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DEL.ICIO.USAsleep in Seattle; sad for Scurry
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The less said about the USL finals the better.
Four-nil. The Silverbacks team that shocked Rochester and Portland in the playoffs didn’t show up in Seattle Saturday night.
That shouldn’t take away from what turned out to be a pleasant surprise of a season for Atlanta. And the fans have nothing but gratitude.
As for Seattle, there’s plenty of speculation afoot that the Sounders may soon become an MLS franchise.
A few hours later, in Shanghai, the German women made Brazil look like a very different team by winning the Women’s World Cup by a 2-0 score. It’s the first time the event has had a repeat winner.
In addition to having the perfect blend of skill and athletic ability, the Germans sported something one observer said was glaringly absent in the American camp: astute coaching.
Now U.S. coach Greg Ryan, coming off the only loss of his tenure in the semifinal debacle against Brazil, wants to make up with Hope Solo.
This was before he banished Solo from being around for the third-place game won by the Americans over Norway. Nothing like compounding mistakes; this was his goalie for virtually his entire three-plus-year coaching run.
Then, when Solo kvetched loudly about her benching in a completely justifiable reaction, such an outburst was punished, apparently with the endorsement of the rest of the team.
This isn’t DeAngelo Hall here; Ryan undermined the preparations and emotions of his whole team, and he might just pay the price, even with the Olympics a year away.
The person who deserved none of this is Briana Scurry, who was put in an impossible position and just wasn’t up to snuff, even though the Brazilians most likely would have lit up Solo just as well.
The ripping into Ryan came immediately from ex-U.S. captain Julie Foudy, now ESPN’s top color commentator. And Brandi Chastain, whom Ryan rather gracelessly dropped from the team shortly after his hiring, couldn’t wait to blast him.
Classless? About as bad as Ryan’s moves and his unconvincing defense of them. Finally! Some squawking by the revered “Girls of Summer!” Well, the bloom is off and they can’t wait to point the finger of blame. Look what’s been done to their legacy!
Foudy’s comments were hard to avoid since she’s being paid to observe, just as Eric Wynalda did in blasting Bruce Arena during the men’s World Cup last year. But it was a cheap shot to blast the U.S. Soccer Federation, which she long has accused of not supporting the women’s program. Plenty of people who follow the men’s team wonder the same thing about the guys.
Chastain’s bitterness and pettiness is surprising and unfortunate. And then to chastise Solo for speaking out… . Very tacky — but human. Even though I agree with her point that Ryan’s preferred style is all wrong not only for what the U.S. can do, but to beat the best teams in the world.
Later Sunday a friend who mocks soccer asked if I missed covering the U.S. women’s team. While chronicling the ‘99 and ‘03 World Cups and ‘00 Olympics all were a blast, I had to say on balance no, not any more. And not just because of the long travel and because I got to see more than I ever expected. No regrets at all.
Then I saw this item today and remembered why I really felt I had had my fill.
When everything’s going great, as in ‘99, you couldn’t get enough access. When there’s a loss, or a controversy, it’s a whole different story. It’s not unique, of course, but when the athletes are women who’ve been highly pampered when times are good, the flip side can be especially appalling.
Of course, all kinds of teams, pro and college, men’s and women’s, do this all the time.
After the Americans were beaten by Germany in the ‘03 semifinals, one of the few players who either would stop to talk or didn’t try to duck the media/athletes “mixed zone” was Scurry, who calmly and matter-of-factly took questions. Where was Mia at a time like that? Didn’t see her. And Foudy? Not so loudy. Maybe I missed them in the flurry, but let’s just say they didn’t make a beeline for the notepads, cameras and microphones.
A goalkeeping controversy is nothing new in soccer; it’s about the same as a QB dilemma on the gridiron. This isn’t a U-14 team here; these are grown women. The idea of trying to muzzle them generally backfires.
Whether it’s the NFL or the Girls of Summer
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By Scurry Fan
October 1, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
Solo left her out to dry. - Briana Scurry Fan
By Henry
October 2, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this
As I said previously the only way Briana could have survived was if the defense showed up. They did not and I personally feel sorry for Briana, What a sad way to leave the national team, Sad! Also what is sad is the management of US Soccer. Those political cronies do not care for the game but to act like they are Gods. The last 4 world cups (men 2 and women 2) showed us that our coaching staff is still teaching at the College level that would equal the European and South American as well as African Junior level. We practice our professionals like kids they will play like kids. Four terrible World Cups for our teams is four too many. Klinsmann was right in demanding total control. Well for me I still had two of my National Teams in the final. Brasil was not be allowed to run the Germans of the field like they did with our girls. It was be a great game. What really is sad that we here in the US have many more girls and women playing soccer than probably all of the rest of the world upper tier countries together. Brasil does not even have a national or local soccer leagues. The american girls practically have no other sports as competition unlike the men, which compete for tallent with Baseball, Football, Basketball, etc… If US Soccer does not wake up our ladies will be ranked as low as the men are. One more item that is bothering me. If referees would officiate as terrible as they do against the US against other countries, all hell would break out from Brasil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, France Spain, etc… What is US Soccer doing about that? Nothing of course? Shannon Boxx’s expulsion was a total disaster, I bet you all that none of our American officials made sure that that so called referee was made aware of that intentional mistake. Those Europeans cannot see that the US will be a power in soccer eventually. How someone can call a dangerous foul when the dirty Christiana trips herself chasing Boxx. Just incredible!!!!!! If I were running US Soccer I would have protested the biased officiating. Guess what the elite on the other side of the pond could not argue with me and I would get total support from the South American Countries. They do like to see the US teams much stronger. They may hate Americans but love us becoming better in the world game. So I now got it of my chest and Wendy make sure to forward my comments to US Soccer. I normally do not follow the crowd, but this time I am. Ryan must go and much sooner than how, preferably last Wednesday. A goalkeeper better be a high-strung person, as such they will speak out, that is natural. We do not need Imperialism and Dictator ship muzzling free speech. Sole was on the mark and her claiming she would have saved at least two of the goals is normal for a world goalkeeper. She better think that way. Unless they have the confidence they would not be world class. This coach like the previous one is at best pathetic. Heinrich at least had the players in shape now they don’t even know where they are or where they are going to on the field. Sadly for us soccer fans, especially those of us that were supporting and rooting for our ladies, US Soccer has let us down. Again I might say. I did not get up at 5:00AM to see them loose and ply like crap again, Period. Yep, he must go. Ryan that is. Poor Scurry, she would have reached that last goal scored on her 5 years ago. She just has lost 6-inches in reach due to her age. I know, I now cannot jump from one side of the goal to the other anymore either, even so my brain says I can. Age is a terrible thing in sports. Get Solo back into camp!!!!!! I did not watch the game against Norway and probably will no longer watch the ladies until a new coach takes over. Stupidity and stubbornness cannot be rewarded. The final WWC was a great game. As always the ESPN announcers did a very poor job. Except Judy Foudy, she will be also gone from TV for her honest analysis of the state of Women’s Soccer and the coaching situation. US Soccer is going to make sure of that. I like to see her take over the coaching job for our ladies. It appears she is the only one in the public eye that knows something about soccer, at least more that the US Soccer elitists. I have all three of my countries 1,2,3 at this championship. Not bad history for me!
By Henry
October 2, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
I consider The Silverback’s Men and Women team Vice Champions not first losers as many describe them.