Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

Solo continues to shine on, off the pitch

By Eric Degerman, sportstricities.com

For years, Mia Hamm was the face of women's soccer in the U.S.

Perhaps Brandi Chastain will forever be the chest of her sport.

But these days, it seems as though Richland High grad Hope Solo has become the celebrity face for "the beautiful game."

ESPN The Magazine's "Revenge of the Jocks" issue for June 29 featured Maria Sharapova as the cover story. A few flips later, and there was Solo on page 55.

"Current job: St. Louis Athletica goalkeeper"

"Backup plan: Running a California Pizza Kitchen"

So, The Mag shadowed Solo as she spent a day working several roles at one restaurant in the California-based chain. She traded in her kit for a white oxford dress shirt and burgundy silk tie. Yes, she's rocking the jet-black hair that had Hope Solo message boards buzzing. And the smile on her face made it appear as though she relished the assignment.

"I've actually never had a job besides playing soccer," Solo told The Mag. "I can see myself behind the bar after my soccer career is over."

She enjoyed making the Thai Chicken Pizza. Understandably, she loathed handling dirty plates.

"One place you won't find me: loading dishes. Nasty," she wrote.

Ironically, on the Athletica's team Web site, Solo lists The King & I -- the Thai restaurant in Kennewick -- as her No. 1 favorite restaurant.

The University of Washington Hall of Famer ranks among the best in the world at cleaning up messes on the soccer pitch. Her Olympic gold medal in 2008 distanced her from the 2007 World Cup controversy. And now, she's got Saint Louis Athletica in position to make the Women's Professional Soccer playoffs.

The WPS inaugural season features a 20-game schedule, and Solo is second in the seven-team league with six shutouts and is third in saves.

Earlier today, Solo helped second-place St. Louis (7-5-2) win a matinee — 1-0 — on the road vs. league-leading Los Angeles Sol. It was St. Louis' first win in four tries against L.A. (11-2-4).

If you won't be at the Columbia Cup boat races, you can catch Solo and the Athletica on Fox Sports Channel at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 26. She will be facing Chastain, age 41, and FC Gold Pride, which are based in Santa Clara, Calif.

Solo turns 28 on July 30, so she's got plenty of time left in the soccer limelight. But perhaps one day she'll open up a pizzeria in downtown Richland to rival Kimo von Oelhoffen's sports bar near Columbia Center.