime-green Olympic bean bag chair wrapped in warm comforter with colorful Olympic symbols printed on it.

An umpire chair from the diving events was listed at £200 ($250) along with javelins, a 2012 parasol or a traffic wand for £3.5  (five bucks).

While Britain tries to recoup some of its costs for the 2012 Olympics by turning the aftermath into the world's biggest garage sale, the world turns its eyes to Rio in 2016.

I have my eye on one of those purple suits with the light-bulb derby that the volunteers wore at the closing ceremonies.  Kind of British with a little pimp.

Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe Go Bear at Giants Game

While U.S. Women's World Cup soccer star Hope Solo is taking it all off for a magazine photo spread, teammates Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe are going bare too-- make that panda bear.

Wambach and Rapinoe were spotted at last night's San Diego Padres/San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park wearing panda bear hats which were, hopefully,  in support of the Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval and not for the Chinese soccer team.

"Kung Fu Panda," as the chubby Sandoval was allegedly nicknamed by teammate Barry Zito,  is a fan favorite in the city of the World Champions.

Not much has been seen of the star forward and mid-fielder since losing to Japan in the Women's World Cup championship game last month.  Maybe it's because Wambach and Rapinoe, who hails from northern California, have been covered up by the floppy-eared panda hats.

If they were trying to go incognito, the two teammates missed their goal.  Oops, too soon?  They were pretty obvious in the crowd of over 41,000.

The Giants won 2-1, behind the pitching of Tim Lincecum. 

Kung Fu Panda went 0-for-3.

Hope Solo and Abby Wambach Do Stupid Soccer Tricks on Letterman Show

Hope Solo and Abby Wambach, two members of the silver medalist US Women's World Cup soccer team, appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and took shots at four moving taxi cabs outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City yesterday.  Solo, a goaltender, finally put a ball right through the sliding door; while Wambach's kicks sailed wide or bounced off the taxis.

Maybe the US goalie should have taken one of the penalty kicks during the championship game loss to Japan on Sunday?

The losing American team is still getting a rousing welcome home after being upset by Japan.   They were greeted at the airport by fans when they arrived back in the United States and Letterman was one of the first stops for the two stars of the team.  You would have thought they won the whole enchilada.

Solo and Wambach, seated on a couch next to Letterman's desk, looked nervous and demure--a stark contrast to their individual on-field persona.

Letterman opened the interview with the obvious. "Tough loss," the gap-toothed host said.  Both players shook their heads before he lobbed this bon mot," It looked like you were all over those people, the Japanese."

Solo said she received a "good luck" email right before the game from a friend--and one of the opposing Japanese players-- and responded by emailing back; "Whatever happens, happens."  Letterman then joked, " You should have said 'Would it have killed you to lay down.'"

Letterman finally admitted," I know nothing about the game," but never asked the question everyone wanted to know: Do you think you choked?

Solo did answer that question in an interview on ESPN.  It sounded like an apologetic "No."  Then she added, "Only if you truly don't know the game."

While the US team licks their wounded egos, the same darlings of the media are still getting the star treatment for coming in second.

This week's cover of Sports Illustrated will feature a photo of Solo with the headline;  "HEART AND HEARTACHE- Japan Shocks the US..."

Shouldn't Japan's veteran leader, Homare Sawa, be gracing the SI cover for winning the World Cup?

Amazingly, the US women's team gets the winner's treatment.  I didn't see a photo of LeBron James on the cover of SI for being upset by the Dallas Mavericks or the brooding faces of the men's 2004 Olympic basketball team who came home with bronze.

The US appearance in the World Cup may have drawn more fans to the sport of women's soccer, but give the winner's their due.

Japan's upset could cost the most recognizable faces of the US team-- Solo and Wambach-- millions of dollars in endorsements said Bob Dorfman.

Dorfman, who rates endorsement potential of athletes as Creative Director of Baker Street Advertising in San Francisco, thinks the deals could dry up fast.

"I heard there were some marketers who were planning on using them-- but decided not to because of the loss," said Dorfman.  "Everyone likes a winner."

Rumors that GoDaddy.com had it's sights on goalie Solo joining Danica Patrick in their racy ads, but after the loss they backed off. 

GoDaddy.com spokesman Nick Fuller said," At this point in time, GoDaddy.com is not pursuing a sponsorship deal with Hope Solo."

Getting attention and attracting new fans to the sport are still viable assets for the two break-out female stars claims Dorfman.

They can still work in the "glamor" areas like Patrick and Maria Sharapova do, he said.

While it lasts, Solo and the rest of the team should enjoy all the adulation the USA can throw at them; for if they played for North Korea, chances are, they would probably be serving some sort of penance on a work farm.

Japan Upsets United States in World Cup Final and Brings Hope Back Home

In what everyone is calling the greatest Women's World Cup Final in history and one of the biggest upsets in team sports, the long-shot Japanese women's soccer team defeated the highly-favored United States in penalty kicks to take home the world title in Frankfurt, Germany yesterday.

Japan, the little engine that could, overcame long odds to make it to the finals but used a steady passing game, tough defense and unyeilding tenacity to come from behind and defeat the stronger and bigger U.S. squad.

Even U.S. fans could not begrudge Japan of it's hard-earned win.

The Japanese were playing for a country devastated by an earthquake and tsunami which wiped out huge portions of northern Japan on March 11 and left over 23,000 people dead or missing.  The victory brings optimism to a country still filled with heartbreak and destruction.

The drama was set even before the teams took the field.

Nobody gave Japan a chance to win-- not even a puncher's one.

Japan had never beaten the U.S. in 25 previous matches and lost three games against this same team earlier this spring. They were the second smallest team in the tournament and, because of the earthquake and tsunami, had limited time to practice together leading up to the World Cup.

The highly entertaining game had everything soccer fans want to see.  For once the game lived up to the hype. 

There was the David vs. Goliath angle-- literally-- and enough action and close calls to keep even the most cynical soccer fan on their feet.

After a scoreless first half, Japan was robbed of a high percentage shot after a referee wrongly called a Japanese break away off-sides early in the second period.  The U.S. took advantage of the missed call and scored the first goal in the 69th minute after Megan Rapinoe lofted the ball to 22 year-old Alex Morgan.  It seemed the U.S. had destiny in their hands.  The shouts of U-S-A! U.S.A. began to fill the Frankfurt stadium and bars around America.

Japan accelerated their finesse game by bringing in extra scorers and, in the 81st minute, it paid off.   Aya Miyana intercepted a lazy Alex Kreiger pass in the U.S. penalty area and looped the ball over U.S. goalie, Hope Solo's outstretched arms.  Tie game with momentum on Japan's side.

The U.S. continue to take-- and miss--  shots at the Japanese goalie.  On the day the Americans out-shot Japan 27-14, but had too many kicks hit the post or sail over the net.

At the end of regulation, the game was tied at 1-1 and both teams prepared for the 30-minute overtime session.  Now, no 'Golden Goals' could save either team.  It was thirty minutes of play.

As the Japanese team huddled before the extra period, their coach, Norio Sasaki,  could be seen smiling while encouraging his players.  They looked looser than the U.S. team.

That smile was wiped away in the 14th minute of overtime when Abby Wambach once again used a header to score a go-ahead goal.  This was the third time in this World Cup, the towering Wambach's head put the U.S. into the lead.  This time it looked like the team would take the 2-1 lead to a world title.

Wambach was now looking at endorsement deals from every shampoo, hat and hair dye company if the Americans could milk the clock for another sixteen minutes.

Amazingly, a minute later, Homare Sawa-- in her fifth World Cup for Japan-- made an awkward, off-balance shot past Solo to tie the game.

Now both teams were headed to the dreaded and nerve-wracking penalty kick phase.

The U.S. missed their first two penalty kicks and Japan led 2-1; leaving just Saki Kumagi's kick to seal the victory for Japan's first world title.  Solo tried to psyche out the tiny Kumagi by flailing and stretching inside the goal.  It didn't work.  Japan wins 3-1 on penalty kicks.

It could be called the Miracle on Turf or Japan's Hope over America's Hope or whatever, but to the millions of Japanese, still reeling from the disaster, watching the victory in pre-dawn Japan, it was more than a soccer match.

It was pretty hard to root against Japan.  Their first victory against the U.S. was more important than soccer itself.  The inspiration the team brings back home will bring happiness to many who need something to cheer about and spur them on. 

At the end of the game, the Japanese women unfurled the banner they have held up after all their wins leading to World Cup title game.  It reads "To Our Friends Around the World- Thank You For Your Support."

Soccer should be thanking them.

Japanese Women's Soccer Team To Meet United States in World Cup Final

Japan defeated Sweden today, 3-1, and will be making it's first appearance in a World Cup Final.  They will meet the United States who, earlier, overwhelmed France late and won 3-1 on a rain-slicked field.

It's hard for the world to not root for the big underdogs from Japan, especially after the Japanese players once again unfurled a huge banner after the match that read, "To Our Friends Around the World;  Thank You For Your Support," which refers to the world-wide outpouring of aid after the the March 11 tsunami and earthquake that left 23,000 people dead or missing.

The U.S. team hopes to win their first World Cup title since 1999 when they defeated China.

The Japanese just want to bring hope home.

Swedish Women's Soccer Team's Victory Dance Over U.S. is a Winner

I watched Sweden's 2-1 win over the United States, in their FIFA Women's World Cup soccer group-play match today, and learned a few things about women's soccer I never realized before.

First of all, every women's team seems to have a team victory dance they perform after every goal or win.  My vote for best choreography  goes to Sweden.  It's a Nordic Polska with a little gangsta crotch-grab to spice it up. 

Here's a few other things I picked up on the sport today.

Apparently, the women's style of soccer play is just as scrappy as the men's but they don't cry, roll around in agony and there are way less prat-falls and flopping.  That's probably because an Italian team wasn't on the field.

There is a lot of spirited chatter on the field but, thankfully, it's not as loud as an NCAA women's softball game or the grunting at a Wimbleton Women's Finals match.

The sideline bench area looks more like a nail salon than a sports bench.  Did you see those seats?  Who supplies them, Audi or BMW?  Those blue and white bucket seats, complete with headrests, look like they should be sitting in front of a 60-inch flat screen in some dude's man-cave.  I'm almost sure they have vibrating magic fingers.

The U.S. goalie, Hope Solo, is pretty cute, and not related to Han, and the Swedish team is 92.5% blond.

Finally, the ESPN soccer announcers are the biggest homers in all sports.  They make excuses for every U.S. misplay or loss.  If it's not a "that was a bad call against the U.S.," it's a "this loss will make the U.S. team stronger, that's just how they are."  Get over it, Sweden is a pretty good team.

Now, the U.S. will face Brazil in a tough  quarterfinal match on Sunday.  The U.S. team has been relegated to second place in Group C due to the loss.  It was the United States women's soccer team's first  loss in group play in their last 17 appearances.

I knew that.