Most  of you are probably going “who”?  Because if you’re a typical guy you tuned this part of SportCenter out unless you thought Solo was cute, and because if you’re a typical girl you have no interest in Women’s World Cup Soccer.

If you don’t know, the U.S. won third place against Norway this morning after being whipped 4 -0 by Brazil in the semi-finals early this week.  Who’s to blame for a 4-0 loss?  Well, many (including myself) blame aging goalie, Briana Scurry, of the previous championship teams and, mainly, Greg Ryan for inexplicably not starting or playing Hope Solo even though she hadn’t given up a goal since a 1-1 tie with North Korea at the beginnning of the tournament.  Plus, IMO, Scurry’s defense had always been leaky.

Hope Solo, who only said what the rest of us smart soccer fans were thinking after the loss, was chastized and subsequently not allowed to be a part of the team today and was not, to my eye, even present for the medal ceremony.  Her return is pending, an apology being the deciding factor.  An apology to whom, is my question.

Does Scurry deserve one?  I think so.  I did have a problem with that part of Solo’s comments.  Does Ryan deserve one?  Hell no.  Not playing Solo made no sense.  He may have very well cost the U.S. the gold with that decision.

Many sportcasters seemed shocked by her comments, but I have to question who truly didn’t see it coming.  In an age of Terrel “T.O.” Owens, why are this young woman’s words being seen as a shock besides the fact that she’s a young woman.  As a professional athlete, she should be afforded the same right to speak her mind as any other player.

What happened: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2007-09-30-Solo-outburst_N.htm

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sportsscope/2007/09/solo-clears-the.html