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Frankie Hejduk recalls one of USA vs. Mexico's infamous incidents: The Slap
The moment occurred in an instant, a surprise exclamation mark on yet another Dos A Cero in Columbus. But it wasn’t Michael Bradley’s second goal of the game, a long-range blast in stoppage time that secured yet another 2–0 win for the United States over Mexico on Feb. 11, 2009. Rather, the moment came afterward, in the tunnel at Columbus Crew Stadium (now Mapfre Stadium), hidden from view of all 23,776 in the stands.
The action of the moment was shocking enough–a Mexican assistant coach (Paco Ramirez) slapping a player. But then you add in the recipient of the slap. Frankie Hejduk, the bubbly, perpetually positive defender known for quoting Bob Marley, was now at the center of one of the great flashpoints in a historic, bitter rivalry.
“I'd like for everyone to talk about the soccer and us kicking their butts, but oh well,” Hejduk, now a supreme hypeman and Columbus club ambassador, says some seven years removed. “It was such a weird moment.”
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It was a weird moment that very easily might not have happened–or, at least, happened to somebody else. Hejduk, after all, wasn’t initially meant to be part of the squad. But a series of injuries at the fullback spot meant that manager Bob Bradley was forced to turn to Hejduk after the team’s traditional January camp–a gathering where Hejduk was a regular participant in previous years, but not in 2009. A long MLS season, ending in his Columbus Crew’s win in the MLS Cup final, had taken its toll on the then-35-year-old defender.
So instead of working on fitness with the rest of his team in Los Angeles, Hejduk spent six weeks off doing what he always did with vacation: Surfing three times a day.
“It sounds awesome, but if you've ever tried it, you would know it's one of the hardest sports in the world,” Hejduk said. “That was my secret fitness regime. It was training and fun at the same time.”
When he got the call from Bradley, though, Hejduk didn’t hesitate to put down the surfboard and join up with his teammates.
“I was surprised, but I said, ‘You know my skill, dude. My touch might be off a little bit, but I'm going to give you a lot of heart and a slot of fight and a slot of spirit.’ I think that's kinda what that game needs. That's what that game is all about.”
Hejduk’s fitness, combined with his experience in USA-Mexico games, meant that he found his way into the starting lineup for another tilt against Mexico in his club's stadium. This time, though, the conditions weren’t just cold–they were also damp. Throughout the day in Columbus there was snow, bits of hail, rain, and sleet for good measure in addition to temperatures that hovered in the 30s.
Still, Hejduk and the rest of the U.S. came out for warmups to a stadium that was already packed.
“That was the one where you really, truly felt the vibe of American soccer fans,” Hejduk said. “It was snowing or hailing as we were coming in, and we look out the windows of the bus and we see all the fans, and they don't even care about the weather. They're all having the time of their lives. Right then we kind of clicked and were just like ‘It's here, man. It's here.’”
Hejduk’s inclusion ended up paying big dividends for the U.S. Besides his good defensive cover on the flank, Hejduk also earned the corner that led to Michael Bradley’s opening goal at the end of the first half.
“It was a typical U.S.-Mexico game–not too much flow, and a lot of battle and a lot of fight,” Hejduk said.
For Bradley’s second goal, Hejduk was farther away, providing cover for the USA's narrow 1–0 lead. But his reaction to Bradley’s insurance tally set up the controversy to follow.
“When Michael scored, I jumped up, and it felt like I was jumping out of the stadium. I was looking at the crowd and saying "F--- yeah!" Hejduk recalled. “Little did I know...apparently I was right in front of the Mexico bench. It probably looked to them like I was saying to "f--- off" and apparently that's what their coach thought I was saying.”
GALLERY: USA vs. Mexico rivalry through the years
USA vs. Mexico Soccer
November 11, 2016 – Mexico 2, USA 1
USA and Mexico players watch Rafa Marquez's 89th-minute header find the net in a famous World Cup qualifying win in Columbus for El Tri.
October 10, 2015 – Mexico 3, USA 2 (AET)
Jermaine Jones falls to his knees in disappointment as Mexico celebrates after Paul Aguilar's sensational volley in extra time captured the CONCACAF Cup for El Tri and sends the U.S. rival to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
April 15, 2015 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Stanford University's Jordan Morris marked his first senior national team start with his first international goal, sparking the USA in another 2-0 triumph over Mexico, this one at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
September 10, 2013 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan scored second-half goals to beat El Tri by the same score for the fourth consecutive qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.
March 26, 2013 — USA 0, Mexico 0
Clint Dempsey captained the U.S. to a 0-0 draw at Estadio Azteca, the second time ever the Americans registered a point in World Cup qualifying in Mexico (the other a 1997 tie). Defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler were the stars as Mexico couldn't cash in on several opportunities. The U.S. escaped to remain in second place in CONCACAF qualifying.
August 15, 2012 — USA 1, Mexico 0
It took 25 attempts, but after this friendly, the United States could finally say that it had won at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. Despite being outplayed for most of the match, the U.S. won thanks to an 80th-minute goal from Michael Orozco Fiscal — the first international goal of his career.
August 10, 2011 — USA 1, Mexico 1
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's U.S. debut got off to a rough start, as the Americans trailed Mexico, 1-0 after an uninspired first half in Philadelphia. The U.S. showed more verve after halftime, though, and an impressive display from Brek Shea and a 73rd-minute goal from Robbie Rogers led to a 1-1 draw.
June 25, 2011 — Mexico 4, USA 2
In the Gold Cup final, Mexico captured its second straight title in the battle for CONCACAF bragging rights and secured a berth in the 2013 Confederations Cup. Pablo Barrera scored twice; Giovani Dos Santos and Andres Guardado also had goals. The U.S. was up 2-0 early on Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan goals, but poor defending (partially due to the loss of Steve Cherundolo by injury) doomed the Americans.
August 12, 2009 — Mexico 2, USA 1
The U.S. took its first-ever lead at Azteca Stadium, but went on to lose 2-1 in what was a critical World Cup qualifier for Mexico. The win changed the tide for the then-struggling Mexican squad, as it went on to go 3-0-1 in its next four matches to earn a trip to South Africa. The U.S. still went on to finish first in CONCACAF qualification.
July 26, 2009 — Mexico 5, USA 0
Mexico put an emphatic end to the Americans' 9-0-2 home streak against "El Tri." The Mexicans took the Gold Cup from the two-time defending champion, with five different players scoring goals in the second half at Giants Stadium.
February 11, 2009 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Two goals from Michael Bradley gave the U.S. another home victory over Mexico. It marked the eleventh consecutive time that the Americans had gone unbeaten against Mexico when playing on U.S. soil.
June 24, 2007 — USA 2, Mexico 1
Down 1-0, second-half goals from Landon Donovan and Benny Feilhaber gave the U.S. the victory in the 2007 Gold Cup finals. The win earned the Americans a spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup, where they achieved their famous upset over Spain.
September 3, 2005 — USA 2, Mexico 0
A 2-0 victory over "El Tri" clinched a spot in the 2006 World Cup, with goals coming from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley.
May 8, 2003 — USA 0, Mexico 0
In their first meeting since the 2002 World Cup, an all-MLS squad of Americans played Mexico to a 0-0 draw in front of more than 69,000 people in Houston.
June 17, 2002 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Arguably the biggest win in U.S. soccer team history came against its archrivals at the 2002 World Cup. Brian McBride and Landon Donovan gave the Americans a 2-0 victory in South Korea to send their team to the quarterfinals. It is the furthest stage the team has reached in the World Cup since 1930.
July 1, 2001 — Mexico 1, USA 0
Needing a win to stay in contention for the 2002 World Cup, the Mexicans won 1-0 at Azteca Stadium, making their record 21-0-1 when hosting the Americans.
February 28, 2001 — USA 2, Mexico 0
For the first time ever, the Americans won their third consecutive game against Mexico. The victory came in the World Cup qualifying finals and was held in Columbus, Ohio.
August 1, 1999 — Mexico 1, USA 0
Cuauhtemoc Blanco's goal in extra time eliminated the U.S. in the semifinals of the 1999 Mexico City Confederations Cup. The win capped off a long tradition of Mexican dominance over the American side, a streak that shortly thereafter ended, as the Americans won the next three matches against their rivals.
July 17, 1995 — USA 0, Mexico 0
The USA outlasted Mexico in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals of the 1995 Copa America. After a 0-0 draw, goalkeeper Brad Friedel was the hero in PKs, making two saves. The U.S. made all four of its attempts and advanced.
With the game won, though, Hejduk didn’t pay the Mexico bench any mind.
He took a victory lap around the field with Brian Ching. He pumped his fists and yelled at the top his lungs toward the American supporters, and threw his shirt into the crowd.
Then he headed down the tunnel.
“This guy quickly steps in front of my my face, I thought maybe it was one of our own people. And he just gave me a quick little slap. I thought it was hilarious,” Hejduk said.
Then pandemonium broke out. Hejduk made his way out of the fracas as coaches, players, staff and security converged in a brief, heated confrontation. The slap may have seemed minor–and in and of itself, it was. But Hejduk said it’s the only time in his career–going all the way back to club and high school soccer–that he had ever faced any type of aggression like that from a coach.
To Hejduk, Ramirez’s intentions were clear.
“What does he have to lose? Who the hell even was that, a coach? An assistant coach? I don't know who he was,” he said. “Imagine if I had reacted, which is what they were trying to get me to do. They start with the slap, I respond with the punch, stuff breaks loose, people get thrown out, they win the battle. As a player, if I swing, I might get a six-month ban. We knew before the games that, when you play this team, you have to be disciplined. They're going to try to do anything they can to get into your head, to get you a yellow, to get you a red–anything just to get you kicked out. Especially if you do beat them.”
On the eve of another U.S.-Mexico matchup to open the CONCACAF Hexagonal, Hejduk maintains that Ramirez’s slap was totally unprovoked. The emotion of the moment, he says, simply overtook him as the second goal hit the back of the net.
“I'm not much of a smack talker. I'm not quick-witted enough to be one. I let my tackling do my talking and I let my emotions do my talking,” Hejduk says. “And on that day, hell yeah I was emotional. Are you kidding, dude? We just beat Mexico 2–0 at home, I didn't train for six weeks beforehand and I actually felt good after the game. I was psyched! I was ready for a nice ice cold Budweiser and then this little dude steps in front of me and the rest is history.”
Alexander Abnos is a reporter and podcast producer. He's covered soccer since '04 and produced radio since '11. He's in a band and has a cat.