Letter: Hope Solo embarrassed team, nation

I lost a lot of respect for you, Hope Solo!

Perhaps our Team USA was beaten by a lesser team, perhaps not, but Sweden, playing within the rules and winning a game that they were expected to lose, cannot be faulted or denigrated in any way. They are only to be congratulated for their stunning victory. That is what real sportsmanship is about.

Did the Swedes cheat by bending/breaking rules? No. Were the officials biased? It did not seem so. Did the Swedes take advantage of a Team USA weakness? Likely. If the Swedes chose to use a defensive strategy in order to maximize their chances, then it is up to the players and coaches of Team USA to adapt their game plan to meet the challenge.

One can point to many similar instances in sport where an underdog has pulled the upset, but one cannot find many cases in which the de facto leader of the defeated team has blamed the winner for the loss. 'Bush league” does not even begin to describe your ill-conceived comments that embarrassed you, your team, and your nation.

Art Johnson

Edgewood