I admit, she got my attention. Fast. American goal keeper Hope Solos rant on Twitter has me riveted. Im anxiously waiting for the next Solo-eruption.
Which is probably a good thing.
Were watching, arent we?
Maybe I had a little extra incentive to be interested in Solo than most, because she was in Sandy this month for the USA-Canada match. But she was on good behavior that week, saying all the right things.
Now, not so much. She ripped into American soccer icon Brandi Chastian for comments made on-air about the teams performance. She wrote this on Twitter:
"Its 2 bad we cant have commentators who better represents the team&knows more about the game @brandichastain! #fb" as well as "Lay off commentating about defending and gking until you get more educated @brandichastain the game has changed from a decade ago. #fb"
In other news-grabbing moves, she performed on Dancing with the Stars and posed in the ESPN the Magazine body issue. She publicly criticized her coach in 2007 for using another goal keeper. She also received a warning for using a banned substance, which she said was found in a premenstrual medication.
Solo met with her coach on Sunday regarding her Twitter remarks.
I have to believe Solo is the most well known American player since, well, Mia Hamm and Chastian.
Its true that Tim Tebow doesnt do those things and hes a huge story, too. But often, the big, outspoken, often ticked-off personalities bring in huge interest. Think back: Terrell Owens, Jimmy Connors, Billie Jean King, Reggie Jackson, Charles Barkley, Muhammad Ali. They all went way beyond their sports. And they brought along millions of fans who otherwise wouldnt follow.
Yeah, Im sure soccer purists cringe when Solo becomes a distraction for the team. But America is still on track to win gold. And people are watching and listening certainly in greater numbers and with greater interest than if Solo had remained quiet.
So on behalf of a long line of loudmouths and contrarians in sports, welcome to the club, Hope. The world will be watching. Boy, will it be watching.