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More on Davies and his road to recovery (UPDATED)

Charlie Davies 6 (ISIphotos.com) 

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Charlie Davies has a message for all the doubters who didn't believe him when he said he would be back for the 2010 World Cup.

You just don't know.

If you've read my ESPN.com story on Davies, you know how determined he is to come back, and just how far he has already come since the accident.

While I was able to provide plenty of the details of Davies' road to recovery, there was much that I wasn't able to get into the story, including where he thought he was when he first woke up following the accident, the first soccer game he watched after the accident and the ways Davies believes he has changed since surviving last October's deadly car crash.

Here is more from my interview with Davies:

DAVIES ON FIRST WAKING UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT

“The next part I remember was just waking up in the hospital and thinking I was in Honduras, thinking that people were trying to steal my organs. That’s how I woke up. It was maybe the third day and I was really confused about where I was.

"A nurse came up to me and said, 'What are you doing Mr. Davies? Relax.'

“No. You tell me why I’m here.”

“You were in a car accident.”

“No, anybody could say that. Where am I?”

“You’re in Washington D.C.”

(Davies, who had torn out five staples from the incision in his stomach after waking up, realized that the story made sense and proceeded to pass out again.)

DAVIES ON HIS REHAB AND GOALS FOR WHEN HE COMES BACK

"When I’m running on the treadmill, it’s like this mirror basically, and I just look into it and think, 'You’re going to be the best in this World Cup. You’re going to score goals and people’s jaws are just going to drop at the progress that you’ve come back from.' “

“I don’t want to just come back and be able just to play, and I didn’t want to be back and be the same person I was. I want to come back and be better. I want to build on the last Confederations Cup, where I was really able to show Coach Bradley and the players that I’m ready and can play at this level. Now, I want to be a player that people are watching out for.”

“I’ve gone through shoulder pain, elbow, both feet, legs, toes, knees, the whole works, and just getting through each week is crazy, but I’ve been able to do it and now I feel like I’m going to start surprising people when I get back on the field."

DAVIES ON BEING BACK FOR THE WORLD CUP

"Before I knew a timetable, in my head I had always said I’m gonna make it back for the World Cup, 100 percent. I didn’t know if I’d make it back for my French season, but I was like, 'One hundred percent, I’m going to be back for the World Cup'. There’s nothing that’s keeping me out of that.

"People would ask, and I’d say ‘I’m not sure. Hopefully’, because I didn’t want to say I’d do it and if it didn’t happen it would be even worse, but I always had it in my head that I’d be back for it. It was kind of just hopeful, but now that I’m getting positive input from the doctor and (trainer Jim Hashimoto), now I know it’s realistic. I think it’ll just be not only a shocker to myself, but to everyone else, that I could come back early and it’s a reality."

JIM HASHIMOTO ON DAVIES AFTER SIX SURGERIES

"He's slightly Bionic."

(Davies has had six surgeries and has titanium rods in his left femur and tiba, multiple metal plates in his face and a metal plate in his left elbow.)

DAVIES ON BREAKING CURFEW THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT

"It was just a stupid thing. I thought I wasn’t going to play on Wednesday because I had a little bit of a groin issue. We had just qualified for the World Cup so I didn’t think it would be a big issue, but when you look back now it just shows how little things like that can do damage and define things that happen to you.

“It’s all about making smart choices and being professional. That’s not going to be an issue for me again, I can tell you that.”

DAVIES ON WATCHING SOCCER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME

"First game I watched was USA vs. Denmark,” Davies said. “It was probably one of the toughest things I ever had to do was to watch the national team play a game I would be in and should be in. It was definitely really painful and I haven’t been able to watch soccer as much as I used to, but I’m gradually getting there. I’m starting to watch highlights of games now and I feel like I’ve made such huge strides now that soccer is going to be in my future pretty soon."

ENCOURAGING WORDS FOR DAVIES FROM HIS SOCHAUX MANAGER

"The coach told me 'We need you back, we’re making a push for Europe, we’re only three points back from seventh place and you’re going to make the difference. We know you’re going to make the difference. I know we’re going to have you the last two months so expect to be ready because as soon as you’re ready to play you’re going to play.'

"I’m pretty excited about going back to France and starting where I left off."

DAVIES ON HIS RETURN TO THE FIELD

"The past week I’ve been visualizing my first game back (for Sochaux), and coming in off the bench, subbing in, and seeing everybody in the stadium on their feet, and then have me run in and score a goal."

DAVIES ON THE COSTA RICA QUALIFIER HE MISSED

“I haven’t had the opportunity yet, but I also feel like it’d be hard to watch. I was able to watch the video of after and a little bit of during the match. That was tough. I definitely shed some tears watching that one. It was difficult, but it was good to see.”

DAVIES ON HOW FANS REACTED TO HIS ACCIDENT

“That’s when I got the sense that people enjoyed watching me play and I was missed. It definitely gave me a positive feeling when I was in the hospital, when I definitely needed it. It means a lot to me to see that, and to see MLS team’s fans supporting me even though I never got a chance to play in MLS."

DAVIES ON THE FEELING OF SCORING GOALS

"I miss it. I think about it all the time. I can’t wait to score a goal and have that feeling again. I’m going to give all the credit to the lord for saving my life and helping me get back to full health.”

ON HOW THE ACCIDENT HAS CHANGED HIM

"I’ve definitely changed. I still feel like I’m going to be the outgoing, easy-going guy that I’ve always been, but I’ve definitely become more religious. Appreciate life much more than I did before."

Comments

  1. Riight… Rooney–> Thug, Zidane—-> Thug, Henry—> My fellow man from les antilles, Cano, Beckham (from a dirt poor family), Maradonna—> Clear thugh, Roberto Carlow??? Umm Thug!?? (just went down some of the best footballers of our generation) nuff said you vanilla cake pssy

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  2. The ‘crusading language’ was for the intolerant posters, not Davies. However, I think anyone who truly believes “God” makes decisions about saving one person and killing another doesn’t know enough good people that have died or enough assholes (not Davies!) who have lived. I also think that there is no way the two sides of this discussion are going to come to terms in the comments section of SBI.

    I’ll leave with the final statement that whatever his motivation, Davies is determined to be the best soccer player and person he can be. As horrible as the accident was, he seems to have turned out the better for it. My bet is that he succeeds in not only getting to the world cup, but in showing the world what the upstart American spirit can accomplish!

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  3. As someone who believes in God I understand how Charlie feels. I also understand the anger that some feel towards the faith that we share. “Believers” have done and continue to do terrible things in the name of God. I just hope you can separate your feelings about God from His followers. Some of us mean well, some don’t…but God loves all the same. Peace…

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  4. Well they did play in Honduras on 10/10/09, three days before the incident. After severe trauma, people sometimes lose short-term memory so it’s quite possible he couldn’t remember traveling back to the States – at least not right away after waking for the first time. And whether or not stuff like organ harvesting really happens, if you couldn’t remember getting hurt and woke up with staples in your stomach, you might be a bit paranoid for a few minutes…

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  5. If he (or anyone) believes in a all-powerful and all-knowing God who actively particpates in our lives (most major religions do) then of course he would thank the lord for saving him. And thats in no way a shot at the girl who died or her family because he is merely reaffirming his belief that God has a hand in everything that happens (including death even when it is tragic and untimely like in this case). Charlie, and other people who say such things like this in similar situations, have no illusion that they will never die, they just believe that for some reason their God has granted them more time to live. In this system of belief one gives credit to God for both life and death (and everything else in the middle).

    It’s his right to have those beliefs and express them, so just because you don’t beleive in them (and I’m not saying I do either) don’t use that as an excuse to call his statements inconsiderate or wrong… Because thats tantamount to using the same prejudiced, “crusading” language you accussed him of. Love the theological debate on the soccer blog though.

    P.S.

    Mig22 is a loser cause he starts this same ish on other sites, I saw him poppin off about the same stuff after Ive’s article on espn.com. dude, you seem relatively intelligent go take a theology class and debate it with other students and teachers instead of in the comments sections of soccer articles.

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  6. Damn, this is just too easy, but I didn’t even READ the rest of your drivel on Jozy. “I’m black by the way, so I can see these things.” wow. just. wow.

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  7. And yes, lest you come right back at me, I made a few typos in there. It is the internet, but you are still a d-bag.

    And btw . . . long time reader, first time poster, so no need to concern yourself that I’m ‘hiding’ behind anything. If you like, I can continue posting as “JonathanHater.” 🙂

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  8. Jozy is not Fabregas or Messi, the comparison is just plain dumb. Jozy starts in some games in the best league in the world at the age of 20, and what blows me aways is the fact that he is an AMERICAN! How many Americans at the age of 20 start in the best leagues in the world? Not many huh.:)Jozy is doing just fine. Lets worry when we are a powerhouse in the world of futbol, right now we take what we have.

    Jozy needs attitude??! WTH?! I don’t want no damn thug on our team! He’s fine the way he is as a respectful human being. Messi,Torres,El cun,Ronaldiho,Drogba, don’t or have ever acted tough on the pitch! Especially Messi who comes from middle class bringings. The thug theory doesn’t play a factor in Football!

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  9. You’re a d bag dude. First the french thing, now this. He may or may not be physically ready to play, and if he is, he may or may not recover his form, but WTF do you know about what amount of time is “right” for anyone. Doctors and trainers make objective evaluations about individual patients’ progress using a lot more data than your sketchy knowledge of french and hazy and standardless medical assessments.

    It does seem that you enjoy jumping out there and sh*tt!ng all over anything commenters on the board get excited. There is a term that covers self-aggrandizing behavior like that: it is d-bag. In conclusion, in case you missed it, you are a d-bag, that is all.

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  10. LOL I DO SAME THING …i wake up brush my teeth.. get on my my iphone , go on my safari site site on iphone load up sbi site, make some quick eggs and toast and read whiile i eat… and also do that for every meal of the day

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  11. Thank ives for the update!

    You guys heard it here first from the HUSH man, I said he would be back faster than expected!!! Booya! Chuck D is back, we need to put him on the players out with an injury page! 🙂

    Onyewu got hurt just two days after CD;s accident, yet it seems that Chucky has recovered faster than the Gooch!:)

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  12. Completely agree with this. I am a big fan of Davies, but, whether he realizes it or not, this is a very inconsiderate thing to say and I don’t even want to get into what I think it is tantamount to.

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  13. Would like to reaterate, that my heart goes out to the victims of Haiti, and my knock on Jozy has nothing to do with the recent tragedy. Point blank the dude is 20, he needs to man up. Fabregas was running arsenal at age 20, Messi lighting up Barca… Jozy is still trying to learn?? I don’t know where the kid grew up, and the way he acts is a microcosm of why soccer hasn’t stretched to inner cities and disadvantaged youth. The kid acts like a little bch, he wouldn’t last 10 minutes in a real neighborhood, and that lack of backbone shows on the field. Soccer players in America don’t have to fight for much, the environment is a waspy soccer mom milieu. (donavan, mcbride and others being the exception). Most of our best players were badass kids with a chip on their shoulder. Dempsey, Howard, Mathis… all these guys have problems with authority, which translates to an edge and tenacity on the pitch… Altidore you need to get an attitude and I’m not talking about a whiney priss attitude, you need an attidue like someone is talking about your momma or you’re about to get jumped on the street corner. (i’m black by the way, so I can see these things)

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  14. The kid is a monster and a warrior, but he won’t be back… We need him more than anything, but I don’t want him back. Right now, the doctors and coaches don’t want to discourage his discovery, but noone in their right mind would clear him to play (would need one month to get fit) by may 12th. Just isn’t going to happen. God bless the kid for his perserverance and heart, but he should be planning to be back by Jan 1 2011, that’s a “realistic” date, and he shouldn’t be allowed to push it any earlier. The dude’s body was crushed, 9 months isn’t enough for anyone, I don’t care how amazing the recovery is… Jozy, step your weight up, b/c you look like a little bch compared to Charlie (nothing to do w/ haiti) I’m talking about the twitter fiasco, you’re inability to score, and the fact taht you’re 6″2, 215 and can’t score against some non-athletic englishman

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  15. Unreal. This story is amazing. Forget the WC.. just from the human element of survival and determination.

    All those hating on any aspect are holier than thou fools.

    Being a realist I had honestly hoped for a spring 11′ comeback at best.. and Brazil 14′ as a possibility.

    The kid is solid and 100% as legit as they come. His swagger was always full confidence and no bs..

    I have to imagine having Gooch there and vice versa has been huge for each other. You almost want Demspey there as well to feed off of it.

    Great articles, great access.. good work Ives.

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  16. no doubt, but that’s quite an elaborate conspiracy to come up w/. He must have been in and out of consciousness or having some pretty crazy dreams to have that kind of paranoia…

    I’ve had a few shoulder surgeries, and coming back to consciousness was more of a bad hangover w/out the headache than a shock to the system where you start pullin out stiches and freakin out.

    Crazy story all the way around, topped off by what seems to be an impossible recovery. I just hope he’s not pushing himself too hard, b/c the will alone cannot fully heal a broken bone.

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  17. Mig22, I’ll get your back on this one. I don’t think we should pick apart Charlie’s words since he is just trying to think through this tragedy and show that he is grateful to be alive, but I don’t think you were picking him apart in your initial post. It always gets on my nerves when people say God saved them from a tragedy when others die. It’s like saying God wants us Americans to be rich (most Americans believe that according to polls), yet he allows poverty in Haiti. Why can’t we just admit we are very lucky and should make the most of it? This is not an anti-religious argument but a philosophical one. It’s also important not to brush this off as simply a guy was coming home after curfew. A girl died because of drinking and driving. I hope Charlie uses this as an opportunity to educate, and from what I’ve read about him, I believe he will when the time is right.

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  18. Seriously! I had surgery on my MCL in high school and the pain was so bad I was on morphine for a week. I don’t remember what day I got out of the hospital; it was like living in a fog filled dream.

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  19. Kudos to anyone who is trying to be a better person and this is definitely a moving story. That said, are you guys sensitive much? My God 😉 – I am a HUGE Davies fan, but I’m also not a mindless fan boy. Do you really think God saved his life and killed the girl? Really?! Davies is an inspiration, and we all need inspiration, but don’t gang up on someone because they pointed out the one aspect of the story that isn’t perfect. You guys aren’t coming off as tolerant Christians, more like blade swinging, the lord almighty will smite you down, crusaders.

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  20. I have a gut feeling that this year is going to be special, not only for Chuck, but for the team. As bad as it looked with Clint being injured, Boca/Bradley not playing, etc., suddenly everything is starting to turn around.

    Am I the only that has such a feeling?

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  21. Charlie, Stay humble and keep working hard. We would love to see you back on the field for the USA at WC 2010. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

    Ives, thanks for the details and the work on the piece. We all appreicate it.

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  22. Thank you Ives!! Really a good article. I was waiting for news on Davis rehab and I hope we’ll be able to see him scoring goals for tha national Team. Keep going Charlie!!!!!!!1

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  23. Since you took the time to write something sensible, Pete, I wanted to respond. I don’t care if Davies (typo correction) finds comfort in his newly found god, that’s cool. He went thru a lot.

    However, he does praise that god for saving his life,

    “I’m going to give all the credit to the lord for saving my life and helping me get back to full health.” and I think that was an ill considered thing to say since another person died there.

    That’s all, nothing more. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, I don’t care about belief or atheism. I simply think it was a careless remark by him.

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  24. All praise Ives the God of American soccer reporting.
    I went to the bathroom in about every class today to check this site on my phone!
    Oh and Davies You are a true inspiration, and I wish you the world!

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  25. Jesus, he woke up thinking people in Honduras were stealing his organs???

    Hansel: So I’m rappelling down Mount Vesuvius when suddenly I slip, and I start to fall. Just falling, ahh ahh, I’ll never forget the terror. When suddenly I realize “Holy sh!t, Hansel, haven’t you been smoking Peyote for six straight days, and couldn’t some of this maybe be in your head?”
    Derek: And?
    Hansel: And it was. I was totally fine. I’ve never even been to Mount Vesuvius.

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  26. excellent piece ives. i think the biggest thing charlie brings to the team isn’t just the speed, we’ve had great athletes before, it’s the guts and heart he shows every time he goes out there. the man is afraid of nothing and truly believes that he (and the team) can beat anyone on any day. we need more of that mindset for everyone on the team. not only do i think he’ll be at the WC, but if he says he wants to be one of the best in the world I will never be the one to question him. one of my favorite athletes in any sport

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