The "unseemly silence" surrounding U.S. women's national soccer team G Hope Solo and her domestic violence charges has "finally been broken," according to Christine Brennan of USA TODAY. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun in an e-mail wrote, "Abuse in all forms is unacceptable. The allegations involving Ms. Solo are disturbing and are inconsistent with our expectations of Olympians. We have had discussions with U.S. Soccer and fully expect them to take action if it is determined that the allegations are true." Brennan notes Blackmun is "not calling on U.S. Soccer to remove Solo from the women's national team roster now." While Blackmun "did not say why, it's believed that the USOC is concerned about Solo's right to a hearing and due process under the U.S. Amateur Sports Act while she awaits a November trial." Meanwhile, Solo "plays on," and will "not be banned when the U.S. national team begins qualifying matches next month" for the '15 FIFA Women's World Cup. U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati in an e-mail wrote, "U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. ... U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it" (USA TODAY, 9/23). In Chicago, Philip Hersh writes the USSF is both "utterly wrong and completely tone deaf in its decision to let Solo keep playing for the national team." The USSF has "blissfully allowed Solo to keep wearing the Red, White and Blue," but the USOC should "convince U.S. Soccer to bench Solo until a verdict is rendered in her trial." Until that is resolved, it "demeans the national team -- and, by extension, the nation -- to have Solo remain part of it" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/23). ESPNW's Kate Fagan wrote under the header, "Why I Feel Bad About My Last Hope Solo Column." Fagan: "I've seen too many people take my column to mean that it's OK to equate Hope Solo with Ray Rice." That takeaway "isn't just false, it's potentially dangerous" (ESPNW.com, 9/22).
