2008 Woodie Awards
Greg Ryan loses Hope
Paul McNeill
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Sports
Some of the best advice ever given comes from an often-overlooked source: Ward Clever, from the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver. One nugget of knowledge particularly stands out: When you make a mistake, admit it. If you don't you only make matters worse.
United States women's soccer coach Greg Ryan should catch a few more hours of TV Land.
Before the U.S. team's World Cup semifinal match against Brazil, Ryan made an unexpected decision: He replaced goalkeeper Hope Solo with Briana Scurry, who is one of the top goalies in history.
Scurry had a 12-0 career record against Brazil, including a victory in the 2004 Olympic gold medal match. The move to replace Solo, however, was a gamble considering Scurry is 36 years old and Solo appeared in all four previous World Cup matches and hadn't allowed a goal in three straight games.
The result was a 4-0 South American shellacking of the U.S. team, thus ending a 51-game unbeaten streak. It was the team's most lopsided defeat in World Cup history.
With hindsight being 20-20, knowing now what you wish you knew then, with all the cards on the table, any second thoughts, Greg?
"In terms of having Briana start, I don't have any regrets about that," Ryan said after the game.
His team got walloped following a questionable decision but Ryan stuck to his guns. Such hardheadedness is found only in sports and politics. Ryan was undoubtedly trying to protect his player, but surely he could have found a way to acknowledge his blunder without throwing Scurry under the bus.
Considering the brilliant performance by Brazil player Marta, a few calls that didn't go the U.S. team's way, and an own-goal by U.S. defender Leslie Osborne, America most likely would have lost no matter who was protecting the net. However, one would think that the loss at least would cause Ryan to stop and think about his decision.
Speaking of the need to stop and think: "It was the wrong decision, and anyone who knows anything about the game knows that," Solo said after the loss. "There's no doubt in my mind that I would have made those saves."
United States women's soccer coach Greg Ryan should catch a few more hours of TV Land.
Before the U.S. team's World Cup semifinal match against Brazil, Ryan made an unexpected decision: He replaced goalkeeper Hope Solo with Briana Scurry, who is one of the top goalies in history.
Scurry had a 12-0 career record against Brazil, including a victory in the 2004 Olympic gold medal match. The move to replace Solo, however, was a gamble considering Scurry is 36 years old and Solo appeared in all four previous World Cup matches and hadn't allowed a goal in three straight games.
The result was a 4-0 South American shellacking of the U.S. team, thus ending a 51-game unbeaten streak. It was the team's most lopsided defeat in World Cup history.
With hindsight being 20-20, knowing now what you wish you knew then, with all the cards on the table, any second thoughts, Greg?
"In terms of having Briana start, I don't have any regrets about that," Ryan said after the game.
His team got walloped following a questionable decision but Ryan stuck to his guns. Such hardheadedness is found only in sports and politics. Ryan was undoubtedly trying to protect his player, but surely he could have found a way to acknowledge his blunder without throwing Scurry under the bus.
Considering the brilliant performance by Brazil player Marta, a few calls that didn't go the U.S. team's way, and an own-goal by U.S. defender Leslie Osborne, America most likely would have lost no matter who was protecting the net. However, one would think that the loss at least would cause Ryan to stop and think about his decision.
Speaking of the need to stop and think: "It was the wrong decision, and anyone who knows anything about the game knows that," Solo said after the loss. "There's no doubt in my mind that I would have made those saves."
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