Gender, Sports, and the Ethics of Teammates: Toward an Outline of a Philosophy of Sport in the American Grain

Abstract

September 2007, coach Greg Ryan of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team made a bold strategic decision. Instead of playing ace goalkeeper Hope Solo in the World Cup semifinal match against Brazil, Ryan elected to start veteran Brianna Scurry. This decision was highly publicized by the sports media because it appeared to be such a radical and questionable decision. True, Scurry had played well against Brazil in the 2004 Olympic Games and had helped secure the victory, but that was three years prior, and Solo had since earned the starting role. was a risk, a gamble. And in the end, it was a gamble that failed dramatically. Scurry gave up four goals, and the U.S. team lost 4-0. The events that followed made news outside of the sports world. Solo criticized publicly her coach's decision, stating, It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. And the fact of the matter is, it's not 2004 anymore.1 The reaction to Solo's comments by her team was dramatic. Solo was benched for the bronze-medal match and then suspended from the team. fact, she was not allowed to attend the match or the medal ceremony where her teammates received the bronze. At the end of the tournament, she was also prevented from returning to the United States on the same flight. After a few months, Solo rejoined the team. Yet, despite a public apology and a team meeting to clear the air, only one player visited her room, joined her for meals, or sat next to her on the bench. Solo's teammates' reaction has been criticized by many and found, by many others, downright perplexing. Kasey Keller, a U.S. Men's Soccer Team goalie and eighteen-year professional veteran in English pro leagues stated what many (and perhaps most) in the sports world were thinking: In England guys get in fights and arguments all the time, and usually within an hour or by the next day everything's fine. But to be completely ostracized? I've never heard of anything like that. Others have claimed, however, that women soccer players, and women