http://www.concacaf.com/news/article.page/1250 What a sad story. I for one had not known of this incident and his subsequent paralysis. Please say a prayer for Marvin Lee and his family. I did a little research and came up with this: http://www.socawarriors.net/u-17_u-20.htm "21-Mar-2002 - In the videotape of his last football game, on March 20, 2001, Marvin Lee is big and pretty. He's over six foot two, 225lb of sinew and strength. He's wearing our national colours and captaining the Under-20 team against the US in a FIFA World Youth Football Championships qualifier at the Centre of Excellence. It is four minutes into the game. When he goes up to ram into Landon Donovan, a US player challenging him for the ball, the impact of his head on Donovan's looks negligible. They both fall to the ground. Donovan gets up. Lee doesn't."
A nice piece on Marvin Lee, updated today: http://www.tranquillity.edu.tt/marvin.html The game report from mlsnet.com: http://www.mlsnet.com/content/01/usa0320u20s.html It includes this ominous quote: "The match was a physical one that saw the teams combine for 30 fouls, as well numerous other collisions and rough challenges that went uncalled. The game's scariest moment occurred in the fifth minute when Landon Donovan was floored going for a loose ball by T & T defender Marvin Lee. Lee and Donovan instantly hit the deck. Both were carried off the field, although Donovan would return shortly thereafter, holding his ribs. Lee was carried off the field, fitted with a neck brace and taken from the stadium in an ambulance."
Wow, that's so sad. It's really important to remember how lucky we are to simply be alive. And to honor those who fought hard, but lost the battle for that privilege.
I distinctly recall watching this game on Fox Sports World tape delayed, but I don't remember the incident at all. DaMarcus Beasley ate everyone up and Oguchi Onyewu looked like a man among boys. I remember that part well because I haven't seen Onyewu play since, though he's mentioned in a lot as a Yank Abroad playing professionally in Germany or France. I have no idea what the collision was like, but judging from their vast difference in size, Donovan is fortunate that he was not the one who got injured.
Donovan cracked a rib in the collision. I bet he thinks about that play all the time. Could have been him instead of Marvin......
The T&T program has been snakebit in the last few years; after reading the article on the CONCACAF site, the passing of Lee follows after the deaths of Mickey Trotman and Rolston James since 2001. Condolences to Marvin Lee and his family, obviously, but condolences also to Lee's extended family, friends, and his family within the T&T F.A. as well.
Here are some photos Scott Bales took of Marvin before and during USA/T&T's final qualifier. This is truly tragic news.
wow, how sad... my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. geeze, just too young to die.
I just fired off an e-mail to USSoccer.com, I hope they will recognize this kid as a brave hero and a true athlete. I hope others will do the same, it would be nice to see a mention of Marvin on the website, after all, his death was a result of an international against our side. I encourage others to do the same. The Contact info is at the bottom of the USSoccer.com page.
this is so so very sad indeed, something that doesn't usualy happen in soccer , my condolences to his family, teammates and friends, and to Donovan as well, i can imagine how he must be feeling right now