11/15/24
June 01, 2010
Joe Gaetjens Scored a Goal in the World Cup, Died as a Political Prisoner of Papa Doc Chevalier: A heartbreaking 10-minute documentary on Joe Gaetjens who scored the single goal in the USA's shocking victory over England at the 1950 World Cup. Gaetjens was a Haitian accounting student at Columbia University who went to Europe shortly after the 1950 World Cup and returned to Haiti a few years later. His story, and the story of the upset victory, was until recently largely unknown in the US (via MetaFilter).
Well done, ESPN, well done.
posted by yzelda4045 at 12:08 AM on June 02, 2010
I almost made it to the end before a spec of dust or something got in my eye ... it made it hard to finish
I was especially moved when the translator told the son how they got into the locked stadium.
posted by Ricardo at 05:23 AM on June 02, 2010
Gaetjens is a hero for sure, but I think you will find that it was Papa Doc Duvalier (not Chevalier)who was the tyrant and villain of the piece.
posted by pbel at 02:31 PM on June 02, 2010
You do admit Maurice Chevalier was an absolute bastard, don't you?
posted by yerfatma at 03:32 PM on June 02, 2010
I have seen Miracle Match or whatever it's called - the one with Gerard Butler - but I didn't know Gaetjens was killed in prison in Haiti. Heartbreaking story. But that guy is a true American Hero.
Great, great piece. You know, ESPN does spew some crap, but these and the 30 for 30 are really, really good documentaries. Some of this is approaching "historical record" type atmosphere. They're interviewing Walter Bahr for god's sake. People who were there. And the images of Haiti today, wrapped around this story - just really compelling work. Well done.