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If you were in the building to see Atlanta United defeat the Portland Timbers and bring Atlanta its first major sports championship since the Atlanta Braves in 1995, then you know just how special that night was. Now, thanks to a just-released mini-documentary by Major League Soccer, you can revisit those feels:
Josef Martinez will make you laugh. Michael Parkhurst will make you cry. You won’t want to miss these two, plus Brad Guzan and Julian Gressel share what they were feeling on the pitch during the game’s most important moments.
It makes me think: What’s your enduring memory from that night? Was it a moment in the game, or the instant the referee blew the final whistle? Was it something someone said?
I’ll start. I understand I’m extremely fortunate that I have access to the team that not many do, but my enduring moment was getting to say goodbye to Tata. It was something I’d wanted to do but assumed I wouldn’t get the chance considering the vast amount of media on hand for the game. I texted Justin “The Translator” Velduis the morning of the final to give Tata a message from me.
Well after the game, after the interviews had finished and the reports were filed, I was down on the field just taking in the empty stadium and watching said translator do snow Angels in the confetti. Minutes later, Tata appeared, and I was fortunate enough to give him a little hug and wish him well. That was the last time I saw him in person.
Now your turn while I go grab a tissue.