The Will Daniel Story

I mentioned this Tuesday before the Open Cup match, but I'd like to go into more depth now that I've had a couple of days to get everything together and talk to more of the parties involved. This is truly a remarkable story--one that shows the compassion and kindness of the players on our team and throughout the League. I think that a lot of people forget sometimes amid all the negative headlines attached to professional athletes that these guys are real people. They're good people, and they enjoy helping others. Here's one example:

The month was December, the year was 1997, and UCLA had qualified for the NCAA Final Four in men's soccer. The event that year was held in Richmond, VA, and Ms. Pat Daniel was host of the Final Four party for participating teams. That evening, among all the young soccer players, many of them soon-to-be-professionals, a young man with Down's Syndrome stole the show. His name was Will Daniel.

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"Come out to win," Will Daniel said while wearing a white Jimmy Conrad Kansas City Wizards jersey Tuesday before Kansas City faced the Carolina RailHawks in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match. "I don't expect anything special. I want them to do what they've got to do to show Kansas City soccer."

As apparent by that quote, Will is still stealing the show some 11 years later.

Daniel joined the Wizards at the team hotel Tuesday morning before the Carolina match. He stayed in the lobby throughout the day, visiting with Conrad, fellow "Bruin Buddy" Sasha Victorine (who also played on that UCLA Final Four squad), Head Coach Curt Onalfo and any other Wizard who happened by.

"I've always been impressed with his fearlessness," Conrad said of Daniel. "He doesn't shy away from any situation. He's never uncomfortable with anybody."

Conrad should know. He and Victorine are two of the players from that UCLA team that has stayed in contact with Will throughout the years. When asked about his favorite memory of those guys, Will can't even pick one.

"Sure Will. Santa Anita," Pat Daniel, Will's mother chimed in.

"Oh yeah, Santa Anita," Will remembered.

Will, a Richmond, VA native, then proceeded to tell a story of sneaking into Santa Anita Park with Conrad, fellow Virginia native Brian Carroll and Bobby Boswell when Carroll and Boswell played together at D.C. United. Daniel was actually in his mid 20's at the time, but his short stature allows others to believe he is much younger. Instead of showing ID upon heading into the park, the quartet decided to sneak Daniel in for a little excitement.

"I just ducked under the bar after they went in," Daniel said with a huge smile on his face. "Brian almost busted a gut laughing."

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Daniel is currently a forward (and goalkeeper, but don't tell him I told you that) on the Henrico County Bulldogs Special Olympics Soccer Team. He has played for four years now, and his team has qualified for the state tournament three times. They've captured two gold medals. If Tuesday was any indication, Will gives the pre-game pep talks.

Tuesday, for the second time in two years, Onalfo allowed Will to give a pre-game pep talk to the players. Will stood there in front of 18 players with the poise of Barack Obama or John McCain.

"First, I'd like to wish Jimmy and his wife Lyndsey a happy anniversary."

The players all clapped and cheered, as Conrad smiled and waved a polite thank-you wave.

Daniel then proceeded to tell the Wizards exactly what he expected of them. He expected them to win. He expected them to dominate. He expected them to slow down Carolina's Matthew Watson (who Will had seen play several times), and he expected them to put on a performance that scared FC Dallas so much that they'd want to forfeit Friday's game. It was a great speech.

"He's a special kid. Just special," Onalfo said almost to himself as Will gave high-fives to the players.

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For their part, Pat Daniel is very appreciative of the things the members of that 1997 Bruins team and other soccer players have done for her son.

"They have been wonderful over the years. They have included him in activities and always shown him that they are glad to see him," Daniel said. "They make him feel welcome anytime he shows up for a game. That's been true of a number of players over the years."

Pat is also impressed by the duration of the friendship.

"Jimmy, Sasha and a few of the other UCLA players have stuck with him for 11 years," she said. "For a professional player to do so speaks a lot to the integrity and compassion on the part of these players. The other soccer players he's met along the way have also responded to him."

As if part of a script, Jack Jewsbury--not a 1997 UCLA player--walked by and waved as he went to board the bus, "see ya Will."

"It has enriched his life considerably the experiences these players and coaches have offered."

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Will rode the bus to WakeMed Park with the team, sitting in the back next to Conrad. He exited the bus and sat in the front row for the match, giving the players high-fives whenever they left the pitch through the mid-field tunnel. This is something Will Daniel, now 27-years-old, will experience again if Conrad has anything to say about it.

"Will's family now--and a welcome addition," Conrad said. "His nickname is the Mayor because he can work a room like nobody's business. No matter who he speaks to, they always leave the conversation with a smile. I'm a better person because Will is in my life.

Aren't we all, Jimmy.