Won't lie. The Women's World Cup kinda snuck up on me this year.

As an aside, as part of the fallout from the FIFA scandal, I really hope that they move towards giving the same country the men's and women's tournament in subsequent bids.

There's no reason that Brazil, who spent all that money for stadiums and infrastructure for the men's tourney last year, shouldn't have had the opportunity to use it again for the women this year.

That said, I caught the 2nd half of the US-Aussie game the other night. We should have a strong showing. 

Oh, and Mexico got jobbed yesterday.

Keith Olbermann Wants Hope Solo Suspended From World Cup

Goalkeeper Hope Solo turned in a "freaking huge" performance in the U.S. team's 3-1 victory over Australia Monday in the Women's World Cup, according to teammate Megan Rapinoe.

But according to ESPN's Keith Olbermann, it should have never happened. Olbermann said Tuesday the troubled Solo should be suspended from the World Cup. Period.

"Unresolved domestic violence charges" from a June 2014 arrest accusing Solo of striking her half-sister and nephew warrant more stringent punishment, Olbermann said. He then added that he believes the situation should also cost U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati and U.S. coach Jill Ellis their jobs for turning a blind eye.


"Solo deserves immediate suspension with all rights of appeal," Olbermann said. "Ms. Ellis and Mr. Gulati, however, who have shown this condescending attitude of sports first, reality second, protect the bubble at all times, and have been the worst possible role models for and the worst possible representatives of this country, should be immediately dismissed."

Olbermann pointed out that if Solo were an NFL player, considering the high-profile cases of Ray Rice and other players in domestic violence cases, this incident would have generated immediate action. "If Hope Solo was a player in the National Football League, she'd be under suspension right now," he sad.

Olbermann's comments came on the heels of a report from ESPN's "Outside the Lines," in which details emerged of a drunken Solo allegedly being combative with cops. The case was dismissed in January on procedural grounds and Solo has maintained her innocence. But Olbermann emphasized that she has yet to be cleared, and prosecutors have appealed the ruling. He called on the powers that be, including Coach Ellis, to take forceful action.

"Domestic violence is at epidemic levels, the victims are usually women," Olbermann said. "The coach of the women’s national soccer team of this country is not only willfully ignoring unresolved domestic violence charges against her star goalie, but she also seems proud of ignoring them."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/10/hope-solo-keith-olbermann_n_7552178.html

Did you watch the championship match?

We did with a group of friends and a hundred other patrons at the Watering Hull in Stone Harbor, NJ. The place erupted with every score and exciting play, and at the end of the game, everybody started singing "God bless America" started by the guitar player in the Reggae band that was waiting until the game ended to begin playing for the rest of the night. Yeah mon, everyting was Irie at da Watering Hull.