In the NBA, the Washington Wizards recently swept a much higher ranked Toronto Raptors in the playoffs. Before the series started, future Hall-of-Famer and current Washington Wizard Paul Pierce was quoted saying that Toronto didn’t have “it”, the utterly indefinable something that is highly sought but seldom found. For this reason he was convinced Washington would beat Toronto, and he was right.
In MLS there is one player who absolutely has “it”: Charlie Davies of the New England Revolution. It is for this and many other reasons that Davies should be considered the face of the MLS. He is incredibly talented and scores wonder goals. He plays with intense passion, is the consummate teammate and plays with a 1,000 megawatt smile on his face at all times. He exudes an irrepressible joy and infects his teammates with this same passion. It is the reason every goal the Revs score has a dance associated with it, the reason they are never out of a game and why the Revs are looking to get back to the MLS cup again this year.
We will not go into detail about Davies’ back-story, but essentially on October 13, 2009, Davies was involved in a serious car crash on the George Washington Parkway which killed a fellow passenger and left Davies with severe injuries that kept him out of the 2010 World Cup, and effectively ended his international career. Prior to the accident Davies had been playing for Hammarby in Sweden. While there he had scored an impressive 21 goals in 56 games. His prowess drew attention from the US Men’s National Teams and his success with the USMNT brought him a contract with French Ligue 1 club Sochaux. Five months into the new stint he had his accident. From his previous high he plummeted quickly. In the following four years, he was loaned to DC United, and then shipped to Danish Side Randers FC where we rarely saw the field. Randers eventually loaned him to the New England Revolution and finally, after the termination of his Rander’s contract, Davies was signed on a permanent deal by the Revolution last year.
A player who has this erratic history, titanium rods in his right leg that leaves it tilted slightly outward and one inch shorter than his left, and scars on his head that will last as a permanent memento of that horrible night would have a right to be down, to be glum, to spend his future contemplating the “what if’s”. But not Charlie Davies. In fact he looks like the happiest player on the field.
Davies is for all intents and purposes the captain of the New England Revolution. Technically the armband belongs to Jose Goncalves, but Davies is the team’s soul. Davies is the one who will chase down any ball or make a 50 yard run, just in case. Davies is the one that will pass first, shoot second, be the first to congratulate a fellow player on a goal, and be the leader of the team-choreographed celebration when he scores. And his celebrations aren’t too shabby either.
First it was the stanky leg. Then there’s this. Or how about the Pop N’ Lock ?
And most recently a beautiful snap down header goal and a wonderful team celebration.
Davies had been both a starter and super-sub coming off the bench last season, but became lightning in a bottle come playoff time. He scored two goals against the Crew and then another 2 goals against the Red Bulls to advance the team to the 2014 MLS Cup Final. While he did not score in the final game, he has brought his exuberance forward to this season. Some were worried that when Juan Agudelo rejoined the team, it would come at the sacrifice of Davies’ playing time or even that Davies might be resentful of the new addition. Not so. He has scored in back to back games and is not only a pest to the opposing teams’ defense, but possesses the unique ability as a striker to find the perfect pass or make a run to allow a teammate to get open.
Davies unites this team. Lee Nguyen may get more notoriety, Agudelo has a larger repertoire of moves and outward confidence, and Jermaine Jones is the big name. But Davies is the glue, the strong adhesive that keeps the team unified and committed to winning. The Revolution are an impressive team to watch. It’s a team which looks like they are having genuine fun. Davies is only 28 and likely has 3-4 years left in his prime. The team around him is incredibly young; the 3rd youngest in the league but one that has has great leadership. Jones, Goncalves, Nguyen and Davies are the veteran nucleus and Davies is not only a great leader but the main cheerleader as well. His enthusiasm is infectious, which is sorely needed not just on the Revolution, but in this league.
MLS has a bevy of talent and international players that bring prestige and recognition. Kaka and David Villa are superstars and have proved themselves at every level. Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Robbie Keane are consummate goal scorers and game-changers. But it is Charlie Davies who should be the face of MLS because not only is he incredibly talented, but he compels you to watch. He plays with intensity, is the teammate that raises the play of others, and has a smile on his face at all times.
His childlike joy on the field may be due to his amazement that he is getting another shot to prove himself. It may be that he is grateful to be on a team that understands his worth and gives him the opportunity to pursue glory again. But few players in the MLS so outwardly exhibit the excitement they have for the game. No one deserves to be recognized more for bringing fans’ fascination back than Charlie Davies.
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