While I slept, US Soccer released a full account of the injuries suffered by Charlie Davies in Tuesday's fatal car accident outside Washington D.C. and his recovery prognosis.
For those of you going to the U.S. v Costa Rica game at RFK tonight, the American Outlaws supporters group and Shin Guardian blog are teaming up to construct a get well gesture to Charlie: a 9th minute salute to our #9 shirt.
UPDATE: I'm not sure yet who started this up, but USMNT fans are currently busy passing around this link, which brings takes you to a simple pdf file with a big number "9" on it. The idea is to print it out and bring it with you to RFK (or your favorite USMNT pub) and hold it up during the 9th minute salute to Davies. Then, take a photo of all the signs and email it to U.S. Soccer c/o Charlie as a sort of get well support card.
UPDATE: You can also show Charlie your support by sending email messages to charliedavies9@yahoo.com. It seems some of the U.S. players are organizing a way to put all the messages on one card to take to the hospital.
Meanwhile, WaPo's Steven Goff has a few new details here.
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On a personal note: I know we have a lot going on today and I do have a lot for you all both here and at S365, but it was not at all easy getting to sleep and it's an emotional morning for me. Reporters aren't supposed to be close friends with the subjects they cover, but we do get to know these guys a bit. We are there for some of the best times and speak to them through the years, often from when they are quite young.
Charlie has always presented himself as a gentleman. He is always up for a phone call and always asks about how I'm doing first. I'd be lying through my teeth if I said it wasn't difficult to get past the fact that he and his friends were in that horrible crash yesterday. As I'm sure you all are, I'm still in a bit of shock over it.
And as happens when tragic matters of life intrude our normal fun and games, I also start thinking a lot about all the people I care about. Naturally, above all, it makes me feel eternally grateful for every single minute that I get to spend with The Distracter. She is my everything and I'd be hopelessly lost without her.
So yeah... I'm moving slow for now, but I'll gather myself up and try to give you all the chance to think about something better for a while if it helps. I do want to salute the NSC regulars, who never fail to display their class, their straight priorities and their big hearts.
A young lady lost her life in the accident and I'm glad that you all can acknowledge the weight of that without bringing her tragedy into our soccer circus here. Her family has lost enough privacy through this crushing episode, so I purposely kept her name off of here. There's fun and games, the things we stay alive for, and then there is life. Today's Cut is for her, and that's as much as I'm going to say about that on NSC.
Truth is, you all made this a little easier for me - and if you did that, you did the same for anyone reading that carried a pit in their stomach through yesterday into today. Thank you.
Most of all, I send my best thoughts out to Charlie, the other two crash victims, their families and friends.
- Greg Seltzer
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12 comments:
Spot on Greg.
On a personal note, I want to say how difficult this has to be for all involved. I was involved in a similar accident when I was 15 and it was a long road to recovery for all parties involved, the difference being there were no fatalities. Charlie and the other passenger are going to need all the support they can get as they go through the healing process because a lot of emotional baggage comes along with something like this. The victims family must be absolutely crushed and I wish them the best =/
Yeah, I also thought a lot about what Charlie and his friend must be going through, or what they will go through when they are awake. It's a lot to take.
Thanks, strago.
while it is gameday, there is not a regular reader on here who cares if its a "slow day". hell, the game is not too concerning to me right now. im sure this is rough for you. you talk and interact with these guys daily. journalistic standards be damned, its impossible not to get to know people when its your job to write about them.
greg, best of luck and my best wishes to cd.
Those of use who feverishly support soccer in the US are a small tribe. I've never met Charile (and probably never will) but yesterday shook me up, as I imagine it did for many of us in the tribe. Somehow though, coming to a place like No Short Corners, helps. Greg your perspective and humanity is always valued and appreciated, as is that from the other posters. Its going to be a long road for everyone involved in yesterday's tragedy, and I hope there is peace at the end of it for everyone involved. Take care all.
Well said, Greg. Charlie was one of the most exciting players and fun personalities to ever wear the US kit and I hope someday he can be that again, but there has been great loss in all of this and for that my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved both directly and indirectly.
Greg--I assure you that I wasn't referring to anything specifically (in yesterday's post). It was more general commentary from my own (perhaps poor) expression of grief and sadness. We all have seen the things that Charlie can do, and I am sure all of us are apprehensive about our (and his) ability to enjoy those talents again. I was reminding myself, more than anyone else, that the young girl who passed away will never share her talents with anyone again.
I generally try to think carefully about my posts on your blog, and I may have overreached yesterday. Apologies.
No worry necessary, KO. And thanks, everybody.
Good choice on the cut of the day. Haven't heard it in ages, but it's definitely fitting.
I will say one thing about the game tonight - I'm glad it means nothing for our world cup chances, because I just don't know how our team (or any other that's as close-knit) would have been able to get through it.
Now, with qualification not on the line, I hope guys like Jozy and Stu can put on a fitting display in salute to Chuck D.
I know I, and anyone in my house at the time, will be standing for the entire 9th minute.
Well said Greg. There's a reason why I come to this site first every morning.
I will certainly be sending charlie a get well email. He has been my favorite player to watch since that hat trick he had in the last game of his first season. To go from college to pro soccer in france takes such an amazing amount of work ethic and determination and will power. The very qualities he needs now to recover physically and emotionally from such a tragic accident. Greg your site was one of my favorites before this debacle and has become my favorite after. The class that you and your readers have shown on the message boards is amazing and I appreciate the sincerity and well wishing that all of you have shown, unlike some other sites i have vistited. Like you said life is so much more important.
Well done, Greg. I think fans / readers appreciate the fact that you did NOT leave out the personal part.
Thanks as always for a thorough, and especially in this case extremely respectful blog. It's no surprise that you would bring that perspective.
I was in France (of all places considering Charlie's current employer) reading this news before trying to sleep and was devastated. I am very happy to come home to the family a few hours ago.
All the best for Charlie, hope he recovers fully and quickly. Thoughts with all involved, especially the family of the girl who is no longer with us.
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