The 9th Minute Tribute to Charlie Davies. Live and in person. Respect. (Photo by Dan, FBM Founder)The ninth minute of the United States National Team's final World Cup Qualifier on the night of October 14th, 2009 was one of the most powerful moments of the past year in American soccer, if not its entire history. Free Beer Movement Founder Dan was proud to be among those in the crowd holding his "9" sign sky high during those dramatic 60 seconds.
Given the fact that only a few short months earlier the U.S. knocked off Spain in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup and pushed Brazil to the brink in the finals loss it is saying something significant that one minute outshone an entire tournament and a successful World Cup Qualifying campaign.
In that one minute thousands of American fans stood (and watched on TV and followed across the Internets) as one in a loud, smoke and sign filled tribute to Charlie Davies, who was critically injured in a car accident on the Tuesday morning before the National Team was to play Costa Rica.
In a campaign hastily and brilliantly organized with great support from our friends at The Shin Guardian, the American Outlaws, and Eric at the Baltimore Brigade (designer of the "number 9" sign) and joined by a worldwide network of soccer fans, news media outlets, and reporters/commentators, RFK Stadium became the center of the soccer universe for one intensely emotional moment.
And now we're asking for you all to help again.
The Shin Guardian, the American Outlaws, the Free Beer Movement, and others are joining forces to re-tribute Charlies Davies today.
We want to flood Twitter, Facebook, your own websites, online and offline with continued support for Davies recovery and efforts to make the USMNT's plane to South Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The April 6th Tribute to Charlie Davies. Click for Twitter Re-tweet instructions and more information from The Shin Guardian about this amazing day!
You're almost there CD9! Keep up the great work. South Africa is next!
I didn't get to see the first half of the game live due to work commitments, but watching the second half (with no volume and from far away at a bar) got me a little misty when I saw the players tributes afterwards. When I was able to watch the game in its entirety I was absolutely floored by how powerful of a moment the 9th minute saltue was.
ReplyDeleteAs a sports fan it was up there with Vladimir Konstantinov being wheeled out onto the ice after the Red Wings won the 1998 Stanley Cup. Only the Charlie Davies story has, and will have, a much happier ending.
Thanks a ton for helping out Dan as well as correcting my url and linking mistakes...we might have never got the rocket off the ground...
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Matthew
The Shin Guardian