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Tag: US soccer

  • Hope Solo’s Domestic Violence Trial Set For January

    At a brief court hearing on Tuesday, November 4, it was decided that soccer star Hope Solo’s trial for domestic abuse will be moved to January 6.  The trial, which was supposed to begin on November 17, was postponed after Judge Michael Lambo granted a motion for depositions of the two alleged victims: Solo’s sister and 17-year-old nephew. According to Solo’s attorney Todd Maybrown, the two refused to be interviewed with a stenographer present.

    Solo appeared in court with her husband, Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens. She was charged back in June with two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence and assault, after allegedly attacking the victims. However, according to Solo’s lawyer, she acted on self-defense on the night of the incident.

    According to police reports, Solo was at a gathering at her sister’s Kirkland home on the night of June 20. The report also says that Solo had been drinking and was in a bad mood after her husband refused to take her to the airport to catch a flight. She then allegedly began verbally abusing her teenage nephew, saying he was “too fat and overweight and crazy to ever be an athlete.”

    After the verbal altercation, the nephew went to another part of the house where Solo followed him and allegedly attacked him. Solo’s sister tried to stop the fight, but Solo reportedly attacked her as well. According to the report, the teen grabbed a hold of “an old gun that did not work” and pointed it at Solo to make her back off. The weapon turned out to be a broken BB gun.

    Solo pleaded not guilty and was released from custody on her own recognizance.

    Solo continued to play soccer right after her arrest, and even led the U.S. national team in a championship during a World Cup qualifying tournament. The decision by the league to allow her to play has drawn criticism especially right after Ray Rice was suspended from the NFL after similar charges were filed against him.

  • Hope Solo Confident That She’ll Be Exonerated Of Domestic Abuse Charges

    Hope Solo released a statement on social media to address the current controversies she is involved in.

    The star goalie is certain she will be proven innocent when she faces trial in November on charges of domestic violence assault involving her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew. She also said that she stands “united with all” celebrities who found that their photos had been posted online without their authorization:

    “It is extremely sad and unfortunate that the rights of so many women were violated by the unauthorized release of private photographs. This act goes beyond the bounds of human decency and, as such, I stand united with all the women affected and am exploring every option to protect my privacy. In addition, while I understand that the public desires more information regarding the allegations against me, I continue to maintain my innocence against these charges. And, once all the facts come to light and the legal process is concluded, I am confident that I will be fully exonerated.”

    With this post, the Seattle Reign goalie received a mixed response from her pool of 855,000 followers, the comments ranging from steadfast support to extreme anger.

    U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati issued a statement Monday night saying the federation would stand by its decision to allow due process to take its course before ruling on Solo’s national team status.

    “From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo’s status with the National Team,” Gulati said. “Based on that information, 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.”

    Solo’s continued presence on the national team has been compared to Ray Rice’s indefinite suspension from the NFL over the assault of his wife, which was captured on surveillance video. However, sports authorities, including the U.S. Olympic Committee, have said that while abuse in all forms is unacceptable, Solo’s case differs in that the allegations against her have not been proven.

  • World Cup Gear: U.S. Team Jerseys Still Not Made In America

    In 2012, Ralph Lauren received backlash regarding the uniforms he designed for U.S. team to wear during the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics. People said that the beret was “too European” while others said that the athletes looked like chic crossing guards. However, the main reason the designer faced criticism was that the uniforms were made in China.

    “Why shouldn’t we have pride not only in the American athletes but in the American manufacturers and laborers who are the backbone of our country,” fashion designer Nanette Lepore asked.

    The 2012 incident was not the first time the designer found himself in hot water. In 2008, there were reports that Lauren’s uniform for the Beijing Olympics were also manufactured in China.

    After the backlash, Lauren committed to making the uniforms for the 2014 Winter Games in the USA. In a statement, the company said, “Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government addressing the issue of increasing manufacturing in the United States.”

    Now, the World Cup is fast approaching and Nike soccer uniforms are available to the public. Many would think that the 2012 incident with Ralph Lauren wouldn’t happen again. However, the uniforms are still being made outside the U.S.

    According to reports, the Nike soccer uniforms including dri-fit shirts, t-shirts, and polo shirts were made in Sri Lanka, Honduras, Vietnam, and Turkey. People are now wondering whether it’s really that difficult or expensive to have the uniforms manufactured in the good ole’ U.S. of A.

    Well, for soccer fans who aren’t opposed to buying imported World Cup gear, Nike offers a wide array of caps, shoes, jerseys and the shirts for all 32 teams competing in this years event.

    This year, Brazil will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The event is set to kick off on June 12, Thursday, and will run through July 13, Sunday.

    Check out the U.S. team’s World Cup jersey

     Image via YouTube

  • FIFA World Cup: U.S. Draws ‘Group Of Death’

    FIFA World Cup: U.S. Draws ‘Group Of Death’

    The U.S team will face tough competition in the first round of the 2014 World Cup. The team wound up in the ‘group of death‘, comprising of Ghana, Portugal and Germany. Soccer analysts say it would be a big accomplishment if the U.S. progress to the next level.  Ghana had eliminated the U.S. in the last two World Cups while Germany and Portugal are composed of the world’s top soccer stars – namely Ronaldo Cristiano of Portugal.

    Adding to the U.S. team’s challenge is the ridiculous amount of travelling they will need to do. They will have to cover about 9,000 miles to compete in all their group matches. The U.S. team, however, may be the best equipped to handle the hectic travel schedule because their level of fitness is said to be superior to that of other teams. In 2010, the team lacked depth. They had the heart but not the endurance, which caused them to claw their way into the second round — that should not be the case this year. The team’s exceptional fitness will also serve them well when playing in the harsh rainforest conditions in Brazil. Many of the matches will not just be about skill but also be a real test of endurance.

    “It’s going to be difficult for them to advance, but not impossible,” said Steve Sampson, former U.S coach.

    However, U.S. captain Clint Dempsey is refusing to dampen team spirit by saying, “I think we have the quality, if we play our best ball, to get out of the group”.

    Dempsey further stressed the importance of self believe, “You can’t think about, am I the favorite? Am I the underdog? What’s it going to be like playing in the heat? What’s it going to be like with the travel?” Those are factors that come into it, but at the end of the day both teams have to deal with it.”

    U.S. Head Coach Says Draw Is Tough, But They Are Prepared.

    Watch Video.

    (image via YouTube)