Last week, we showed you a White House petition requesting the day of the U.S.-Germany World Cup game be a national holiday. It did not work.
Well, U.S. soccer fans are at it again. A petition to change the name of Washington National Airport (DCA) to Tim Howard National Airport was created Tuesday evening.
Before going any further, it should be made clear the airport, which opened in 1941, has not been known as Washington National Airport since 1998 when it was renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The petition's creator, identified as "S.O." from an anonymous residence, obviously has limited regard for the 40th president of the United States. He does, however, exhibit a point in his reasoning for a Tim Howard-related Washington D.C. landmark. There is one paragraph of text in the petition:
"Whereas Tim Howard has shown himself to be a national treasure, Minister of Defense, Friend of Joe Biden, and the holder for the record of most saves in a World Cup match; Therefore, we politely request that we rename the airport to recognize his accomplishments, and meritorious service to the United States of America."
On Tuesday evening in Salvador, Brazil, Howard had 16 saves in the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Belgium. The 16 saves were the most in a World Cup game in the past half-century. In a game the United States allowed 18 shots on goal and still managed to be alive until the bitter end, Howard was the difference maker.
Howard has played every minute of the USMNT's eight games at the past two World Cups. The 35-year-old, who 342 combined career appearances for English clubs Manchester United and Everton, may very well have played his final World Cup match Tuesday.
After the game, Howard expressed considerable emotion, and when asked about being under constant siege, he responded, "That's my job. That's what I signed up to do."
He did that job very well. Since the U.S. Team could not muster up the offense to give Howard's performance its due, this country should repay him. Would naming an airport in the nation's capital after him be too much?
The petition had more than 330 signatures at 11 p.m. ET Tuesday. Its listed goal is 100,000 signatures by July 31.
Update, 10:55 a.m. ET : At 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, ThePostGame (@Post_Game) received a tweet revealing the identity of S.O.:
@Post_Game thanks for the post on my petition to rename DCA after @TimHowardGK ! Appreciate the kind words!
— steveolson (@steveolson) July 2, 2014
