Tag Archives: biography

Hope Solo Rec List


I guess I could play until I’m 50 here in Seattle, pull a Kasey Keller. (Laughs) Sorry, Kasey. You won’t see me wearing pants, though, as a goalkeeper.” x


Order her book/ebook from Amazon

There is also a children’s version of her biography called Hope: My Story which cuts out all the naughty bits and has a message for kids. Do not mix these two up.


HyperIce – What does the best goalkeeper in the world use to ice up? Maybe I should see to that old volleyball injury. It looks comfy.


Seiko – Hope is the first female brand sponsor for Seiko in a number of years. It sounds like later on she might get her own line of watches. We’ll see. They are some of the best watches you can get if you are into that sort of thing. Can’t help but think the bigger bling would look better on her. None of this princess sized stuff please.

Simple Skincare – Look good. Feel good. Play good. This is what Hope uses to get rid of all the sweat, dirt, and blood. And I guess makeup too.

Nike – Nike does some of their best shoots with Hope (see evidence here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Can’t go wrong with buying Nike. I am usually suspicious of brands, but a lot of their stuff is quality even if it didn’t have a swoosh. Doesn’t hurt that Hope looks terrific in all of their stuff.

Popchips - Hope was involved with a contest through Popchips where fans suggest a local Seattle charity she should get involved with. She ended up going to the Seattle Children’s Hospital as well as another youth center I believe. The hospital posted pictures as well.

Popchips, at least the BBQ and Sweet Potato kind, are really good (do not buy the cheese kind, ew) and gluten free if you find them dated August and later. As someone who can’t eat normal food these are pretty good. You norms will just have to try them and see.

The long awaited unabridged review of Hope Solo’s book. No one was waiting? What? -__-,

Stats
There has been a lot of discussion in the sports world over what Hope Solo’s book is about. Why she wrote it. Much of it negative. Discussion might be too strong of a word considering many of the people talking the loudest don’t seem to have read her book at all. I am looking at you espnW. Do they really not care to learn more about the woman they keep writing articles about? When journalism as we know it finally breathes its last I’m going to propose “self inflicted wounds” as the cause of death.

What is her book about though? It isn’t a tell-all about Dancing with the Stars. Sorry reality tv fans. You get just a chapter in the back. It also isn’t a book that is going to bring the USWNT down to its knees. The part about the 2007 debacle is what we all knew anyway. The bones of it at least. Only now fleshed out with her POV. 2007 is an inescapable part of her life so of course it would be included in her bio. There is nothing malicious about it. It is just part of her life.

By the 2008 Olympics, most of the major players in the plot got taken out by an aggressive case of bad karma anyway. In the long term, the remaining people worked really hard to grow up like in the case of Rampone, Tina, and Abby. As it is written the important people get a resolution in the book as in life. That’s quite a bit more peace than the media ever given her on the subject for example.

What is it about if not those two things the media keeps going on and on about?
To me it’s a book about someone who chooses to be happy. Who chooses that over and over again despite all evidence in life that happiness just isn’t in the cards for some people. You have to fight for it and continue to fight and you have to be ready to treasure the smallest shard that comes your way.

The two major figures in the book, Hope and her father, both came to that resolve during different stages of their lives. That isn’t to say it is some kind of moralistic story full of lessons or whatnot. Well, maybe if you are a fan of grace through fire Flannery O’Connor Southern gothic style. Pacific Northwest gothic? Twin Peaks? David Lynch can direct her movie. Someone, make this happen! Ok, back on topic.

Choosing happiness leaves her open for more hurt, often by people who should know better, but that choice can also be an act of defiance. Her father. Her mother. Family love tinged with the effects alcoholism and grifting. Always a battle between the two. More than once she seemed to be afraid the worst parts of her own personality were legacies of that. Would she be lost in the woods for as long as her parents were? Take soccer away and what would be left?

She is amazingly optimistic just by continuously trying for her dreams despite what the universe seemed to be telling her. It all goes back to what her grandmother would often say:

Don’t let the devil steal your joy.

Thoughts on the rest of the book under the cut, semi-related (or not) ramblings about introverts, and uneducated speculation. Best if you’ve read her book first. Maybe had a glass of Walgreens wine too. | Amazon/B&N

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Hope Solo Memoir & Nike is finally selling her jersey

Hope Solo Jersey

Hope’s kit is finally for sale!

No news on youth sizes but there is an extra small which would likely work for most kids I’d think. There are no men’s kits either. Maybe if Tim Howard’s fans worked as hard as Hope’s did on getting a kit made there would be a blank one to put her name on. Trust me, it wasn’t easy getting what we did. 1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a twitter war! Eventually ten months later they caved in to our sane and rational arguments  incessant tweeting. We get stuff done.

Order the book/ebook at Amazon or your bookstore of choice.

There is also a children’s version of her biography called Hope: My Story which I assume cuts out all the naughty bits and has a message for kids. More like a book report kind of biography. In fact on twitter she said this version was very much PG. Considering how crazy her life has been I’d suggest getting this one for your kids over the adult version.

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