Game On
Domestic violence charges against American fútbol star Hope Solo ended today when a judge dismissed the case. Chris Daniels↱ of KING 5 television explains:
The Associated Press↱ adds the following observation:
Hope Solo released the following statement after dismissal, as posted by KING 5:
The melodrama that is the life and times of Hope Solo has probably not seen its last farcical chapter, but for now it's simply enough to look forward to next month when USWNT meets France in Lorient, and then England at Milton Keynes. Seattle Reign FC open their season in April.
Game on.
Sadly, of course, there remains the question of what actually happened and why Solo was charged. What we have in this outcome is a procedural decision with some negative implications toward the original accusation, but nothing definitive.
In the Puget Sound area, this will generally be enough for most people; the spectre remains but this whole episode had a curiously surreal tone about it. To the one, she has a history verging up against and the borders of domestic violence, to say the least. To the other, it was always a weird story of what happened. To the beeblebrox, it probably didn't help her standing in the public eye to have married a known rapist convicted in the court of public opinion in a case that happens to be close to the heart of accusations regarding corruption and collusion between law enforcement and university officials. And to a fourth, we might also note that nobody really cares about the resolution of this case outside of the question of whether Solo will be available for the Cup later this year.
And now she will.
So life goes on and we all go back to not caring.
But for what it's worth―
―there are substantial differences. It is unclear what happened; there was apparent mutual combat involved; there is no video showing a brutal, undefended assault; Solo does not at this time have the appearance of lying to either NWSL (Seattle Reign FC) or US Soccer (WNT) officials; the question of "domestic violence" in these cases has a controversial history in the area, including arresting developmentally delayed minors on DV charges for having, say, struck their mother amid a temper tantrum. The only problem with putting those two paragraphs in Daniels' report is that they suggest, for reasons unclear that the two cases are similar.
And, yes, for what it's worth: Hope Solo, drunk, deciding to fuck it all and taking after a 6'9, 280 pound guy for whatever reasons that have her pissed off at the moment? Yeah, I can see that happening.
No, seriously, that's the thing about her history; we always presumed one day it would be Jerramy under arrest while everyone stood around and wept over a dead soccer star. And then the eternal question would persist: What? We have a women's soccer team in town?
And it's true, Hope Solo lives on some edge, somewhere, somehow, and if we have a human concern toward potential criminality or simply her health and wellbeing, this never quite seemed the way to go about it.
But because nobody watches the WNT unless they're in a World Cup final, and because Reign FC draws less than a tenth of what Sounders FC gets through the gate, nobody really cares. And if they do care, the answer seems to be, "Oh, that's all taken care of, now? Good. Game on."
____________________
Notes:
Daniels, Chris. "Domestic violence charges against Hope Solo dismisssed". KING. 13 January 2015. KING5.com. 13 January 2015. http://www.king5.com/story/sports/2015/01/13/hope-solo-charges-dismissed/21708321/
Associated Press. "Domestic Violence Assault Charges Against U.S. Soccer Star Hope Solo Dismissed". The Huffington Post. 13 January 2015. HuffingtonPost.com. 13 January 2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/13/hope-solo-assault-charges-dismissed_n_6465938.html
Domestic violence charges against American fútbol star Hope Solo ended today when a judge dismissed the case. Chris Daniels↱ of KING 5 television explains:
The U.S. Women's National Team goalie and Olympic gold medalist was scheduled to stand trial next week, faced with two counts of fourth-degree assault after Kirkland police said she assaulted two family members at a Kirkland home in June.
Solo has maintained her innocence and her attorney has argued that the alleged victims had been uncooperative during pre-trial investigation. Attorney Todd Maybrown claimed the alleged victims failed to show up for scheduled interviews and have changed their stories about the night in question. Maybrown made a motion to dismiss the case, based on that point.
Prosecutors disagreed and said the victims had cooperated.
Solo has maintained her innocence and her attorney has argued that the alleged victims had been uncooperative during pre-trial investigation. Attorney Todd Maybrown claimed the alleged victims failed to show up for scheduled interviews and have changed their stories about the night in question. Maybrown made a motion to dismiss the case, based on that point.
Prosecutors disagreed and said the victims had cooperated.
The Associated Press↱ adds the following observation:
In court documents, Solo said she was defending herself against her nephew, who is 6-foot-9 and weighs 280 pounds. She claims she was hit over the head with a broom handle. Solo's relatives have claimed she attacked first.
Hope Solo released the following statement after dismissal, as posted by KING 5:
Today's decision brings closure to what has been one of the most difficult and emotionally draining times of my life. I always had faith that once the facts of the case were presented, I would be cleared of all charges and I am so happy and relieved to finally have it all behind me.
I would like to thank my legal team, the U.S. Soccer Federation, my coaches and teammates on the U.S. National Team, and the Seattle Reign organization, all of whom, under great pressure to do otherwise, chose to stand by and believe in me.
I am so grateful for the support of my husband Jerramy, my mother, grandmother and members of my extended family who surrounded me with love and reassurance each and every day. I would also like to thank my incredible fans who consistently sent positive, heartfelt messages of encouragement and kept my spirits lifted throughout this entire ordeal. I look forward to joining my team with a clear mind to train, compete, and help bring a World Cup title to the U.S. in 2015.
I would like to thank my legal team, the U.S. Soccer Federation, my coaches and teammates on the U.S. National Team, and the Seattle Reign organization, all of whom, under great pressure to do otherwise, chose to stand by and believe in me.
I am so grateful for the support of my husband Jerramy, my mother, grandmother and members of my extended family who surrounded me with love and reassurance each and every day. I would also like to thank my incredible fans who consistently sent positive, heartfelt messages of encouragement and kept my spirits lifted throughout this entire ordeal. I look forward to joining my team with a clear mind to train, compete, and help bring a World Cup title to the U.S. in 2015.
The melodrama that is the life and times of Hope Solo has probably not seen its last farcical chapter, but for now it's simply enough to look forward to next month when USWNT meets France in Lorient, and then England at Milton Keynes. Seattle Reign FC open their season in April.
Game on.
Sadly, of course, there remains the question of what actually happened and why Solo was charged. What we have in this outcome is a procedural decision with some negative implications toward the original accusation, but nothing definitive.
In the Puget Sound area, this will generally be enough for most people; the spectre remains but this whole episode had a curiously surreal tone about it. To the one, she has a history verging up against and the borders of domestic violence, to say the least. To the other, it was always a weird story of what happened. To the beeblebrox, it probably didn't help her standing in the public eye to have married a known rapist convicted in the court of public opinion in a case that happens to be close to the heart of accusations regarding corruption and collusion between law enforcement and university officials. And to a fourth, we might also note that nobody really cares about the resolution of this case outside of the question of whether Solo will be available for the Cup later this year.
And now she will.
So life goes on and we all go back to not caring.
But for what it's worth―
The case has garnered national attention in the wake of the NFL's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case.
Critics have questioned why U.S. Soccer has allowed Solo to play while facing charges. She was called up by the team to participate in training camp this month and Kirkland Municipal Court Judge Michael Lambo agreed to let her attend camp rather than Tuesday's hearing.
(Daniels)
Critics have questioned why U.S. Soccer has allowed Solo to play while facing charges. She was called up by the team to participate in training camp this month and Kirkland Municipal Court Judge Michael Lambo agreed to let her attend camp rather than Tuesday's hearing.
(Daniels)
―there are substantial differences. It is unclear what happened; there was apparent mutual combat involved; there is no video showing a brutal, undefended assault; Solo does not at this time have the appearance of lying to either NWSL (Seattle Reign FC) or US Soccer (WNT) officials; the question of "domestic violence" in these cases has a controversial history in the area, including arresting developmentally delayed minors on DV charges for having, say, struck their mother amid a temper tantrum. The only problem with putting those two paragraphs in Daniels' report is that they suggest, for reasons unclear that the two cases are similar.
And, yes, for what it's worth: Hope Solo, drunk, deciding to fuck it all and taking after a 6'9, 280 pound guy for whatever reasons that have her pissed off at the moment? Yeah, I can see that happening.
No, seriously, that's the thing about her history; we always presumed one day it would be Jerramy under arrest while everyone stood around and wept over a dead soccer star. And then the eternal question would persist: What? We have a women's soccer team in town?
And it's true, Hope Solo lives on some edge, somewhere, somehow, and if we have a human concern toward potential criminality or simply her health and wellbeing, this never quite seemed the way to go about it.
But because nobody watches the WNT unless they're in a World Cup final, and because Reign FC draws less than a tenth of what Sounders FC gets through the gate, nobody really cares. And if they do care, the answer seems to be, "Oh, that's all taken care of, now? Good. Game on."
____________________
Notes:
Daniels, Chris. "Domestic violence charges against Hope Solo dismisssed". KING. 13 January 2015. KING5.com. 13 January 2015. http://www.king5.com/story/sports/2015/01/13/hope-solo-charges-dismissed/21708321/
Associated Press. "Domestic Violence Assault Charges Against U.S. Soccer Star Hope Solo Dismissed". The Huffington Post. 13 January 2015. HuffingtonPost.com. 13 January 2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/13/hope-solo-assault-charges-dismissed_n_6465938.html