A Look Back at Some of 2011's Most Heartwarming Moments

With 2011 coming to a close,  I figured it might be a good time to revisit the year that was (I know, quite original).  But for the sake of keeping with the whole "holiday cheer" thing, this post will solely focus on the most heartwarming moments of the past 12 months (with another non-traditional review post coming in the next day or two a la this USSD favorite from 2010).

Before I begin, let me say that it's very likely I missed something in putting this together, so feel free to add to the discussion either in the comments section or on Twitter.  With that being said, let's jump right in.

Japan's World Cup Triumph

Even though it came at the expense of the USWNT (who, by the way, made us feel all warm and fuzzy as well with their ball-don't-lie, there-is-justice-in-the-universe, never-say-die win over Brazil), it was hard not to feel good about Japan's Women's World Cup title. Their tournament triumph was truly a special sporting moment not without its fair share of drama, stellar play, and subplots. While it's hard for an outsider like myself to pinpoint what exactly it meant to the people of Japan, I feel safe in saying that it certainly brought joy and pride (and perhaps most importantly, renewed attention) to a country that was still reeling from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

It was a remarkable run in the face of much adversity, providing a moment that everyone could feel good about on a human level.


Rongen's Pacific Glory

USSD made it a point to get ahead of the curve and stay on top of things when it came to Thomas Rongen's journey to the South Pacific to coach the American Samoa national team. And the boys from Pago Pago certainly did not disappoint.

While Rongen and company ultimately fell short of the big prize- a spot in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, which also served as the next round of World Cup qualifying- they won many fans, and, as I said then, for one night we were all reminded that sometimes soccer's best stories don't happen in multi-million dollar stadiums with global superstars on the field, but rather off the grid in front of just a couple dozen fans.



American Samoa's historic win over Tonga was their first ever, with their subsequent tie against Cook Islands producing their first ever unbeaten streak; these results allowed them to move away from the foot of the FIFA rankings, and brought an unmistakable sense of pride and happiness to the players who had suffered through so many lopsided losses in years prior. Rongen is now something of a hero, and American Samoans footy fans were given a moment that they'll never forget.


The Jay DeMerit Story

Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story was a story of one athlete's determination to chase and achieve his dream against the odds, and it has inspired many in the months since its release. But perhaps just as inspiring is the story of the men behind the film, led by Nick Lewis and Ranko Tutulugdzija, who managed to produce their documentary with plenty of dedication and effort to make up for a modest budget. Just like Jay, they chased a dream knowing full well the challenges that laid in front of them. But they never shied away from those obstacles, instead tackling them head on with creativity and persistence.

That budget itself is also another heartwarming element of this story, as soccer fans from the US and abroad came together to help fund this project. The galvanization of the soccer community was quite special to see, and the final product surely did not disappoint those who supported the cause.

To give a Hollywood ending to the movie that already has its own Hollywood ending, Rise and Shine was picked up by movie theaters across the US, as well as in the UK. A couple of guys set out with a lofty goal in mind and went after it, and it gave us one of the more heartwarming stories of 2011, both on the screen and off.


CD9's Return

For a moment, put aside the discussion of Charlie Davies' MLS season or his future. Instead, think back to that March night when he made his first appearance in 18 months, stepping back onto the playing field after nearly losing his life. Words aren't necessary to express just how incredible a moment that was for Charlie and for all those watching.

Add in the fact that he managed to score twice in his return, and it made for a pretty unbelievable script. Davies' post-game interview communicates best the mixture of emotions that came on that memorable evening at RFK:



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As I said, if I missed something, feel free to chime in.

And here's hoping that 2012 brings the soccer community some more magical moments.