Solo of Hope

Sports? Some people think I eat, sleep and think them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. NOT! Soccer? NOT one of my favorites but an interesting game indeed. Over the last few years, to include a few photo assignments at Arizona State University, I've only seen the opposite gender play the game.

In most parts of the world, the game is called "football," which, all things considered, is a sensible name. In most of those countries, especially Europe, the game is as popular as the NFL is here in the United States. Going into this year, there's even a Women's Pro Soccer League here in the United States. It doesn't compare in popularity to the WNBA, at least not yet, but only time will tell in more ways than one.

Hope Solo? That's the Goalkeeper (or "goalie" if you prefer) for the U.S. Women's National Team, who were recently defeated in the FIFA World Cup by Japan. No harsh feelings there as Japan really needed something to be proud of after all they've been through.

Hope Solo was the winner of the Golden Gloves for being the best goalkeeper in the FIFA World Cup tournament, which, by my "guesstamation," is equivalent to a Gold Glove award in Major League Baseball. Currently playing pro soccer in Boca Raton Florida, there seems to be a good future on the horizon.

The way things look to me, the game of soccer is at the point of being popular enough to be taken to a new level in all parts of the world. The tournaments like the FIFA World Cup must do away with thos VUVAZELAS or whatever those horns are called to prevent the stadiums from sounding like beehives.

As for Miss Solo, she's going to turn 30 years old on July 30 and seems to be in the prime of life in the world of a not so popular sport that will only get better with time with the growth of its popularity. David Beckham et al, eat our hearts out!