When the U.S. men's national team takes on Costa Rica tonight (8pm, ESPN2) in World Cup qualifying in Washington D.C., U.S. national team fans will honor the one American starter who won't be in attendance: Charlie Davies.
USA fans are being encouraged to stand and cheer and wave these signs in the ninth minute (8:01-8:59) of tonight's match to honor Davies, who is in a Washington D.C. hospital recovering from major injuries suffered during a fatal car accident late Monday night.
Fans not attending tonight match can also send their messages of support for Davies to his email address, charliedavies9@yahoo.com, where messages are being printed up and passed along to Davies.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with paying tribute to Davies without paying tribute to the others involved in the crash. It really is tragic for the young woman that died, but we don’t know her. People die all the time, every day. We don’t pay tribute to them because we don’t know them. We may not personally know Charlie Davies, but as fans of the USMNT, we have a connection to him.
Again, it is very sad for that young woman and her family. We all feel bad for them. We just don’t know her. There’s nothing wrong with showing support to a person you’ve followed as a professional. Nothing wrong with that at all.
A young woman died in this crash.
I welcome this type of support of course, but it bothers me a bit to see everyone gloss over that fact and pay *tribute* (?) to Davies solely, in light of a tragedy that left someone else dead.
********************
I agree with you… HOWEVER, I think that doing a show of support for charlie will also be a show of support for the other victims. Without bringing in huge signs, there’s only so much we can do. And I certainly hope that we hold a moment of silence before the game. Ashley Roberta is on everyone’s minds (especially mine and other fellow Terps I’m sure) but a majority of the “spoken” concern is about Charlie for the simple fact that he’s a part of the US Soccer community and the one that majorly effects us. I hope the driver is able to recover as well. All I know, is I hope the USA plays inspired and that Charlie is watching so that he knows how much support he has behind him.
@ jjraines
Maybe you can convince a few fans to chant “Ash-ley!” after they’re done chanting “Char-lie!” Just a thought.
RK–Is that for real? Please tell me that you accidentally wrote that entire post.
@ jjraines
No disrespect intended. Charlie is a soccer player and this is a soccer match so it seems appropriate that THIS tribute be for him.
jjraines: it seems odd to me, too, that people feel so emotional about someone that they have never met. I think it is a little more understandable to show some support for him because he wasn’t “at fault” (not driving, not drunk driving, wearing a seat belt).
Told ya so 😉
===
Coming up with a better idea doesn’t make previous ideas bad.
We should hold those signs for the entire 90 minutes!…You have every U.S fans support Davies!…We wish you a speedy recovery, and can’t wait to see you score loads of goals again…
FORCA DAVIES!!!
Print out extra copies if you can. Travelling fans may not have the ability to get to a printer, or may not hear about this until it’s too late to print a copy. I’m gonna swing by a Kinko’s with one before going to RFK.
A young woman died in this crash.
I welcome this type of support of course, but it bothers me a bit to see everyone gloss over that fact and pay *tribute* (?) to Davies solely, in light of a tragedy that left someone else dead.
ESPN2: kickoff is at 8, pregame coverage at 7:30. But US Soccer still has the game kicking-off at 8pm.
This is a good move.
Better than the smoke bomb idea.
Posted by: Mason
Told ya so 😉
I hope I’m not making light of tonight’s planned tribute by saying it made me think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKgShVoj6UA#t=02m52s
Get well soon, Charlie.
the ECS in seattle will be showing its support on Oct 24th during dallas match as that is our next home game.
sounders FO have also been asked.
…and I’m the millionth person to post that. My bad.
ESPN2 is showing the game from 7:30 tonight, not 8. I am sure this was changed because of what happened yesterday with Charlie and it will be a major focus of the coverage.
Posted by: Erik
Could have something to do with the break in baseball playoffs, too.
Anyone else expecting Jozy to score tonight?
wish i could be at the game to participate in this…
great going guys, hope davies has a speedy recovery
Laminating the “9’s” would also work SoccerJohn. Any FedEx/Kinko’s could do it for cheap.
and I think you mean WHEN we score.
haha, as awesome a tribute that as that is, I would effing LOVE to see landon donovan do the stanky leg.
Maybe we’ll see everyone doing the Stanky Legg when and if we score. Stu Holden hinted that on his twitter.
http://www.twitvid.com/C5746
Good job with this, Ives. Thanks.
Folks, it’s supposed to rain tonight so put your “9’s” in a plastic sleeve or something if you can.
I’ll be chanting “Charlie!” when I put my sign up unless I hear something more creative. Let’s get loud.
I hope that someone writes him a message on their undershirts and shows it off when they score, much like Kaka’s infamous “I belong to Jesus” or when Antonio Pureta’s (Sevilla striker who died about this time 2 years ago) strike partner wrote “Remember Puerta” or something like that and when he scored he showed it off to pay tribute.
Maybe they could all wear Shirts with #9 on the back of them for the warm-ups, much like what Spain did a few months back when one of their former U-20 players died. That would be pretty classy.
wait… the game is on ESPN2?
ESPN2 is showing the game from 7:30 tonight, not 8. I am sure this was changed because of what happened yesterday with Charlie and it will be a major focus of the coverage.
(SBI-The game is still an 8pm kickoff. The pre-game coverage starts at 7:30pm.)
Printed out 5 copiessss
I’m not going to the game but I’ll be putting one up in my car back window. People in Western Kentucky are going to be confused (as usual).
it should be for all 3 of them not just CD9
JCL-
That’s awesome. I’d do the same and pass them out in the section I’m in, but I’d prolly get fired for “using government property for personal purposes.”
printing a bajillion of these signs and going to hand them out at the RFK entrance
This is a good move.
Better than the smoke bomb idea.
Got mine printed in and taped to my door.
Pure class Ives, thank you for keeping us informed and letting us know how we can make a difference.
Having lived in Northern Va and having made that trip home from Georgetown/DC I know what a mess the parkway can be. My little brother wrecked my bike very near where this accident occurred.
Please keep us posted on Charlie’s progress.
Hopefully Harkes will put his negativity aside for tonight and explain to everyone the significance of this. I’ve got 7 printed for my group. Hope CD’s watching.
Stuart Holden posted this on his twitter if anyone is interested:
Ok guys u can send ALL your well wishes 2 Charlie, email charliedavies9@yahoo.com , they r printing all notes and bringing them 2 him! THX
http://www.twitter.com/stuholden22
This is a great idea. Can’t wait to see it on TV. Wish I was going to be there.
thanks for the e-mail link, Ives. I have some personal experience with pretty serious injury and recovery. People need to let Charlie know things will be ok and keep him uplifted through what will be some very, very difficult times ahead.
OK, 8:xx it is.
Let’s win the game 9-0…
When I clicked on this . . . there were 9 comments.
Represent us that can’t be there, DC. Make us proud
print two and bring them to the game! ESPN2 better be on to this and show it during the game, I don’t care if they cut away from play…
Nice one, Ives.
Thanks for posting this Ives. Classy of you. And a classier tribute (Gabe’s idea, I believe) than some of the others suggested.
This is tragic. A gesture on the part of the US soccer community should be made towards that young lady whose life was lost as well. Hopefully, something meaningful can be done in the future.
8:01-8:59, as Ives has indicated. There will probably be some confusion on this, but I think people will get the idea, and it will go on for more than one minute, I hope.
I’ve already printed mine out . . . .
I still can’t believe it… it’ll take some time to sink in….
As posted before: do we stand and cheer when the clock says 8:xx (9th minute) or when the clock says 9:xx (10th minute but the 9 is on the board)?
I say…both. Especially when we score.
I just love how all of these pictures of Charlie Davies are each appropriate for the tone of the posts they accompany.
get well real soon Charlie, I wanna see that stanky leg back on the field
Go Davies!!!!! you are miss…. wow crazy how one players has united so many fans….
amen