The rain is a symphony against cars and pavement. There is a sky beyond the trembling Geodis Park. Shirtless teenagers puddle-jump down Bransford Avenue, their drenched t-shirts flying above their heads in defiance. Walker is waiting in the Nashville SC locker room. He's 6 feet 3 and has a shaggy facial hair. There was a three-hour weather delay against Atlanta United and a sellout crowd of 31,109 at the stadium. His parents traveled from Georgia. They drove north with friends and their two boys, who had designs on Walker, because Walker was going to USMNT camp. The sisters were excited for the fireworks and Johnny Cash's song before the national anthem. Zimmerman and his wife offered to host a breakfast the next day, but nature refused. Journalists watch the NBA playoffs in the pressbox. In the bowels of the stadium, Zimmerman waits, the rare center-back who's bruise and patient in equal measure. He has played his entire career in the US. He was excited when he was drafted by FC Dallas. The timing felt off after he had overseas offers. He stayed at Dallas and LAFC because he felt significant after meeting Sally. Less than six months before a crucial World Cup for the U.S. Men's National Team, Zimmerman looks like a starter. His renown will go beyond Major League Soccer. There is a sense of joy and apprehension in Nashville that the World Cup could be a turning point for the man. He could become the cornerstone of another team's defense from there. When Walker first watched "Chariots of Fire" at 6 years old, the youngest of their three sons had a bit of destiny. When he heard the line God made me for a purpose, and when I run, I feel his pleasure, he jumped off the couch and exclaimed, "I'm going to play pro sports." He wasn't sure which sport, but he was determined. David says that soccer is the vehicle for Walker's purpose, whether it's in Nashville, Dallas, Los Angeles or even Europe. "As we've always done, let's see how life unfolds," she said. So the man is waiting. The USMNT squad are finally playing their part, and the Futbol Americas crew gives credit to the coach. Nashville SC's practice facility and academy headquarters can be found on the 83-acre Currey Ingram Academy, a boarding school that costs $70,000 per year. Two days after a decisive 2-1 victory over Montreal, surrounded by constant columns of Adidas cleats and team regalia, Zimmerman leans forward in an office chair. He chuckled and said that you hear about the pastor's kids going one or two different ways. I made my faith my own despite the pressure. I feel like I have a purpose to use my platform to praise God. Nashville's general manager Mike Jacobs referred to him as one of the league's best defenders when he signed the designated player contract in April. There was no ounce of solipsism in sight despite the fact that the team got $10 million over four years. Major league soccer is here. There is live coverage of all 28 teams.
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One of the first things we do is ask how we can give this money. How can we help? The man says. The ability to bless others is one of the greatest pleasures of this job.
It is a calling card. He got involved in a new church when he was afresh out of college. He invited his family and youth from the church over at the end of the season. He put his FC Dallas gear together and gave it away piece by piece. As Christmas neared, he would give out checks to those who worked in craft services.
More than $1 billion in damage was caused by tornadoes when he was traded to Nashville in February 2020. He needs to help the city rebuild.
He isn't comfortable with the stories being out there Altruism is not about giving.
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The Walker and Sally Tucker Zimmerman Endowed Scholarship for Men's Soccer was created prior to Nashville making him aDP. Doug Allison has built something special. It's a small school that has remained competitive despite all the changes in the NCAA. It was important to me that the program stayed competitive and that I could say thank you to the person who helped me and my wife.
Walker and Sally lived in South Carolina beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. The centerpiece of the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation was Walker. Sally was the daughter of Dr. Andrew Tucker, the head physician of the Baltimore Ravens. At an orientation picnic, Zimmerman, with a shaved head, noticed Sally and asked his teammates about her. It wasn't until November that they met. Sally was inseparable when she asked.
The USMNT wore orange armbands in support of gun control measures.
The school's first NCAA tournament appearance in four seasons had just been secured by the man who played against Lovitz in the Southern Conference semifinals. Walker was hesitant to make a commitment. He was hoping that the 2012 Summer Olympics in London would feature a lot of "Chariots of Fire" but he wasn't selected and the US men failed to qualify.
Sally asked "How can this be?". The man says. How can I meet someone who I really want to spend time with?
His mother said things happen when they are supposed to. It has been a big part of our faith journey.
Sally and Walker were starting to make decisions together by the time Zimmerman signed a Generation Adidas contract after his sophomore season. She's been there from the beginning. Sally finished her education while Walker was coming up with FC Dallas. They were married at Grace Church Downtown, 8 miles from campus, after he proposed at the lake.
Between the 2015 and 2016 MLS seasons, the defender played 4,000 minutes and won 200 aerials and 50 clearances. The highest percentage of aerial duels won by anyone in that group was by Zimmerman. He was ranked 11th on the MLS' 24 under 24 list.
At least, the international community didn't ignore him. The United States was drawn with France in the U20 World Cup and allowed the second-most goals at the tournament. I always have a chip on my shoulder when I'm not selected for a roster. I would love to be on the field. It fuels me to continue to prove my innocence.
The senior U.S. national team didn't call him up until after the firing of Klinsmann. When the USMNT were knocked out of the World Cup in Couva, they didn't include him on their roster.
Gary Smith is the head coach of Nashville and he says that MLS has grown over the last five or six years. Walker takes a lot of pride in being one of the best central defenders in the league.
According to Smith, few defenders can start attacks and break lines, execute quality distribution over a variety of ranges, defend one-on-one and in the air and be an offensive weapon on set pieces.
Smith says that you don't see a lot of guys like Walker. Right now, he's good enough to play in the premier league.
Jack was the secondoverall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. The world was stopped in it's tracks after two months. A once-in-a-century global event derailed the introduction of an All-American who signed a Generation Adidas contract and was bound for MLS before his 21st birthday. He took it upon himself to correct that.
Walker and Sally wanted to make my 21st birthday special for me. Some guys on the team, their wives and girlfriends had a small get- together for a Jack Travels the World Day with drinks and games.
"I'm from the Midwest, I call it cornhole or bags," he says with a smile. I fancy myself in bags a lot.
The distance between the two boards was asked if it was 26 or 27 feet. The American Cornhole Organization says it is 27. He was trying to find a tape measure. "If someone asks for the tape measure, you're about to get your butt kicked, and he absolutely destroyed me," said the host.
Whether it's Monopoly, fantasy football, golf, or buying a new meat smoker for get-togethers, Zimmerman doesn't have an off switch. Lovitz says that he is singularly focused. He knows everyone's moves and does everything in his power to execute them. He knows he's talented, but he doesn't take things for granted. It's difficult to find that balance.
The US will not need to be afraid of facing Wales at the World Cup.
Dax McCarty, who will soon become one of only six MLS players all-time with 36,000 minutes played, called him a true competitor.
He's a person who likes to play video games. He's always ready to play whatever role is needed of him. His competitive will to win, his flexibility, his willingness to adapt, all of that is at the highest level that you can find.
Smith says that he always looks to be as positive and creative as possible. I keep the reins on him because we have a different style than the national team.
When I mentioned Walker's competitive streak, David andBecky smiled. David says thatWalker is the kind of boy who always thinks he can deliver the win for the team. I have seen it happen many times and never bet against him. He thinks he will win. The preteen was so competitive that he would study the digital clock on the dashboard and make everyone guess when they would get home. Is there a pit stop for gas? It will cost to fill it up. Do you mean a basketball court? A lot of trick shots.
The dice were in the house to roll for chores. The boys were going to be taught to clean the kitchen. If you don't win, you do your brother's chores. The reward is high. He would win. A large amount. Walker's brothers would tell him he was so lucky.
David says over and over and over.
Sometimes desire is no match for circumstance, and that's been the case with Zimmerman. Sally was going to give birth in August and he was going to the Gold Cup. In February they got a puppy named Bear. "I entered into a lot of chaos." Sally gave birth early. Walker thanked God for Tucker getting Sally as a mom while Tucker was in the NICU.
We got him home for a couple of days before I left. It was difficult.
His grandmother died while he was on Gold Cup duty and then, 15 minutes into the USMNT's final Group A match against Canada, he came off injured. It didn't seem like it at the time, but it did happen.
"I felt like I was leaving my family," he says. It was a pleasant surprise to return earlier. I get to attend my grandmother's funeral and spend more time with my friends.
It must have slowed down the man. The two men chuckled. They knew it would kill their son if he didn't help his team at the Gold Cup. He was already thinking about the days he would have to get back.
David moves his body in a straight line. The injuries, the slights, even the trades he was blindsided by have structured his son's life. He doesn't believe that any of the adversity is wasted. There's a saying in the ministry. Sometimes our core hurts us.
Walker knows that this is it. I want to make a difference in my world.
Atlanta and Nashville will play again at 10:00 p.m. There is a 200th MLS game. After the lengthy break, Nashville scores twice in seven minutes, but misses out on three points when Dom Dwyer tied the game in the final minute.
They are walking off the field. Their hand motions rival an Easter supper on Arthur Avenue. There is a thin air as they near the player tunnel.
"I have always been able to shift quickly," he says. I am a competitor and an absolute S.O.B. on the field. You want to know what happened in the moment. Why didn't it happen? Did you watch that play? I wonder if I could have played you instead. You flip the switch when you come home. There is compartmentalization.
Some of the teammates swapped jerseys with the Atlanta players. A group of soaked and spent supporters are waiting at the touchline for the game to start. His family friend's children have shirts with his name on them. David says that Walker wants to honor his children. He wants the experience to be amazing.
He shook his head and high-fived the people holding him. He stops for a few photos from different angles. Before entering the tunnel, he gives the shirt off his back to a young fan who is white-knuckled.
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He is excited about the future with the country of Qatar on the way. He said that the World Cup was the next step in his career. Do you do well against the best? We need to do it against England and Iran.
Can it be done before it gets too late? "I'm grinning."
The World Cup is a great place for players to test themselves at the highest level. I hope he stays here the rest of his career because he's a cornerstone of this team.
I don't know what to do if he goes to Europe. That is a difficult question. Smith says that England will always be their spiritual home, but Nashville is their second home. Walker will be a factor in whether or not I am or not.
The World Cup is seen as the ultimate challenge by David andBecky. Walker has dedicated himself to getting better and proving to himself that he's among the best of the best. "However that can happen, it is as much of a challenge as he will ever need."
It will be up to him. As life unfolds, it will.
The shadows swallowed his black player tracking vest and yellow Nashville shorts as he entered the tunnel He has a legacy and is at the precipice of something completely new. His name will be on the lips of roughly half the world's citizens come November. It's not yet.
If only a wink, he will grab sleep first. He promised to make breakfast.
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