April 1, 2009 was one of the best days of my life. That was when I got to see the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team play a World Cup Qualifier at LP Field! I was there with about 28,000 other soccer fans, which was a record for the most people ever attending a soccer game in Tennessee.
The weather was perfect and the U.S. team played an awesome game against Trinidad & Tobago. Jozy Altidore, who is only 19, scored a hat trick, and my favorite player on the planet, Landon Donovan, unselfishly provided all three assists.
We had great seats and I saw every shot and pass – from beginning to end – but one person, who had an even better view of the action, was a friend of my parents. Harry Simpson is an award-winning photographer and he was selected to take photos of the game by the U.S. team. He was even invited to their super-secret practice at a Nashville-area college – a day or so before the big game.
He got some amazing photos of individual players and the team. You can take a look at them – and, even buy one by going to his web site.
I’ll be 12 next month and I’ve already asked my parents to buy me a couple of shots of Landon Donovan, for my birthday. My mom said she would frame them and let me hang them in my room.
If you got to see this once-in-a-lifetime game – either on TV or in person – you might want to add one of these awesome photos to your birthday (or Christmas) list, too.
