I went to see UCLA play Indiana when he was in college. By the time we made it to campus I had to pee like nobody's business. The downstairs part of Pauly was open, so I went in looking for a bathroom. I opened a door and it was Sigi & the team, very seriously having their pregame talk. I was desperate, so I said "is there a bathroom around here?" Frankie, in his total "hey, brah" demeanor goes "sorry, brah, there aren't any bathrooms down here." With a look on his face like "yeah, it sucks." I'm sure there are bathrooms down there somewhere, but he was so funny - so lighthearted in the midst of me breaking into Sigi's very serious talk, it was pretty cool. (I ended up finding a dark spot along the side of Pauly and going there - much more hallowed ground than anything Donovan peed on in Mex.)
For some classic Hejduk check out this great interview he gave a few years back: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=717916
Great interview....A few highlights for me with Frankie discussing his then 10 year old son Nesta [presumably now 14]: "...When he comes, I want him around all the time. That's why you see him at training all the time. The guys treat him so great. It's tough to have kids around the locker room all the time, but the guys understand. They dump him in the ice buckets and things like that. Today, we cut his hair. Danny O'Rourke cut it into a complete mullet. Nesta thought he was cool...." "...He's totally into soccer -- 100 percent. He just made his first travel team. He runs exactly like me. He'll go all day long. He still needs some work on his touch, just like his old man. I try to coach him, but he won't let me say a word to him. I'll tell him, "Nesta, I've played professionally for a while now." But he won't listen to me. He'll listen to Danny or Duncan (Oughton), but not me...." loved this. Echo all the great stuff said above about Hejduk. I remember him tearing up the flanks in 98 France and wondering who this guy was....
During the 2002 Gold Cup Final at the Rose Bowl, I happened to park my pickup next to his and Eddie Lewis' families, and we shared food and drink. I recall being surprised at how soon after the final whistle Frankie and Eddie joined the party. Really nice guys and families. The stature and expectations of US soccer have certainly increased during Hejduk's career, and we have some bona fide stars now, but, in general, I don't think that element of commonality with the fans has changed too much. It was, and remains, one of my favorite parts of being an American soccer fan; most of the guys don't seem that far removed from the people they represent. Frankie Hejduk exemplified that.
Don't know if he'll make it to the Hall of Fame, but I can't imagine that there isn't a place there for him just on the basis of his EPIC!!!!!ness.
Guilty as heck as of underrating him and wondering wth he was doing on the field as a starter.... But the dude's passion, heart, speed...heck even some of his crosses make one realize that he gave something to the team that probably made it better than a team w/o him on the field..... Have a nice post-playing life/career ...duude.....
It wasn't just us fans who liked him. I remember the handshakes ahead of the US-Germany match in the 2002 WC match. All the German players had their gamefaces on. But when they got to Frankie several of them broke into a smile and gave him a soul shake or hug. And then after the game I remember Rudi Voeller talking to Reyna and Frankie. With Reyna, he spent some time consoling him. But with Frankie he was smiling and seemingly chatting about old times. Frankie seemed to always bring a smile out of people.
Yeah, awesome guy. Wonder if he'll have a career commenting games and such. Would love to have a beer with him.
Imagine him commentating alongside Ray Hudson. I'd pay good money to hear that. Tip of the hat to Frankie. Some great memories captured in the 2002 My Way video. Telling Donovan to come out in aerial challenges against Portugal "elbows up." Bouncing with anticipation (and caffeine) to the National Anthem pre game. Sinatra's "My Way" seems particularly appropriate for Frankie. One-of-a-kind.
I met him once in JFK coming back from WC06. He was cordial but you could tell he was gutted that he couldn't play. I still maintain that the US doesn't go home in 32nd with Frankie in that locker room. They may not have advanced but they would not have gone home a mess.
Agreed he played with the desire to win and gave it his all every time he stepped on the pitch. Hopefully he goes into coaching as an assistant somewhere, you can never have too much of that kind of positive energy around a club.
Enjoy your "retirement", Frankie. You were one amazing player. I remember being in Munich in Spring 1999 and you were all over the TV (he played for Bayer Leverkusen). I didn't understand much of what was said, but I was really proud of you. You always left everything on the field. No one better represented what the shirt means than you. All the best in your future endeavors.
Forgive me, I know this isn't a USMNT clip, but it's still one of my favorite Frankie moments. That was just too perfect (unless you're a Red Bulls fan.)
It gives me so much pleasure to see the appreciation for Frankie on this thread. I echo the sentiments of respect for Frankie... The guy is a USA soccer legend. He played with a ferocity and courage that, personally, I thought raised the game of the players on the pitch with him. I'll never forget him in Korea, totally killing it against Portugal. I would love to see Klinsman bring Frankie into the USA coaching staff in some capacity. Perhaps not technical - but maybe as emotional motivator for the guys. Frankie - one of my favorite USA players of all time. His devotion to the shirt has made him an icon in my book.
I'm hoping that Frankie will have access to be near the bench tonight for the Jamaica game. His cheerleading could really give the team a boost, and after all, it's his stadium...
As Sandon was talking about earlier, my favorite memory was from that Czech match in Gelsenkirchen. I was walking in the stadium and up above me on the concourse was Frankie absoluteley screaming his ass off at our group below. Amazing. AMERICA!! EFF YEAH!!
Hejduk is the man. I love watching players who fight for the flag, and there has never been a player who has fought harder than Frankie Hejduk. He was always game, always full-speed. There has never been another player on the USMNT who ran as hard, tackled as hard, and played with as much joy. He had a memorable tournament in Korea 2002.