Hope Solo is as busy as anyone in the wide world of sports these days. When she's not being serenaded by MLS footballers or dancing with the stars, Solo is likely to be found out on the pitch, minding the net for the US Women's National team.
Just two months after a disappointing, albeit thrilling loss to Japan in the 2011 Women's World Cup final in Germany, she and the rest of her running mates have returned to practice, with a match against Canada set for Saturday at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City.
The contest will be the first in a two-match exhibition against our neighbors to the north to give thanks to the US fans for their support of the team in its run to a runners-up finish across the pond this summer. The second game will be played next week in Portland, Oregon.
This will also be the first opportunity for Solo and company to finally wash the bitter taste of defeat from their mouths in preparation for the Olympic Games in London next summer. In speaking to the Associated Press, Solo was clear about her desire to move on:
It's so good to be back, but at the same time it's like, man, the last time we were together was the game against Japan, and we didn't come out on top. And we're at a point in time where we need to turn the page and focus on the Olympics.
Once Solo is done deflecting shots from Canadians on Saturday, she'll head back to Los Angeles for her debut on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars", joining Lakers head case Ron Artest (or is it Metta World Peace?) as one of two sports luminaries who will show off their fancy footwork this fall.
Between practicing her dance routines and palling around on the pitch with Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, Solo certainly has no shortage of activities on which to focus her attention while leaving her most recent shortcomings behind.
What effect her scheduling overload will have on the breadth of her current pursuits remains to be seen. Even if Solo goes deep into DWTS, she should have ample time to get and keep herself in proper playing shape.
That being said, if Solo's dance practice starts to impact her performance on the pitch, or in any way begins to take precedent, don't be surprised if she dips out of her reality TV debut to get back to basics.
Then again, Solo's as fierce a competitor as any, so she'll probably give 110 percent to both endeavors.
Andrew Brackman A.J. Burnett Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera
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