Book Reviews by Elizabeth A. White

As expected, there was more to the “Dance with the one that brung ya!” story. A still visibly upset/emotional Hope Solo was interviewed shortly after the loss to Brazil and was openly critical of head coach Greg Ryan for benching her (as had been every professional sports/soccer analyst I saw, even before the loss), stating that it was absolutely the wrong move to have made and that she was confident she would have played well had she started. The coach’s reaction? He banished Solo from the team. Yes, banished.

She was not allowed to attend any more practices, was not allowed to attend team meetings or meals, and not only did Solo not play in the “consolation” (Bronze Medal) game, she was not even allowed to be present on the sidelines with the team when the game was played. Nor was she allowed to appear with the team when their Bronze Medals were received. Remember, this team had gotten to that game by riding a 51 game unbeaten streak with Solo playing goalie (and arguably would have been playing for Gold had she not been benched). The only game they lost in the World Cup was the one the coach “brilliantly” decided she shouldn’t play in!!

Yet, in the ultimate act of cutting off one’s nose to spite their face, this coach decided Solo did not deserve to take her rightful place with a team she had carried and receive her Bronze Medal, all because she had the nerve to criticize him for a decision which, inarguably, was in fact a disaster! Treating this situation like he was dealing with his children and sending Solo “to her room without dinner” (her medal) was unprofessional, spiteful, classless and unconscionable.

Well the story now comes full circle, with news that Coach Ryan has been benched by the U.S. Soccer Federation, who fired him as head coach of the women’s team October 23, 2007. Contrite after his firing, Ryan said, “I understand and accept the criticisms that accompany the decisions I made in the World Cup. Soccer is a fluid game and not every decision or strategy always works as planned. In those cases, players, fans and the media have the right to express their opinions.” Oh really?!? You “understand and accept the criticisms” and acknowledge that “players… have the right to express their opinions.”

How ironic considering that Ryan may have been able to survive the criticism of his original decision to bench Solo and the subsequent loss to Brazil, but it was his full fledged mismanagement of the situation that followed (his player’s criticism of his decision) which demonstrated that he was simply not cut out to lead a team of professional athletes and represent our country on the world’s biggest stages.

Justice hasbeen served.