Why aren't sponsors and fans outraged that Hope Solo is still playing?

[joeglow3]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/09/19/hope-solo-and-the-domestic-violence-case-no-one-is-talking-about/

The official account shows that Hope Solo extended her shutout record to 73 games as the U.S. women’s national team beat Mexico 4-0 in a friendly Thursday night in Rochester, N.Y. But as the NFL grapples with its domestic-violence crisis, Solo, who has been accused of the same crime, continues to play for her pro soccer team as well as the national team as she awaits trial in November. Solo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence in an alleged assault of her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew last summer in Kirkland, Wash.

Unlike some of the biggest NFL stars, Solo, who is their counterpart in women’s soccer and someone touted as a role model, quietly goes about her business of keeping soccer balls from going into the net. NFL stars like Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Jonathan Dwyer and Adrian Peterson were banished after massive sponsor, political and fan pressure, but Nike, for instance, has remained silent on Solo.

Rice is appealing an indefinite suspension by the NFL and was cut by the Baltimore Ravens after he knocked out his then-fiancee; Hardy and Peterson are both on the exempt commissioner’s list (essentially on leave with pay) while their legal cases are pending. Dwyer was suspended by the Arizona Cardinals after his arrest Wednesday on a charge of head-butting his wife. The Carolina Panthers’ Hardy is appealing his conviction by a judge of assaulting and threatening an ex-girlfriend; the Minnesota Vikings’ Peterson was arrested last weekend on a child-abuse charge. Solo, who is also on the Seattle Reign roster, continues to play as a big year for women’s soccer is looming with qualifying this fall for the next summer’s World Cup.

“We are aware that Hope is handling a personal situation at the moment,” said Neil Buethe, U.S. Soccer director of communications, told USA Today’s Christine Brennan, who criticized the organization’s decision to honor Solo’s record last month. “At the same time, she has an opportunity to set a significant record that speaks to her hard work and dedication over the years with the National Team. While considering all factors involved, we believe that we should recognize that in the proper way.” While U.S. Soccer doesn’t have the same high profile as the NFL, how do the cases differ? Aren’t women’s soccer players just as much role models as male football players? The goalkeeping record is an an important one, both for Solo and for women’s soccer, but does it really trump an accusation of domestic violence? Why is the notion of awaiting due process so inconsistently applied? And why aren’t more people talking about the fact that domestic violence isn’t simply an issue of men against women?

[librechik]

1. congrats, WaPo, you found a woman athlete who might be an abuser.

Guess we all oughta just shut up now.

[joeglow3]

3. It is a fair question.

I ask it more for the people who have posted scores of topics about INDIVIDUALS and not trends. When speaking about individuals, why is there no concern about this individual.

[LanternWaste]

12. Quite often, multiple individuals engaging in, and acting the same, collectively point towards a tre

"I ask it more for the people who have posted scores of topics about INDIVIDUALS and not trends..."

Quite often, multiple individuals engaging in, and acting the same, collectively point towards a trend (as that's pretty much what a trend actually is).

[1StrongBlackMan]

14. LOL ...

I was thinking the same thing.

I was, also, wonder how long it would take a DUer to find, and post the requisite "both sides do it! So why is it so bad when men do it?" post.

[dilby]

2. Hope who?

Exactly, sorry it's not the same. It's like saying my son should be banned form little league for hitting his sister. Women's Soccer is no where on the level of the NFL.

[joeglow3]

4. So you admit it is more about a dislike of football than the crime itself?

[dilby]

8. It's more about the influence and comparing apples to apples.

Womens soccer is not the NFL, Hope Solo has a very small, tiny following when compared to someone like Adrian Peterson. Furthermore no one would have known about this until someone dug it up while everyone knew about Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson because they are very public figures.

And when I say comparing apples to apples Women's Soccer is not the NFL, not the same management and not the same player standards. If you want to compare Apples to Apples find a female NFL employee who beat her husband and was never punished by the league.

[joeglow3]

10. This was brought up on DU months ago a yielded FOUR comments

So, you again admit it is NOT about the crime, but the notoriety of the person.

[dilby]

13. It's about the standards the leagues want to set.

The NFL has a serious image problem right now and the league is making the conscious decision to be reactive to the negative press and public outcry. Women's Soccer is not suffering from this image problem because it has a very small following, here in Portland we have the biggest Women's Soccer following and it's still only a quarter size of the mens.

There are plenty of men who beat women, get arrested, charged and do not lose their jobs or get suspended from their place of employment. We can't say well that banker did not lose his job so why should an NFL player lose his? It's up to the league to determine punishment and they have to do what is best for the league which means make sure punishment is handed out to public satisfaction.

[Dawgs]

19. Uh, it was actually pretty big news at the time.

Just because you didn't hear it doesn't mean it wasn't.

[dilby]

20. Was she treated differently by law enforcement?

Because from what I can tell her and the NFL players were treated exactly the same under the law. How their employers handled the situation is completely up to their employers and since the NFL and Women's Soccer is not the same organization you can't hold them to the same standards. Just compare apples to apples which is how they were treated by the law.

[joeglow3]

26. Read the title of the thread. I said NOTHING about the organizations

I am talking about you and other posters on DU.

[Xithras]

21. Actually, I have to disagree on that.

What matters is the influence that each star has on their fan base. While professional soccer may not be a mainstream sport in the United States (which, imho, is a shame), the reality is that Hope Solo is a former olympian and a top-tier player who is very well known among followers of professional American soccer.

I generally don't give much of a shit about the Adrian Peterson case, aside from the fact that it's yet another example of domestic violence, simply because I consider American football to be a crude sport generally appreciated by the unintelligent. I'd never heard of Peterson before this case, and I honestly cannot name a single current NFL player aside from Colin Kapernick (mostly because my sister in law was one of his high school teachers, and they're huge 49ers fans). I can, however, list off the stats of most of the top Earthquakes players, and can harangue you for an hour listing the reasons why Sac Republic should be granted an expansion.

Among those of us who follow soccer, Hope Solo is a major name. She helped get the American team to the finals in the FIFA World Cup, she's been on two American Olympic teams, and she's earned just about every award she can earn in soccer. Hell, she was even on Dancing With The Stars a few years ago.

As a major and leading athlete in her sport, with millions of fans across the country, she SHOULD have been suspended immediately once she was arrested and charged.

[flying rabbit]

55. The unintelligent

Last edited Sat Sep 20, 2014, 08:41 AM - Edit history (1)

appreciate your hubris.

ha! edit fer speling

[Chan790]

41. Actually, this was big news when it happened.

And as someone who has been concerned for some time about the rate of domestic violence among professional athletes (hint: it's higher for both male and female athletes than the general population) I've been vocal that Solo needs to be suspended from competition by USA Soccer. Possibly permanently. (As a comparison, I also think that Rice, et. al. should be suspended for life if convicted or plead.) Hope Solo is every bit as scummy as Rice or Peterson or any of the others. I'd hold the same position regardless who the victim is or the abuser; like Hope Solo, Johnny Weir is getting off light after being arrested for hitting and biting his husband.

Domestic violence is domestic violence regardless of who the victim and perpetrator are...and it needs to be zero-tolerance.

[joeglow3]

44. Amen. Thanks for the refreshing position.

I agree with you.

[Jim Lane]

56. I thought Rice pleaded guilty but Solo pleaded not guilty.

A pro sports league isn't bound by the legal requirement of presumption of innocence. Nevertheless, my reaction (as someone who knows little about football and even less about soccer) is that the status of the legal case should make some difference. Suspending a player based on a mere accusation seems wrong to me.

[PoliticAverse]

108. Solo says she's not guilty, her trial is set for November 4th...

See: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/08/13/Hope-Solo-trial-set-for-Nov-wont-conflict-with-World-Cup-qualifying/1521407927691/

[99Forever]

73. Exactly n/t

[Orrex]

5. That's not a great answer

Her level of fame relative to that of NFL players shouldn't be the issue.


Also, is your screen name a reference to the guy who tried to cross Dr. Doom & Dormammu?

[dilby]

11. It's two completely different organizations.

You can't compare Women's Soccer to the NFL and expect to be taken seriously. They each have their own rules on player conduct and it's up to both leagues on how to punish players. Obviously Major League soccer does not have the same problem as the NFL since we can only find one example of a bad apple out of all their players, while the NFL we are finding one a week.

[Orrex]

47. In the context of domestic abuse, that's a preposterous distinction

I'm not aware of anyone in the history of the universe who asserted that the NFL and Women's Soccer are one and the same.

However, it's curious that you require us to focus on the irrelevant (and undisputed) fact that the two organizations are different while you ignore the fact that Hope Solo hasn't been treated the same as NFL players who've likewise committed domestic abuse.

[cwydro]

51. Whoa. Your post

is wrong on so many levels I don't know where to begin.

[tazkcmo]

76. Almost agree

From what I read this sounds like a fight amongst siblings. Correct me if I'm wrong, please. If it so, then I guess I should be banned because I've often been in physical altercations with my siblings (male and female) as a child and as an adult.

As for that last part, what does it mater what you do for a living, in what size company, amount of revenue, etc. Hope is may not be a household name in your house but she is in mine and I have no daughters or children at home. I'm just a soccer fan and the women's US team is far more popular than our mediocre men's team that nobody follows until their brief (And mediocre) World Cup appearance every 4 years.

[LuvNewcastle]

116. I had seen the name a few times, but for some reason I never clicked

on a story about her. I honestly thought it was some movie about a female singer. That tells you how much I keep up with sports. I know there's a controversy going on about domestic violence in the NFL right now, but I don't recall any of the names or know any details about the cases. Sports stories just don't grab my attention. I have no interest in them whatsoever.

[LanternWaste]

6. Possibly because the standard attracts more concern than the aberration.

"Why aren't sponsors and fans outraged that Hope Solo is still playing?"

Possibly because the standard attracts more concern than the aberration.

[Blue_Tires]

7. It's definitely clear that Solo has a problem with the drink

I had forgotten she was married to Jerramy fuckin' Stevens, which explains a whole lot -- Talk about a match made in hell...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/06/24/hope-solo-arrest-nephew-says-she-was-drinking-called-him-fat-and-unathletic/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2172566/Hope-Solo-tells-sex-crazed-Olympic-athletes-partying-Vince-Vaughn-appearing-Today-drunk.html

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/8634566/reports-hope-solo-jerramy-stevens-married-tuesday

http://www.businessinsider.com/jerramy-stevens-criminal-record-2012-11

[MerryBlooms]

31. Good grief. You are spot-on with the 'Match made in hell'. n/t

[hobbit709]

9. The outrage brigade should assemble as soon as they get notification.

[trumad]

15. wow this took a little while...

Usually the false equivalent posts pop up fast.

[joeglow3]

23. That is a great defense mechanism to avoid discussing a topic..

Good job.

[trumad]

61. The topic that teh womens can abuse just like teh mans

Has been brought up plenty.

Funny how they get brought up exactly the same time when there is major news about a woman getting knocked out.

[joeglow3]

68. Because that is when your hypocrisy shines through.

The topic was brought up here in June and no one spoke up (four posts). A football athlete does it and the shot hits the fan. The question is why didn't you speak up when this story broke on DU first.

[trumad]

69. quite possibly because Ray Rice almost killed a woman

Hope ...not so much.

Your comparison is quite silly.

[joeglow3]

70. Hope attacked a child.

But, that is okay because it is different, right hypocrite?

[trumad]

71. A 17 year old boy is not a child.

But it sure makes for a good story for you.

Oh and by the way...she should be suspended.

[joeglow3]

74. Funny. You referred to Trayvon Martin as a child

How old was he? Oh yeah...17. Yet another example of where you are a hypocrite. If you keep digging that hole, we won't be able to see you anymore.

[Logical]

79. LOL, I LOVE the double standard from you being exposed! Perfect! nt

[Logical]

84. LOL...temper temper! Nap time? You called it "false equivalent" and now are.....

saying "At no time have I said that that there should be no punishment for what Hope did. I hope they suspend her ass."

That is exactly what people are asking for but you called it "false equivalent"!

Are you really just messing with us? LOL!

[trumad]

86. almost killing a woman

To what Hope did... yeah its a false equivalent.

To the MRAs...not so much.

[Logical]

87. Almost killing her? Now you are just plain making shit up......

She was not hospitalized. No one has mentioned her being close to death. Or needing immediate medical attention.

Please list some facts that she almost died. Links please.

You are really looking silly at this point.

And because people think Hope should be suspended you think that makes them a MRA? LOL, you are as biased as any man on this board.

[trumad]

88. He stoned flat knocked her out...

Her head hit the elevator rail as she fell violently to the floor.

You minimizing what he did to her is sickening.....shame on you

[davidn3600]

90. The rules should apply to men and women equally

Isn't that something feminists are supposed to be fighting for? Are we not supposed to be equal?

Yet, here feminists are right here in this thread trying to justify a double standard in society.

[joeglow3]

93. MRA? Is that what you are now resorting to?

Classic defense mechanism. If you shout MRA, then you can effectively end all debate before it begins (in your mind).

[trumad]

94. Yeah from the guy screaming hypocrite

At every turn... disagree with you and we're a hypocrite.

[R B Garr]

101. Yup, this is a full romper room session on display, complete with

their hair on fire posts about some woman, somewhere, doing something. Even going back 25 years in one case about some woman, somewhere, who did something.

It's really so childish it's not worth much effort, and it's so transparently false and riduculous, it's obviously only meant to get your posts hidden.

[joeglow3]

103. I am not calling you a hypocrite because I disagree

I have shown multiple example of where you are a clear hypocrite.

[LittleBlue]

95. Your post from last year

Star Member trumad (37,322 posts)



Seeing the horrible picture of Trayvon lying dead in the grass.....
paints a totally different picture of what has been described in the press and by Zimmerman's Lawyers.

First off: He looks like a skinny teenage kid.

Second: He looks like a well dressed skinny teenage kid.

In no way---and I mean in no way does he look menacing or like a gangster thug.

Zimmerman thought this well dressed skinny teenager was a "suspect"? Seriously?

Zimmerman classified this well dressed skinny kid as a "fucking punk"? Seriously?

Put Trayvon's new white sneakers, his tan hipster skinny jeans, and his like new Hoodie sweater on a Skinny white kid---- do you think for one fucking moment that Zimmerman would get out of his car, call 911, and follow the skinny white kid?

Not one fucking chance.

nuff said!!!!!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023235596

Why do you refer to a 17-year-old Trayvon as a "kid" here, yet object to a 17-year-old being thought of as a child in this thread? Doesn't "kid" refer to children?

You can't defend a 30 something adult punching a minor no matter what you call the minor.

[trumad]

96. uh...no

But nice try...really...nice try.

[LittleBlue]

97. You should seriously reconsider coming back from that break

You're having a mare in this thread. People reading it might think you're trying to excuse drunk adults punching minors.

[trumad]

98. Sorry to kick your as in this debate. ..

Seriously... I'm sorry.

[LittleBlue]

99. Kick my what?

lol lay off the sauce, buddy

[Logical]

100. You are looking absolutely silly in this debate. And continuing to make it worse. LOL! nt

[joeglow3]

133. Thanks. I literally laughed out lod

You honestly think you are "kicking as" when your hypocrisy is getting paraded out left and right.

[VanillaRhapsody]

102. a Football player that weighs 2 to 3 times what his victim weighs...

quite the equivalent....

[joeglow3]

104. But attacking children is cool?

[VanillaRhapsody]

105. did I say that? Peterson was likely 10 times the weight of that boy....

and who does MOST of this violent abuse? Have you noticed much empathy for their victims?

[joeglow3]

111. What is the point of your questions?

It is sad that you are equivocating Hope's violence.

[VanillaRhapsody]

114. I want to know what your point is.......MRA trolling perhaps?

this is like the "I have a black friend" defense of bigotry....

[joeglow3]

123. No. It is your defense mechanism

Truman tried the same defense mechanism. If you can label someone a MRA, you can end the argument before it begins and claim to be correct. That way, you don't have to confront your hypocrisy.

[VanillaRhapsody]

127. no actually its not....its an observation not a defense....

one individual incidence doesn't change the rule....but of course you know that...


And you feelings got hurt by being called MRA? I just calls em likes I sees em!

[joeglow3]

128. Me too, hypocrite.

[VanillaRhapsody]

129. I am MRA????

hmmmm that would be interesting!

Please do go on!

[joeglow3]

131. Go back and re-read

[Logical]

78. Wow, why is it false? Please explain in detail. Here is a link to a NY Times article for you to...

whine about also!

In Hope Solo Case, Soccer Turns a Blind Eye Toward Domestic Violence

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/sports/soccer/in-hope-solo-case-us-soccer-doesnt-get-it-right-either.html

[Logical]

80. Here is another for you from ESPN......

WHY HOPE SOLO SHOULD BE SUSPENDED FROM TEAM USA -- IMMEDIATELY

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11553070/why-hope-solo-suspended-team-usa-immediately

[joeybee12]

16. Partly because she's not making a gazillion dollars...

Although she shouldn't be playing.

[geek tragedy]

17. Because the cases are nothing alike other than

the fact that "domestic violence" is the nominal charge.

[Lee-Lee]

18. In general this country is far more tolerant of female on male abuse

Always has been.

I've actually had women tell me "you can't charge me with domestic violence, I'm a woman!".

[Feral Child]

24. Apologies

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2014, 07:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Deleting the original post and apologizing here to cover my bases.

I was remiss and posted before reading the article. I retract any contentious statements to you and apologize.

[Lee-Lee]

25. I worked DV almost exclusively for several years

I was not talking about conviction rates, I could get a conviction just as easy either way in most cases.

The the view of the law doesn't represent what I am talking about.

I'm talking societal tolerance. Male victims are far less likely to report. Male victims are far less likely to follow through with the legal system. Family and friends of male victims are far less likely to report it or offer assistance. A male reporting it is often made to feel emasculated by his peers.

You could try an experiment- have a man and a woman on the street arguing- 50% of the time he slaps her, 50% of the time she slaps him. Do you think the amount of time people step in or call the police would be equal in both situations? If you do your way out of touch with how society views it.

[geek tragedy]

28. Because the injuries are far less severe and the

fatalities are far fewer.

Not to mention marital rape.

While any abuse is wrongful , one is clearly more harmful and prevalent than the other.

[Feral Child]

29. Subjective.

And doesn't apply to this situation.


The argument is that a woman, accused of abuse but w/o evidence of same, should be penalized by losing her sports job because one man (with graphic video), another with an arrest (suggesting probable cause existed), and one appealing a conviction all lost their jobs.

It's a false equivalency. Look, there may be some validity to your supposition, but it's off-topic.

Do you feel that the OP is valid, or is an extended reach for an equivalency that doesn't exist in order to push an agenda?

[joeglow3]

32. Um, re-read the article.

At a minimum, you implied someone that was arrested should sit. Solo has been arrested and has two charges against her (implying probable cause). Thus, like many, you just exposed yourself for the hypocrite you are.

[Feral Child]

35. DELETE

apologized in the wrong place, corrected now.

[Feral Child]

36. Apologized and then deleted it by mistake.

Damn, can't get stuff right this evening.


I should have read the article, the female athlete in this OP has been arrested and convicted of DV.

I'll PM you to ensure my apology gets to you, since I fucked up my apology too.

[Yupster]

117. I would like to see two things disappear from movies and tv

1) The comic staple of a girl kicking a boy in the balls followed by laughter from all.

2) The woman slapping the man's face.

These things shouldn't be acceptable by society but they seem to be.

[treestar]

63. She's been charged, hasn't she?

And it was her half sister and nephew, so it's not intimate partner or disciplinary stuff.

[Lee-Lee]

67. I said society, not legal system

Thus the different levels of public outcry, and league and team reactions.

[Feral Child]

22. Retracted

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2014, 08:08 PM - Edit history (1)

I should have read before posting.

[joeglow3]

33. Like I said above, you exposed yourself as a hypocrite.

You said a player that has been arrested should sit. Solo has been arrested and has two charges against her. Thus, the bar is exactly the same. Try justifying women committing domestic abuse again.

[Feral Child]

37. I've been trying to retract.

But I've engaged several people in the thread and I'm confusing myself, so this to be sure I acknowledge your post:

I should have read the article, the information you cite was very prominent. So, I was stupid and I'm sorry.

Not a hypocrite, though. That was a bit harsh.

[joeglow3]

38. Fair enough. I apologize as well.

[Feral Child]

39. We're cool.

I was wrong first, anyway.

[KamaAina]

27. I am.

I had forgotten about the DV incident, but I have not and never will forget about her choke job against Japan -- Japan! The 40th-ranked team in the world! -- at the 2011 Women's World Cup.



In fact, a Sports Group denizen put me on Iggy over that, because I was unhappy with her conciliatory attitude afterward.

[LostInAnomie]

30. Because a lot of people are fucking hypocrites.

That's basically all it boils down too.

[nomorenomore08]

34. We've given athletes in general a pass on this kind of stuff for a long time.

Seems like we're trying to handle it better now, but inconsistently, in fits and starts.

[kwassa]

40. This is exactly where we are. Defining new territory.

That territory hasn't reached Hope Solo yet. I am sure it will.

[justiceischeap]

42. Because the NFL made this big stink about treating DV more seriously

Then when the video of Ray Rice was released, they were caught out as hypocrites because from all appearances they brushed it under the rug. Then suddenly NFL players had a really bad week and kept the whole thing in the news cycle.

I don't know what the NWSL's standards are but apparently Solo hasn't violated them and had you not brought this up, most people would have either not known about it or forgotten about it.

Does she deserve to play since apparently she's a big deal in soccer circles? No, IMO, she shouldn't but this really is a different situation and not because of gender.

We'd all be foolish to think that DV isn't as big an issue in professional sports as it is in "real" life--but, I repeat, if the NFL hadn't made such a big stink about cleaning up it's image, the news that came out last week wouldn't have really been news at all.

[joeglow3]

43. I agree with attacking the NFL

My issue is when people are calling out the individual athletes and demand they not play, but don't when it is a female soccer athlete. I will grant ignorance, but even when it is brought to people's attention in this thread, they still apply a double standard.

[justiceischeap]

45. You're assuming the double-standard is because of gender

and it may well be in some cases. However, the true double-standard is in the rules. First, we don't know the rules the soccer league has for this type of situation. Maybe they don't have any regarding DV. The NFL DOES have those rules so NFL players are being held to a higher standard than anyone else in America.

Most people, AFAIK, don't lose their jobs in this type of situation--I would imagine some do if they go to jail.

It's not hypocritical to expect the NFL to abide by its own rules.

[sendero]

58. There is absolutely..

.. a double standard based on gender and it does not always favor men or favor women.

That said, I see this case a bit differently than the others it is being compared to as what actually happened is somewhat in question whereas with for example Rice or Petersen, it is not.

[randome]

46. Having a fight with your siblings is not the same as beating your wife or child.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[Nye Bevan]

49. Huh?

I think beating up one's sister is just as bad, and should carry the same punishment, as beating up one's wife.

[randome]

57. It's still not the same as betraying the intimate trust of marriage or parenthood.

Granted, she needs to be taken to task for what she did. But I don't see it on the same level as wife and child-beaters.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[Logical]

50. A child maybe, but you is your sister any different? nt

[joeglow3]

52. What about your sisters kid?

Is that not as bad because it is your sisters kid?

[kiva]

48. Wheneven organizations -

sports teams, corporations, the entertainment industry - keep an individual who has been violent toward another person (or an animal, IMO) because that individual is too important/talented/popular to get rid of...then that organization has made a moral choice.

Should Hope Solo be suspended? Yes. I thought so when it happened and I think so now.

[NaturalHigh]

53. It's a problem of perception, a willful disconnect, I believe.

It's not uncommon when a woman kills her husband for someone to say "I wonder what he did to her."

Betty Broderick is a perfect example. In 1989, she broker into her ex-husband's home and killed him and his new wife. Rather than focus on the murders, many chose to focus on the fact that he had an affair with a younger woman and left his wife to marry his mistress. No doubt Dan Broderick was an asshole, but cheating on a spouse is not grounds for a premeditated murder. Betty Broderick got a generous divorce settlement that included $16,000 per month in alimony payments.

Her first trial ended in a hung jury. At her second trial, she was only convicted of second degree murder despite the fact that she had stolen a key to the ex-husband's house from her daughter, shot the ex and the new wife, and then pulled the phone out of the wall so he couldn't call for help (he lived for several minutes according to the autopsy and Broderick's own testimony).

To this day, she has many defenders who think she was railroaded despite the fact that she had threatened to kill her ex for years and freely admitted to the murders.

One complaint I've encountered when talking about her is that she is often referred to as "a woman scorned."

[R B Garr]

54. This is one of the worst scenarios for your analogy. Dan Broderick left Betty twisting

in the wind purposefully to wear her down. All three of those people in that triangle were bad actors, Dan Broderick, the new wife Linda and Betty. If you have read about that case, you wouldn't make the unilateral claims only against Betty as you are doing, so I'm assuming you have other motivations about gender issues that are aggravating your position here.

Having said that, of course there is no excuse for murder. Betty was an already fragile woman who got pushed to the edge, and she broke. Sad for all involved.

[NaturalHigh]

85. I've read everything I could about the case.

Yes, Dan Broderick was an asshole, but I stand by what I wrote. A psychiatrist diagnosed Betty Broderick with a narcissistic personality disorder, which explains her perfectly. She is a greedy narcissist who put her family through hell because she didn't get what she felt she was entitled to in life.

[R B Garr]

92. "what she was entitled to in life." How dramatic. What about what she was entitled to

under the law. Dan, with his lawerly brilliance, tried everything to cheat her our of marital assets, and he did it maliciously over a long period of time by chosing to engage her in a destructive emotional battle so that he could gain a legal advantage over her by documenting her emotional deterioration -- after his cruelty and abuse.

But...how would you know what Betty felt she was "entitled to in life." Let's just take a look at what she might feel she was entitled to: after supporting her husband through not only medical school, but law school, she might feel that her daily personal sacrifices should be fairly compensated instead of seeing Dan paying for his mistress's new car, condo, nose job and other cosmetic procedures from the family assets.

This case was 25 years ago, so I can't see what relevance it has to do with Hope Solo or current events, especially considering that Betty was seen as a sympathetic figure because of the documented emotional abuse she endured from Dan Broderick and his new wife who used to call her fat and stupid. Sounds like all three of them were greedy narcissists.

[NaturalHigh]

107. With all due respect, RB...

again, I do know at least as much about the case as you do. Have you ever read the books, which were written from completely different points-of-view? She was getting $16,000 a month in alimony. What exactly was she entitled to?

[R B Garr]

109. Yeah, this is a total waste of time. You obviously have resentment

about women being entitled under the law to marital assets, many of which were hidden from Betty. So there's that.

[NaturalHigh]

110. Actually, I don't.

I just happen to think she was given everything to which she was entitled and that she should have been convicted of first degree murder. If you have any questions about her mentality, read all about her parole hearing in 2010.

[R B Garr]

118. Okay. But it seems hopeless to talk to you when you're even second-guessing

the first jury who heard her case. What was in her state of mind and how she arrived at that state of mind was crucial to convict her. I don't think anyone doubted then or now about her "mentality." But I'm just saying you don't have to be on Team Betty to see how Dan manipulated and basically harassed her. He used to "fine" her money to punish her by deducting his self-determined fines from her monthly support payments, (which wasn't $16,000/mo. by other accounts, as well). They were both embroiled in a destructive emotional game.

I don't want to go chapter by chapter in each book we've both read about the case. The fact that you started out insisting that Betty was given everything she was entitled to "in life" makes me wonder whether you think women should just step aside and waive their legal rights for their replacements at any time their man demands it.

[NaturalHigh]

120. Again, you'll never hear me arguing that Dan Broderick was not an asshole.

I also think Betty Broderick was entitled to a fair chunk of his income because of the sacrifices that she made to put him through law school (for the most part, his family paid the bulk of medical school). However, I can't see how she was entitled to anything more than the $16,000 a month alimony that the court ordered.

Yes, I know all about the fines. Have you heard some of the phone messages that led Dan to impose those fines, not to mention Betty's constant disregard of restraining orders by trespassing on Dan's property and vandalism of his home? He could easily have had her jailed for contempt on numerous occasions (and did a couple of times). The woman actually ran her car into his front door, completely oblivious to the fact that she could have killed her own children!

If she would have taken her huge alimony income, moved on with her new boyfriend (whom she had been dating for some time when she murdered Dan and Linda), and forgotten all about her ex, Dan would still be alive and more than likely been humiliated when the young trophy wife took him to the cleaner. Just my opinion, of course.

It seems you know a lot about the case. Again, I believe I know at least as much (I'm a true crime reader). We obviously just have different points-of-view on the case. I originally mentioned the case in this thread as an example of how people often ask "what did he do to her" when a woman kills her husband. Even today, if you read the comments on the stories about Betty Broderick, you will see probably half of them defending Betty Broderick and even implying that she was justified.

To the OP of this thread, my apologies if my comments hijacked it. I intended to make a point, but it turned into a distraction to your OP.

[lumberjack_jeff]

89. Perhaps. But only one of the three is a murderer.

The poor dear.

[R B Garr]

91. Yes, but only one of them is alive --

If you want to play that ridiculous game. What a crazy comment.

[cali]

59. to answer your question: because few people pay attention to women's soccer

except during the Olympics.

That doesn't make it right, but it is the answer to your question.

As for why more people aren't talking about the fact that domestic abuse isn't simply an issue of men against women, well, that's because domestic violence against men doesn't result in the same disastrous outcomes very often.

[wildeyed]

60. Size differential?

As a 120lb female, if I punched my 65lb son in the face with a closed fist so hard that I knocked him out, I would hopefully be in jail. If I punched my husband, maybe not, because I am not physically able to really injure him. I could maybe break his nose or something if I caught him unaware, but I would need a weapon to kill him.

So when a 200lb pro athlete punches an average size woman in the face, it is treated more seriously, because there is danger of real injury or death. Solo's victims were large enough to mount a successful defense. When football players punch grown men, it is also not treated as seriously, unless severe injury or death occurs. Solo sounds like a violent, drunken harpy, and what she did was very serious, but I don't see the cases as equivalent.

Also not sure what the author meant by "banished" Greg Hardy, the player I know the most about, has been deactivated by the Panthers. He was already convicted in a regular judge trial over the summer. He has opted to appeal for a jury trial, but not sure there is much more to know about the case. He will be released by the Panthers at the end of the season (franchise tag for 2014-15, no contract) and move on to another team, probably do well and hopefully make better decisions about his personal life in the future. This is not "banished".

Rice is banished because he was caught on camera, Goodell is an incompetent boob who has no idea how to do damage control, and he really hurt and could have possibly killed Janay Rice. His banishment is being challenged by the players union, and may be overturned. Not that anyone will really want to see him play again in the near future, but he will probably be back at some point too.

[trumad]

62. excellent post

[JTFrog]

64. Except for the "drunken harpy" sexist slam.

It could have been a good post if one could have refrained from tossing out the sexist slur. Not sure why folks don't understand that this only perpetuates the cycle of sexism and hatred toward women.

[wildeyed]

65. We don't understand because you choose to judge and berate instead of educating.

"Harpy" refers to a mythological Greek being that I thought well describe Solo's demeanor as a verbally abusive and physically dominate female who assaults other people. I was not aware that it was in common usage at all, or that it was considered a slur. When I Google search 'harpy slur', there is barely even any mention of it.

Choosing to explain your POV in a civil manner might easily convince me to change it. Since you instead decide to attack, it makes me less open to your ideas and views.

[trumad]

66. Good post

[wildeyed]

81. On further reflection, it was my use of the word 'boob'

that was sexist. For that I recant.

[lumberjack_jeff]

72. "Solo's victims were large enough to mount a successful defense."

They call this phenomenon "reciprocal violence". It represents half of all domestic violence and it is the kind most likely to result in injury to women.

[joeglow3]

75. Good post.

[stevenleser]

77. Any normal sized adult human is capable of killing or critically injuring another human with

a single blow, certainly if aimed at vital areas like the head, or chest or abdomen, but even in areas that might not normally be considered 'vital'. Blood clots can form that cause a heart attack or stroke, major blood vessels ruptured causing internal bleeding, organs can fail, the brain can be damaged.

It's better to simply call all domestic assault and battery horrific and prosecute vigorously than try to say one is worse than the other.

[MerryBlooms]

82. She should be benched and in counseling until her issues are resolved. n/t

[Oktober]

106. It's women's soccer...

[joeglow3]

112. Oh. Do male soccer players get to assault people too?

[Oktober]

113. No... But the question was why no one cares..

For all intents and purposes she is a regular person and doesn't merit the media attention that a celebrity does.

Same reason Bob down the street doesn't make national news when he beats his wife.

[A Little Weird]

126. Exactly

I had to google Hope Solo - never heard of her. I don't even follow football and I've heard of Ray Rice. So a thread about someone who's not widely known is not going to get as much discussion as a thread about someone more famous. I'm surprised anyone is outraged by that fact.

Also, the video showing Rice knocking her out with one punch is pretty shocking and something likely to be commented on. It has brought the issue of domestic violence into the spotlight. Before that, few people seemed to be commenting very much on domestic violence. Now that it's in the spotlight, we find it's not that uncommon. I don't recall hearing much discussion on DU about these other offenses before the video came out - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/arrests/

[cwydro]

115. I just read the story.

That was an all out family brawl. With the nephew hitting her with a broomstick and holding a BB gun on her.

Just nonsense, all of it. Hardly comparable to Peterson beating his four year old, Rice knocking out his wife, Dwyer head butting HIS wife, or Hardy beating the crap out of his girlfriend.

Disgusting stuff, but looks like a stupid family fight. Cannot imagine a family doing that, but I know it happens.

[alp227]

119. But violence is violence.

Maybe Hope Solo was acting in self-defense. She's an adult, though, and should suffer consequences for misbehavior. What does it say to young people when Hope Solo is allowed to keep playing despite allegedly committing a crime?

[madville]

121. I still believe in innocent until proven guilty

I don't think people should be penalized until after their day on court, seen too many people arrested just for the charges to be dropped or dismissed later.

[joeglow3]

122. So, Ray Rice should be playing since no charges will be brought against him.

[gollygee]

124. We should ignore domestic violence cases against men

if we are able to find any domestic violence case at all against a woman. /sarcasm

Or what is your point? I'm sure there are lots of men who have committed domestic violence and still have their jobs as well.

[joeglow3]

125. But there are no topics posted about them here (as this was back in June).

So, when this is brought to people's attention, look above to see all those justifying/excusing it.

[Marrah_G]

130. ~eyeroll~

[joeglow3]

132. ~eyewink~

This is fun...