I Have a Dream. And Thierry Henry is Living It.

Considering the fact that much of the world is going to be focused this coming weekend on the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his accomplishments toward bringing about progress in the area of civil rights, I believe it is quite fitting to spend at least some time dwelling on the concept of dreams. Of course, Dr. King is most remembered for his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. I am here to say that I, too, have a dream. And Thierry Henry is living it.
When you think of dreams, there’s a strong possibility you think of children. It can be realistically assumed that most young men, if not all, dream of growing up to become footballers, of achieving glory on the pitch and being immortalized by an improbable goal that made all the difference between victory and defeat. Whether an acrobatic bicycle kick or a penalty shot, the desired goal will long be discussed in hushed tones over a frothy Guinness in pubs for decades to come. The rare few people fortunate enough to witness the goal will have and maintain a pseudo-celebrity status themselves as having actually been there in the right place at the right time. The people who weren’t there will nevertheless contribute whatever they can to the existing storyline by embellishing it with details bordering on that of Hercules’ feats in mythology. The goal will be told in narrative format in the context of oral history, passed down from one generation to the next.
And yet, there is an altogether different type of dream, one which I know all too well: that of the older man, the veteran and living legend, who fantasizes of ultimately going back to his old team and upon his unexpected return, giving them the supreme edge they need to overcome the odds. Thierry Henry is currently living that dream. And I am not ashamed to admit that I am currently living vicariously through him.
For those that have been keeping up with the English Premier League, it has been an exciting season, one that is not yet finished. Arsenal fans may be somewhat prematurely on the very precipice of abandoning all hope, but there’s at least one high quality rationale to justify watching: namely, Thierry Henry. The 34-year-old ex-Arsenal Captain has returned, and he has done so with a vengeance only an battle-scarred old veteran can. He has not returned from the dead; however, what he has already accomplished could be considered better than a return from The Great Beyond—he has returned from the United States, a place where football dreams all too often go to die. Considering the simple fact he’s only on loan for a brief period of time from the MLS’s New York Red Bulls, it’s the next best thing. In fact, I’ll bet Walt Disney Pictures is already optioning rights to the screenplay, but I guess that will depend on how well the Gunners fare for the rest of the season.
Granted, the Arsenal is still one of the most storied football clubs in history, and for that reason, the team’s reputation is constantly on the line. Like Rodney Dangerfield, Arsenal just can’t get no respect. And that’s too bad, because the team certainly deserves it. Especially if you travel abroad, you are going to encounter countless individuals that identify themselves as being fans of Manchester United—but don’t expect them to know much about the Gunners, one of Man U’s most historical and ardent foes.
Manchester United is considered to be the most popular football club in the world, just as David Beckham is quite nearly as recognizable a footballer and celebrity as Michael Jordan or Tom Cruise. On any given day, the three most recognizable personalities in the world are Mickey Mouse, Santa Claus, and Becks, not necessarily in that order. Sad, but true…But don’t even get me started on ol’ Becks.
Professional athletes are quite often their very own worst enemy. The more successful any given athlete is, the more likely he or she is to ruin their reputation with their lifestyle. Football players are hardly the exception to this unfortunate rule. Thierry Henry is the exception, a living legend turned modern standard by which all others invariably compare themselves.
I’m nearly certain that Thierry doesn’t expect to stay with the Gunners any longer than that time frame in which he is needed, at which point he’ll be back with the Red Bulls. While he is with the Arsenal, back where he belongs, Thierry is going to make sure he doesn’t disappoint. He is playing as if every game is personal. He’s not taking anything for granted. And he’s exceeding the expectations.
Henry has provided fans with reason to believe again. Reason to believe in miracles, reason to believe that superheroes exist in the real world. For those lucky viewers who saw him score his highly-publicized goal against
Thierry’s attitude is understandable. He’s recognized by many (including his peers) as being a living legend. Perhaps most difficult to believe is that he’s 34 years old, and it’s highly likely he’s beginning to feel the aches and pains of early middle age for the first time. Nevertheless, either because of his age or perhaps in spite of it, Thierry is training and playing like something far younger.
Before Arsenal even steps out onto the pitch, Thierry will be doing his part, making a genuine contribution to a squad that can always use the boost. Whether in the locker room or warming up on the sidelines, Thierry inspires others, bringing out their very best, and even if he finds himself on the side-lines, he deserves some measure of credit for a victory.
Thierry’s return to the Gunners has been described in terms that make the whole situation seem almost surreal. Naturally, it has been described by some as a “dream,” by others as a “dream come true,” but that dream could very soon be ruined with a single bad performance on Thierry’s part if too much pressure is placed on him to perform a miracle. Thierry scored against Leeds on only his seventh touch. The chances of a similar performance taking place this coming Sunday are akin to lightning striking twice in the same place. Sure it’s theoretically possible, but it’s still somewhat unlikely.
Within the realm of professional athletics, one’s skill is typically elevated to the highest possible status, given priority over other characteristics. In Thierry’s case, he has the skill and the confidence, not to mention the drive to prove his skills time and time again, even when he doesn’t really need to.
Unlike many of his younger peers, Thierry’s confidence is tempered with something else: humility. He doesn’t walk around with a cocky swagger, and he doesn’t talk trash. He demonstrates through both his thoughts and actions that he wants to win, and in that, he shares something in common with his countless fans. Nevertheless, he has already humbly articulated his warning to fans not to place the destiny of the team upon his shoulders. He said that he’s not going to be able to score in every single game, but he never intimated his belief that he couldn’t, or wouldn’t. Lord knows he’s going to still try, and with his skills, I think he just might live up to the hype.
Arsenal has been around now for a veritable eternity. Having been established way back in 1886, the competition is as stiff as ever and the criticism as loaded with vitriol as at any other specific point in history. If one can set aside memories of the past and the accompanying nostalgia, one might be pleasantly surprised to observe that there are still good things happening today.
Arsenal fans may have reason to be concerned with the upcoming game against Swansea. But if Thierry Henry’s work ethic and motivation have anything to do with it, I’d say we fans have serious reason to be confident. Then again, we still don’t know for a fact whether Thierry will even start, and that’s just too bad. Because this weekend, I will continue to dream…And like Thierry Henry, I’m just not ready to wake up. Not yet.