By now we’ve all seen the New York Times’ (in?)famous — I’m not sure which variation of the word to use here, to be honest — pre-2002 World Cup photoshoot featuring the World Cup-bound U.S. national team.
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I’m talking about this one (if you’ve somehow never seen it, click that link). Yes, it’s been 13 years since those brave men partook in perhaps the most memorable — for all the wrong reasons — and seductive photoshoot in American soccer history, but we’re all still a bit scarred by the looks in the eyes of Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Pablo Mastroeni, Clint Mathis and…well, just about every other member of that legendary team.
DaMarcus Beasley, then-19 years old, was a member of that team. His contribution to that particular series of photos was this photo. While that day will never cease to haunt Beasley and his former teammates, much of the world has since forgotten.
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Except, of course, Beasley’s Houston Dynamo teammates. On Thursday, some jokester in the Dynamo locker room decided it was time to celebrate “Throwback Thursday,” a popular trend on Twitter (#TBT), with a trip down memory lane. This was done in the form of t-shirts, worn by every member of the team, with Beasley striking his now-trademark relaxed pose.I have to say this was the best prank Ive ever seen! Im still dying laughing.. Easily my fav t-shirt now! @trickybeas pic.twitter.com/ymNffjZiTZ
— DaMarcus Beasley (@DaMarcusBeasley) May 14, 2015
Look, we’ve all kicked back in our favorite comfy chair and done “the DaMarcus” before. If you’re staring at the screen and saying to yourself, “I haven’t,” you’re a liar. It’s more comfortable than should be legal.
The difference: when you, or me, or your friends do it, we’re not wearing a $530 (in 2002) v-neck shirt that nearly touches our navel, or a a diamond-encrusted chain with our jersey number sitting front and center, while staring seductively into a camera lens for a photoshoot at one of the country’s biggest publications.
DaMarcus was young, DaMarcus made a mistake — they all made mistakes — but he must have done something right, because we’re still talking about it 13 years later. Well played, Dynamo prankster, and thanks for the trip down memory lane.