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Olympics: Not so sweet Hope Solo tweets

July 29, 2012 @ 2:03 pm (Updated: 6:15 pm - 7/29/12 )

Northwest native Hope Solo met with the coach and captains of the U.S. women's soccer team today after she went on a Twitter rant criticizing a former U.S. player.

HopeSolo will not be disciplined for the series of tweets against Brandi Chastain's TV commentary during the NBC broadcast of the Americans' 3-0 win over Colombia Saturday.

Chastain, one of the most accomplished players in U.S. team history, did not respond to Solo's tweets.

She told the Associated Press, "I'm here to do my job, which is to be an honest and objective journalist at the Olympics, nothing more than that."

Chastain criticized defender Rachel Buehler for giving the ball away, noting it was something Buehler would have to work on.

Among Solo's tweets, which she hasn't deleted:

"Its 2 bad we cant have commentators who better represents the team&knows more about the game."

She also told Chastain to "lay off commentating about defending" and goalkeeping "until you get more educated" and "the game has changed from a decade ago."

HopeTweets

Solo's U.S. team plays the North Koreans on Tuesday in a game that will determine pairings for the quarterfinals. Co-captain Abby Wambach said today's meeting between Solo and the coaches "lasted about five minutes." Solo told a reporter her coach didn't even talk about discipline for the tweet.

The team said Solo will be available for comment Monday.

Solo's mouth has gotten her in trouble before. Five years ago, Solo expressed an opinion that made her the recipient of the starkest punishment ever dealt to a U.S. women's national team player. She was kicked off the squad at the 2007 World Cup after she criticized then-coach Greg Ryan for benching her for the semifinals.

Here's something to consider - maybe Hope Solo is right. If she can back up her opinion, why can't she express it? Male athletes do it all the time. Is there a double standard for women?

Or are the Olympic games much more civilized than other sports events, meaning one must keep mum and avoid upsetting other individuals, teams and countries?

By LINDA THOMAS

Photo from Hope Solo's twitter account

Related: Social Media guide to the Olympics

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (22)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cresswell wrote...
    Or maybe ...
    July 29, 2012 4:09 pm
    Hope Solo is kind of a jerk ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MK wrote...
    Bingo!
    July 29, 2012 4:58 pm
    That is the impression I get of Solo.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Is she wrong?
    July 29, 2012 5:40 pm
    I don't follow soccer so I don't really know; does Hope have a valid complaint or not. That question is not answered in any of the stories, it just says she complained about what the other lady said... Who really cares, so she has an opinion and she shared it; if you don't like it don't read it I guess.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • eric von zipper wrote...
    As I said, Linda...
    July 29, 2012 8:18 pm
    my point about social media totally illustrated by the fact that the most headline-grabbing tweet is some thin-skinned, catty nonsense by Hope Solo, baring reality tv-esque fangs at Brandi Chastain. Boy that social media brings such vibrant texture to the games...wonder what Snooki thinks of Ryan Lochte?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    Eric
    July 30, 2012 6:11 am
    And once again Eric, you make a point I can't defend. You're right there is a lot - A LOT - of that on Twitter. It can be a great communication tool, but it all depends on the way it's used and the individual using it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    Many of today's athletes
    July 29, 2012 8:49 pm
    are quite averse to ANY form of criticism. They have been treated like gods and expect that treatment even from analysts.

    Her gender has nothing to do with it. I get that teammates stick up for one another. But the comment by Chastain was not worthy of such a petty and mean spirited defense by Solo. It shows more of an entitled attitude or maybe even an insecure weakness in Solo. Or perhaps a combination of the two!!

    As one who was recently "only warned" for her ingesting illegal substances, she should be a bit more humble in her treatment of others. Especially those who have more experience, education and knowledge than herself.....

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Social media = electronic gossip
    July 30, 2012 5:33 am
    Now there can be drama queens everywhere.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • londot wrote...
    Both have a right
    July 30, 2012 6:14 am
    If Brandi Chastain's TV commentary can be her outlook and personal view then MS Solo's should be allowed the same right, to express herself!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Corwyn wrote...
    Much desereved
    July 30, 2012 6:14 am
    NBC commentators have been so inane and bad that any abuse heaped on them is without deserved.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Not a great team mate.
    July 30, 2012 6:31 am
    Four years ago, Solo had the long knives out for her fellow goalkeeper on the US team. Hope Solo would be best in an individual sport that doesn’t require a coach.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jhosford4 wrote...
    making it a sex argument???
    July 30, 2012 6:41 am
    Male athlets get beat up all the time for things they say, especially the more famous you are. There is no such thing as free speach to a famous athlete. The more famous you get, the more you have to watch what you say or risk hurting your brand. If anything it is a commpliment to the hight Solo has risen to as a female athlete that anyone cares what she says. Lets not make this a sex issue....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • coalminer39 wrote...
    hope solo
    July 30, 2012 7:33 am
    hope was a "nag" when she was on dancing w/the stars. I don't think sportmanship is part of her repertoire.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }