With All Due Respect, Hope Solo Gets Save for U.S. Women

When the clock finally expired, Hope Solo met her teammates at midfield for a group hug, then leaped in the air and wrapped herself in the American flag. The U.S. goalkeeping star wasn’t always a genuine sweetheart, or wasn’t always a quiet girl. And suddenly Solo, now an Olympic champion at Wembley Stadium, London’s most prestigious sporting venue, is humbled and meek, finally a winner in the Summer Games.

At best she’s not egomaniacal and not bombastic, growing as a person each day and curtailing her arrogant and defiant personality. Humility is helping her grow as a person. Gracefulness is helping her appreciate life better. The heroine of American soccer — a blowhard, a boaster and a loudmouth – was cocky and bitter in a sense, becoming a lightning rod as a well-known American sporting icon. But now, she has a gold medal hanging from her neck and backed up her talk with a diving save on Japanese forward Mana Iwabuchi in the 83rd minute to preserve a 2-1 victory over Japan on Thursday night in the Olympic gold-medal game. So, amid the doubts and unnecessary talk, Solo played the role of a goddess, and not an annoying prima donna who made headlines for arrogantly lashing out at Brandi Chastain on Twitter following her comments about the current’s team defense at the start of the tournament.

In defense, Solo was immature and mishandled the situation with a lack of class and no respect, childishly ranting her displeasure and rage with her big mouth and reckless tweets, allowing her emotions to get the best of her when remarks seem offensive. It shouldn’t be so shocking that Solo is overly sensitive and deciphers things wrongly, or takes unfavorable judgment too personal and doesn’t keep her cool. It’s been seen too often, but what’s also been impressive lately is her marvelous defensive play, leadership and maturity, stepping up at the right time to finally realize her responsibilities were extremely important for the Americans to beat Japan.

While the U.S. team pressed on throughout the tournament, Solo matured as a person, she was more gracious and cordial, handling her task as a goalkeeper, the most difficult position in soccer in which protecting the net is key. If it all looks unreal for the most polarizing athlete of all women — especially in these summer games — where she’s an angel or embattled because of her pompous comments, well, it’s as real as it gets. Solo is not someone you’d like to marry, but she’s very athletic and is the most recognizable female goalie in her country. For those who are not familiar with Solo — perhaps the best female goalie to ever play — she’s a winner and proved it when she rose to the occasion and was stout for much of the night.

This is her moment to laugh, and then years and years from now she can reminisce about the yesteryears with her kids, and tell her story about wrapping herself in the country’s flag. Years from now, Solo can share portraits of the moment she and her teammates stood in line with gold medals around their necks. This, of course, was an exhilarating and special day when she celebrated and soaked in a wonderful moment with her teammates. It’s one victory that might have signified vindication and mounted Solo’s status in U.S. women’s soccer, when she had a stellar performance after underachieving throughout the tournament.

At the right time, she came up big in the crucial moments, basically the justification for Americans coming away with a redemptive victory over their foes from Japan. The craziest, nastiest, bad-tempered woman turned into a score-stopping machine, stopping 12 of 13 shots she encountered that could have been game-changing plays had the Japanese converted goal-scoring opportunities. If not for her, the Americans could have lost for a second time to Japan, who defeated the United States in the World Cup last year. It came down to Solo stretching out her body, extending her arms and diving to amazingly fend off a missile shot. There surely is no way she will change her demeanor or personality, and she represents her country so proudly that she’ll always have a fiery and snobbish attitude, although she stands by America and gives us a bad name with her actions.

It’s in her nature and she’s molded in a sense to conduct herself in such a way that we should realize who she truly is by now, as we’ve all known Solo so well. If I had to choose the most noteworthy athlete to play goalkeeper for the U.S. soccer team, the first person who’d come to mind is Solo, even though she’s quite smug about being the star of the sport, thinking highly of herself as if she’s the best soccer star ever in the land of the USA. That sense of mannerism is irritating and annoying, but as we all know, winning is a cure to humanity. So once an athlete wins, particularly a medal for its country, everything turns irrelevant. Solo is, in her own way, a witness to that, no doubt. She can irritate and peeve our senses, and then carry the weight of expectations on her shoulders. There wasn’t a better time to come along and become a shutdown goalkeeper, coming through when it matters the most.

And Team USA? It was redemption and relief for the U.S women’s soccer team, erasing the heartbreaking blow in the World Cup championship game. The victory gave the Americans a third consecutive Olympic title, with a pair of spectacular goals from Carli Lloyd, who scored both goals including the gold-medal winning goal. And this wasn’t a time Solo blew it, or a time she couldn’t defend the net and instead came on strong for Team USA. Without Hope, the Americans had no chance to survive. The reality is, she wanted it badly, and within reach of her stated goal, Solo was huge in stretches of the game. Such was when she leaped in the air and deflected the ball with her fingertips on a header by Yuki Ogimi in the 18th minute.

A mountain of failures in the past brought her to reality, and she indeed responded, on the biggest stage in front of 80,203 roaring fans at London’s cathedral. The largest crowd ever attended to watch a women’s soccer game, and surely Solo had the game of her striking career. Spectators also saw Abby Wambach move toward becoming one of the all-time U.S. greats.

Solo, though, was given her chance to prove she can play.

If there were one thing we can take away from this miraculous Olympic games, it would be her goal-saving stops that led to American gold.

U.S. Preeminent Run Magnetized Soccer, but Will It Last?

They were emotionally hyped and adored a surreal moment that believably seemed genuine, the glorious feel-good story that appeared mesmerizing at a time all populace jumped onto the bandwagon to embrace an infatuating portrait.

But now, a casual fan will return to the regularly scheduled programs by watching reruns of CSI or the Simpsons, as television ratings will drastically descend after the United States chase for the beautiful prize came to an end so miserably.

All over the nation, the locals in most cities crowded the sports bars and sat in front of the nearest television to witness the improbable that suddenly faded in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Ghana in the Round of 16 of the captivating World Cup. Because soccer is a foreign activity beloved worldwide but not nationwide, it won’t ever merit a mutual perception or a large portion of entertained fans.


As a nation, we cherish football more than we eulogize futbol, unless of course, the United States is riding a miraculous journey while on a mission to not only attain the unimaginable, but also popularize the diminishing sport of soccer. This time, in an every four year event, the U.S. was successful, galvanizing us to watch a languid event in America and was supposed to implode in the early stages of the tournament.

But it apparently was the most enjoyable drama since New Orleans threw a party on Bourbon Street to laud the Saints for winning its first ever Super Bowl in franchise history, after pulling off the unthinkable against the Indianapolis Colts.

This time, however, we may have witnessed the healthiest soccer tale in U.S. history, thrilled and proud of the historical goal that salvaged pride. In the greatest soccer story that was heartwarming to a large population in the States, the great people witnessed patriotism and persistence, different from four years ago when the United States were inexperience and unsuccessful.

It was merely a subpar team that fizzled in meeting standards, traditionally jeered for the harrowing insults following an agonizing loss. From all the helpless struggles, to the insulting stories, to the bad reputations, the United States devalued the excitement of soccer in a country where it’s unpopular and renounced.

The matches were beneficial and valuable for improving the growth of an unhealthy sport, and were dramatic to the causal supporters. It was only thrilling to watch with the presence of the Americans, seeing whether or not the U.S. could secure a miracle in South Africa.

Really after the Americans were eliminated and sent home by the last Africa team standing, the nation returns back to normalcy and prefers to observe a much-improved baseball season or patiently wait for football season. Few couldn’t care less about the World Cup here in the states, after the Americans were ousted in the Round of 16.

That bothers the growth of soccer in the United States, that defines the typical American as a casual fan, and that describes the average native as a minority in comparison to other countries. As it seems, we may never know if soccer will mount or largely produce a creation of passionate soccer stars in the United States, other than manufacture a quantity of amateurish players.

Greater than ever, the U.S. excited those from Seattle to Los Angeles to Dallas to Kansas City and to New York, boosting television ratings for a growing fan base witnessing a seminal moment in soccer. The game became a part of social life and inspired Americans to travel overseas, believing in a miracle, worldwide recognition and an indelible moment in U.S. history, a theory for eclipsing misconception.

By wrongly misunderstanding of what the sport offered and signified in other countries, the Americans taunted the U.S. for inferiority and insufficiencies in an every four year event, as the local tabloids ripped the United States of poor performances. Across the nation, it expanded realization for a nation satisfied with the U.S. prosperity, despite struggling to prevail past the Round of 16.

There was clear evidence that the Americans were talented and athletic, saving a heartfelt feeling of pride and spirit in a nation that hadn’t became attached, but now coach Bob Bradley has some answering because of his outlandish lineup moves.


Every way, that is, Ghana was the better opponent with explosiveness, assertiveness and ambition. It turns out the Americans were jingoistic, but weren’t durable enough to outlast Ghana. Beside the stereotypical chatter, there were periods in the game when the U.S. looked fatigued and sluggish, particularly in the beginning the Ghanaians exploded with the early stunner and took advantage of the United States porous defense.

The most compelling tournament came to an end, when an exhausted and slower Ghana terrified the U.S. in overtime. Three minutes in overtime, the sensational star of Ghana, Asamoah Gyan booted the game-winning goal, breaking the hearts of U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra.

“We tried to push and push,” Bocanegra said. “I don’t know if we just didn’t have anything left because we had been pushing so much the entire tournament.”

With a multitude of young people living in an era when all sports are regarded, it could have uplifted the image in a narrow-minded country that really wasn’t introduced or developed an aura in the unsought game of soccer.

Will soccer ever survive in America or will people unwelcome the sport? Not a bad question, considering that the country has stared at one of the world’s greatest athletes. Some will argue Landon Donovan is one of the greatest American sporting figures, remembered for the remarkable, game-winning goal during stoppage time in World Cup history against Algeria to qualify for the Round of 16.

He scored on a penalty kick that sent the game to overtime tied 1-1. He has a U.S. record of five goals at the World Cup, and 45 in international play alone. It was a heartbreaker, however, when Donovan exchanged jerseys with a Ghana player and walked off the field and sat on the bench and hung his head, literally disillusioned over the grieving defeat.

“If we’re a little less naïve tonight, we would have advanced,” said Donovan. “I said all along this was a young team and a relatively inexperienced team at this level.”

He’s a valuable player on the United States National team and the best American soccer player ever. If he wasn’t at his best, he wouldn’t have converted on the penalty kick or saved the U.S. with his mesmerizing goal. It’s a privilege to watch a 28-year old soccer assassin be the superior one in his prime and record incomparable milestones in the world-class event. But it wasn’t enough to knock off Ghana in the elimination rounds as the United States were defeated by the Ghanaians for the second straight World Cup, mourning another disappointing scenario after inspiring the nation with bravery and heroism.

“A stinging, tough defeat,” said Bradley, who has been criticized for his lineup changes.

But it was a sense of humanity for a country that pride itself on soccer, with former President Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger sitting in the stands, discovering a memorable moment in U.S. soccer history. But unfortunately, the soccer gimmick and phase may actually dematerialize with the Americans’ falling at the worse possible time and missing out on the semifinals, a round the U.S. hasn’t advanced to since the first World Cup in 1930.


The reality of this story is that the Americans lost, while having an extremely talented and experienced group. They had all the elements to win, surrounded by the heroics of Tim Howard, one of the best goalkeepers in the world and Clint Dempsey one of the greatest defenders. But none of it mattered once the U.S. suffered a loss, wasting a shot at reaching a pinnacle in a sport our country isn’t known for delivering glory.

It was possible, at least it seemed that way, until the Americans encountered Ghana in an elimination round. It’s hard to ignore and forget a seminal moment, but will soccer remain popular in this country? Judging patriotism, it’s hard to tell how an American visualizes sports.

It remains whether or not soccer will last permanently or temporarily.

U.S. Channels Captivating Scene In World Cup As Our Nation Believes

For most cities in a nation, sporting events draw much buzz and excitement and enthusiastic sports fanatics have gathered at local pubs to cheer on the U.S. National Soccer Team. The casual fans have diminished the biggest tournament that happens every four years, but now a large portion of the world’s population closely glance at the most popular sporting event globally.

All over the world, soccer is greatly observed and idolized as a cultural convention, alluring the minds of children who eventually become attach and benefits from a civilized activity.

But in a nation where soccer is downplayed and forgotten, as folks are merely paranoid and brainwashed by David Beckham, a gorgeous soccer star known as a celebrity and for his sex appeal, selling the sport of soccer based on his fame and endorsed products, we are suddenly believers and grateful to witness the U.S. attain the unprecedented.

All the populace are raving specifically about soccer in the slowest months of the sports seasons, willing to immerse in the global landscape. With the latest finish in a historic fashion, the U.S defied logic, for once, rising as a hallowed favorite to contend in the World Cup. Frankly, there’s no longer a suggestion of skepticism or disgrace, but a feeling of intuition and certainty, shunning the traditional flaws.


Here in America sports is one thing. But soccer, of course, is another. Because my instincts tell me it’s a sport that never seemed mesmerizing to the average citizen residing in the states, we are stuck to believe that there is no consensus. Then again, this is a more agog age in sports, meaning the average devotee is satisfied watching men tear back and forth down the field wearing cleats and shorts, while dripping sweat and standing around exhausted during a long-lasting contest.

This is greatly a country that never cared about the dying sport. This is a game that never absorbed much attention, considering that futbol isn’t football, but a boring festivity without action-packed tackles and muscular hits most are accustomed to seeing in the fall and winter months. Think of it as foosball, a strategic tabletop game that you find often in arcades.

Point is, the foosball table rarely generates a crowd as pinball tables or electronic video games rally a large assembly. And it even seems like soccer is the version of the foosball table in a nation that treasures a physical and brutal game. That is football, of course, not futbol.

But all things were viewed differently and veered instantly, following the Americans' thrilling win against Algeria Wednesday night, with Landon Donovan booting a game-winning, a historical goal in the 91st minute to propel the U.S. to a 1-0 shutout. Never did we suspect the Americans to fulfill a miracle or even advance to the Round of 16, knowing they had a highly talented and crafty national team with coveted and goal-oriented stars.

If this is a sport played universally, then we should acknowledge the emergence and intensity of the Americans, vehemently competing with spirit, strong character and humanity. For the moment, the U.S. is confronted with immense expectations for meeting uncommon standards, bringing a sense of pride and installing aspiration in a subsiding activity.

What’s very heartwarming is that the guys representing a patriotic homeland are classy and dynamic, giving us reason to believe as the world is convinced to give the entire core the benefit of the doubt. It’s a miracle to some extent that the U.S. is stronger than ever and has mellowed as an indomitable crew.

You can recall when the Americans were lackluster and too inexperienced. You can recall when the boys were hopeless and voiceless, disillusioned for failing to correct all the botches and disadvantages.

All this happened four years ago, a doleful moment when Donovan was inexperienced and hadn’t developed as an inspirational force. All this happened last decade, a depressing time when the whole team was fearful and timidity.

Four years later, this is a soccer team with guts and bravery, excelling on the high emotions of Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Donovan, and ultimately, Tim Howard, who is arguably one of the greatest goalkeepers worldwide.


Can they win it all? It’s very likely. Do you believe? If you don’t, you should believe in the Americans. The magnitude of winning and outlasting all teams to be presented with the beautiful cup could amplify the growth of a mediocre tournament and erode a relentless farce. With three matches alone, the Americans renounced an imperfect tradition and have verified a beloved tradition by performing with stamina, persistence and energy.

By virtue, the U.S. isn’t vulnerable or effortless in eliminating from contention, fighting off its weaknesses and has been charming without hearing critics define the Americans as obscure and embarrassing to the states, but instead credible of capping a miracle.

There have been six consecutive World Cup appearances, including a final-eight in 2002 for the U.S., and during each contest we never brought together a friendly cult as fans are urged to celebrate historic marks and remarkable plateaus, wishing for the happiest ending in American soccer history.

Each casual fan has rejoiced in this enormous moment in American sports, larger than the Winter Games in Vancouver it seems. Although we live on a continent that doesn’t adore soccer nor share gratefulness and admiration, we have rapidly opened a chapter and turned it into a beautiful story.

Currently, the U.S. is ranked 18 places higher worldwide than Ghana, and has six straight World Cup appearances. In other words, the Americans aren’t the underdog or vulnerable, but have parity and gifted athletes to manhandle the team from Africa. In fact, the U.S. has an easier road than any other team in the World Cup.

Do the Americans a favor -- applause and appreciate what they have accomplished during a watchful tournament. Do the U.S. a favor, and honor its success and wish for the best.

It’s very possible that the U.S. can win the World Cup, but it’s hard to imagine the Americans turning it into a popular sport here in the States.

Landon Donovan Is Worth the Publicity for Saving U.S. With Historic Goal

Aside from all the disgrace and uncertainty hovering over the heads of the U.S. in soccer, the one sport Americans aren’t culturally equipped in dominating or feeling a consensus belief, there’s an ethical understanding that the U.S. is actually a talented and sumptuous team, built to install a sense of pride in the hearts of all the individuals in America.

They were waiting for something special and witnessed an extravaganza that materialized in one of sports biggest events, escaping all the unlovely publicity, the everlasting stereotyping and ridiculing, and the lousy performances before the humiliation turned massively repulsive.

For a long time, the team here in the States has been degraded by propaganda and for underachieving on a global setting, vastly tumbled for the hopeless letdowns at an exhausting game that requires much zealous and consistency.


It’s a mutual feeling that soccer is unpopular in America, and remains as a disregarded sport, roughly is unseen and ignored as an elite sport, but a world-class competition in most countries. The typical fan is probably familiar with David Beckham, a big-name soccer star who’s famous for his features and his cologne, a product available in department stores as a hot item.

But it isn’t the same results for the gifted sport that he plays, when he’s not behaving as a celebrity who walks on the red carpet where he’s gunned down by paparazzi for the latest photo shot to feature in the recent issue of tabloids.

As it stands, he’s not the only famous soccer star after all, when the heroics of Landon Donovan converted on a game-winning goal in stoppage time Wednesday evening. He has brought much joy to Team USA, transforming the landscape of competition and expunging the misfortune.

He has inserted much aspiration, and is thrilled to contend at the highest level in the World Cup and compete with a believable mindset and an initiative to travel back home with the gleaming prize by the end of the tournament, though implications and challenges are very uncompromising.


And lastly, he may have revived a dying sport in the states by luring the causal fan to the World Cup, as the masses are willing to blow obnoxiously from a vuvuzela horn that sounds like a swarm of bees are buzzing around the locale.

It’s very appealing to see that Team USA has a hero, a virtuous leader who symbolizes the nature of soccer in a patriotic nation, enthusiastic to formulate a bonding attachment as the game becomes more evident and catches the eye of spectators when our players are on a mission to accomplish the unprecedented.

Although the organizers should be credited for marketing and publicizing its product nationwide after agreeing in a deal to televise its event on ESPN, a network that has impacted the growth nationally, Donovan should be a noteworthy name worshipped for his historic goal that will leave a mark in U.S. history eternally.

He salvaged an entire nation with his incredible feat and protected pride to defy logic in a historical sequence. What he did was indiscernible, unbelievable, special, breathtaking, extraordinary, unforgivable, wonderful and memorable, all assessable words needed to describe a sensational time.

At the threshold of the World Cup, he was smothered with a tremendous amount of pressure and had the highest expectations, unlike his teammates on the U.S. team.

As of recently, he shines on the beautiful stage and dominates the green surfaces of South Africa, with his keen footwork, agility and consciousness, knowing he has a shot at strengthening the reputation in the states.

If you missed it all, he was easily seen in the right place at the right time and scored the must-needed goal in the 91st minute to their only game in the group. Had he not scored, the Americans would have finished empty-handed, yet in other draw that they couldn’t afford.

Had he not fired one through the nets, the team wouldn’t have won or seized the three points that were necessary to advance to the Round of 16. The American traditional of failure or vulnerability no longer exists for which the U.S. isn’t vulnerable or an easy ouster, especially when it’s fortune to have Donovan.

When he finished and prevailed on a booted shot directly towards the net, which eased its way through the net to save the U.S. of agony and gloom, he was overjoyed and sprinted to the corner of the field where he was crowded by his teammates.

“I’ve been through a lot the last four years,” Donovan said. “I’m so glad it culminated in this way.”

It took a total team effort after Jozy Altidore charged and Clint Dempsey missed a well-designed shot, but even though he couldn’t convert, he had assistance from Donovan.

“Clint Dempsey did a good job to get in front of the goalie and it just bounced there,” Donovan said.

This is the wonderful story in American soccer, but can they continue to gleam remains a question. They’ll need strong play from goalkeeper Tim Howard, Altidore and Dempsey, who is ultimately a scoring element and a factor with more effectiveness, effort and, well, a little luck. But after topping Algeria 1-0, it’s easier to believe.

Four years ago, he was unproven and younger and still hadn’t developed into a primary star, but a lot has changed since then.

Many Americans believe. I believe, too.