Compelling Soccer

Charlie Davies.

The talented speedy striker had taken the US soccer world by storm after his marvelous Confederations Cup. In mere months he had gone from untested substitute/reserve to a guy who had all but locked down his spot on the 2010 World Cup roster. It was meteoric rise unlike any that I can remember, at least in the soccer world. Such things are usually reserved for workout wonders at the NFL draft; not players on the International soccer stage.

Then in an instant, the rise became a crash.

When I saw that Davies was seriously injured in a car crash yesterday, it hit me like a punch to the gut. I love young guys with potential and/or speed and always think the world of them. Davies had both. The world was supposed to be his oyster and now, that is very much in doubt.

As a result, I was constantly checking sites for updates; even Twitter. (I saw the now heavily quoted Freddy Adu tweet right after it occurred) Surprisingly, Charlie Davies was one of the top trending topics throughout most of the afternoon and early evening. Such a thing is a rarity for a US soccer player; it's not as if Davies is one of the top 100 known athletes in the US.

But perhaps that's because of the uniqueness of what Davies was. He represented a first; a striker who could use his own abilities to create. Well perhaps that isn't a first; Jozy Altidore certainly has the capability to. But unlike Altidore, Davies already had started doing it routinely against international competition. It was something unlike anything I had seen from a US striker before. The Landon Donovan counter attack goal against Brazil in Confederations Cup final was all about how quickly he and Davies could move up the field while delivering on the mark passes to set up a teammate. Altidore probably has the best upside combination of any striker on the US national team but Davies was the best one at this time.

He also had a swagger about him that was rarely seen from US soccer players, perhaps matched only by Clint Dempsey's flare. He had a confidence; it was as if when he scored, he expected to. That was clear when he put the US up early at Azteca and he started his Stanky Leg celebration. Those were the actions of a player who intended to put one in the net and put on a show when he did. As a fan, it's always enjoyable to see a player exude confidence and proceed to back things up. It's a sign the guy is better than everyone else. In US soccer that just doesn't happen.

That's part of why it does feel like a great loss. The US finally gets a player of that level at striker and now in a flash, his star might be extinguished. It almost seems unfair.

Most probably already know the injuries by now; broken femur, tibia, elbow, facial fractures and a lacerated bladder. The extent of the injuries should tell you how lucky he is to be alive today, but also let you know it will be a long time before he returns to the field. The US soccer federation put it at 6-12 months, which likely means Davies will miss the World Cup. It's a tremendous blow to the US team, but more importantly, I shudder to think how Davies will feel about it all. Athletes will remember missed opportunities to score; missing out on arguably the world's greatest sports tournament is taking things to a whole other level.

The US will miss him. Their options to pair with Altidore up top are untested and questionable at best. But replacing him is a story for another day; one that likely will be the number one question for the team over the next year leading up to South Africa.

Instead I think of the future. A player that exciting should have been primed for big things. It was not unreasonable to think Davies had a bright future; to become one of the best Americans ever to play in Europe. But now the bright future is clouded. When I think about what we'll say in 2013 and hear the name Charlie Davies, I can think of two scenarios.

In one he's playing at a top flight European side. Maybe it's not in England or Spain, but he's thriving somewhere. And when he's called in for the US national team, commentators are always quick to point out; "Charlie Davies; what a great story. He was in a horrific fatal car crash just after the US qualified for the 2010 World Cup where he fractured multiple bones in his leg. Things like that can end a career. But he worked his way back and is now on the verge of finally seeing his World Cup dreams come true. You can't help but admire what it must have taken him to get his game back to a world class level after something that tragic."

In another, he's in MLS. He's fighting for a spot for the US national squad, but is a fringe player at best unfortunately. The commentators point out: "Charlie Davies; it's really a tragic story. He was in a horrific fatal car crash just after the US qualified for the 2010 World Cup where he fractured multiple bones in his leg. Things like that can end a career. He's managed to work his way back, but he hasn't been able to find the same explosiveness he had before the accident."

The color guy then reflects how incredible Davies was in 2009, describing the pace and energy he brought to the table. In the end, he no doubt mentions the phrase "what might have been".

Players have and will suffer through catastrophic leg injuries. Djibril Cisse had his tibia and fibula broken so badly while playing for Liverpool, he credits the training staff with saving his leg from being amputated below the knee. Cisse was back playing within the year, incredibly, and continues his career now. However when you have a guy like Davies, whose game is so built on speed, then you really have to wonder what the future holds.

But the obligatory qualification for this is that at least he lived. Given that one person in that SUV was not as fortunate, it's less a qualification and just simple facts.

We don't know how Charlie Davies playing career will end up. He could return to glory, or he may never be the same. The reality is because we get to find out, either outcome is nothing more than a bonus.