U.S. striker Charlie Davies ... Godspeed to his recovery

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I received some hate mail after writing a piece on ESPN Soccernet. Some readers (and commenters) felt that I had somehow slighted Charlie Davies, the U.S. striker who was so badly injured in a car wreck last October.

The article was essentially about the poor choices U.S manager Bob Bradley has at hand currently at striker. The United States needs to take three or four frontrunners to South Africa. Right now, past Jozy Altidore, the depth is fairly threadbare. There are lots of choices who are fine for friendlies and perhaps for taking on lower-level CONCACAF opponents. But for soccer’s highest level (i.e. this summer’s World Cup) the choices aren’t appealing.

Within that piece I mentioned Davies twice. Here’s the lead to last week's ESPN Soccernet piece:

With apologies to poor Charlie Davies for his injury hardship, it's a dandy time to be a U.S. striker. It's a moment that's plump with opportunity for a bundle of fringe forwards who continue to hang around the front porch of the national team house but are still unable to kick in the door and truly join the party.

Later, explaining the premise, I essentially said that no one should believe Davies remains an option. Here’s what I said:

Who could make U.S. fans feel a little better about Davies' absence? (All luck to Davies -- but doesn't everybody shake their head a bit and file it under "wishful thinking" that he could truly regain enough fitness and form to make a South African splash? There wouldn't be a more shocking comeback this year short of Friendster's returning to most-favored status.)

So, what do The Fix readers think? Was that insensitive? Perhaps so.  Read on for my thought process:

Here’s the thing: I really hope I’m wrong. I hope Charlie Davies recovers and I hope this June that I am writing a heroic tale of miraculous recovery, about how desire, spirit and will can overcome the most overwhelming of medical hardships.

I can also understand how Davies is using the World Cup as a carrot on a stick, motivation himself through the brutal moments of recovery with visions of World Cup delight. I have no problem with that – and I wish the man Godspeed in his efforts. Truly.

But I’m paid to take in information, filter it best as possible through sourced material, background information, research and good, old fashioned common sense.

Here’s what Davies has working against him.

1. Davies’ injuries were significant: a broken right femur and tibia, a broken left elbow, facial fractures and a lacerated bladder.  Doctors initially estimated a 12-month recovery, and not an easy one at that. Cut that time in half, and it still puts him back on the field around mid-May. That’s by cutting it in half.

2. We’re not just talking about recovery as a physical concept. There is all manner of emotional undertow to deal with. First, there were people in the car that night with Davies who are no longer alive. I can’t imagine what the man must be dealing with in that regard. From a mental standpoint regarding his body, any athlete returning from a serious injury will tell you that being physically capable is one thing; re-gaining the confidence to maneuver at full speed on the field is something else. A professional athlete must be 100 percent confident, able to twist and turn, push and shove, cut and stop, drive powerfully around defenders, step into tough challenges, etc.  It’s just not possible to be 100 percent effective until every trace of doubt is gone – and that’s a tough ask over such a short stretch.

3. We’re not just talking about getting back into shape. Nor are we talking about getting back into club soccer form. He’s got to get back into top form as a goal-getter. He’s got to be performing to the tip-top of his ability. That’s the only way it works at a World Cup. Bradley can’t bequeath Davies a place just because it’s a good story. (Nor would Davies want one, I’d imagine.) Everybody on that roster simply must be able to make a contribution.

Again, if Davies is on the field on June 12 when the United States meets England, I’ll applaud the man in a figurative sense and certainly in print. Past that there’s no ill will when I say it, but: I’ll believe it when I see it.