The paradox of Hope Solo (and some news on the U.S. women’s team goalkeeper)

Apr 19, 2012, 7:10 PM EDT

Getty Images

If U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo wants to be the shy and retiring type, heaven help her find the way. No problems here.

And if Hope Solo wants to be outspoken, dominating the public podium when things need to be said or sometimes permitting her dancing feet to do teh talking? Yeah, I got no problem with that either.

But that seems to be the paradox of Solo, who soon will be in U.S. camp, prepping along with America’s fellow best for a run at London Olympic gold: She seems to go a lot of different directions at once.

Solo says she enjoys private time, acquiescing to her shy side, generally preferring her hotel room on road trips, enjoying the company of a good book. She knows that isn’t the best way to endear herself to teammates.

I say, “Fair enough.”

But it’s hard to square “shy and retiring” when she’s Dancing with the Stars, doing the quickstep, the samba and the jive with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy in front of millions and millions.

So what gives?

Maybe the answers are here in the L.A. Times, where soccer writer Kevin Baxter profiles all sides of the U.S. goalkeeper.

And there’s some fairly substantial news there, too: Solo and San Francisco-based journalist Ann Killion have combined to write her autobiography, “Solo: A Memoir of Hope.”

Get it? Solo. Hope. … See what they did there?

Anyway, expect it out this summer just in time for the Olympics according to Baxter and the Times.

Skip to Comments (7)

« Newer Major League Soccer positioned to employ new goal-line technology – but will it happen?

Older » Ranking MLS goalkeepers: Dallas’ Kevin Hartman at the top

More ProSoccerTalk

Back to Homepage

7 Comments (Feed for Comments)

TheBloozah - Apr 19, 2012 at 8:31 PM

Holding my breath. Give me Abby or give me death. Rapinoe me, baby!!

Log in to Reply
jerichowhiskey - Apr 20, 2012 at 12:27 AM

Introverts are not paradoxes. There’s nothing wrong with people wanting to be alone and also do exuberant things.

Log in to Reply
kappy32 - Apr 20, 2012 at 5:33 AM

I don’t buy it one bit. Hope Solo is nothing more than an attention whore. She is always in the spotlight, the first to make comments, and the first to stir controversy (when she threatened to quit for not starting). He “quiet time” consists of tweeting about how great she thinks she is. To be honest with you, she’s not even that hot. Give me more Morgan, less Solo.

Log in to Reply
- florida727 - Apr 20, 2012 at 8:55 AM
  
  Might, emphasis on MIGHT, be hard to argue the attention seeking part; easy to argue the “she’s not even that hot” comment. Face it, love her or hate her, the girl has looks.
  
  Log in to Reply
  - Steve Davis - Apr 20, 2012 at 1:24 PM
    
    Love that you’re commenting on the blog … but keep a certain decorum, please. I deleted part of your comment.
slxc - Apr 20, 2012 at 11:38 AM

I love Hope solo……..Mi amor.

Log in to Reply
omegadawg4 - Apr 22, 2012 at 8:29 AM

Is she dating anyone? She is so beautiful.

Log in to Reply