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Dude Trying To Kick A Soccer Ball 10,000 Miles From Seattle To Brazil Dies In Oregon

AP – A Seattle man trying to dribble a soccer ball 10,000 miles to Brazil in time for the 2014 World Cup died Tuesday after being hit by a pickup truck on the Oregon Coast. Police in Lincoln City, Ore., said 42-year-old Richard Swanson was hit at about 10 a.m. while walking south along U.S. Highway 101 near the city limits. He was declared dead at a hospital. The driver has not been charged. Lt. Jerry Palmer said investigators found materials among Swanson’s belongings listing his website, breakawaybrazil.com. Swanson set out on the trek to promote the One World Futbol Project, based in Berkeley, Calif., which donates durable blue soccer balls to people in developing countries. “We are deeply saddened to learn about Richard’s death,” Lisa Tarver, chief operating officer of One World Futbol Project, said in a statement. “He was a very inspiring man who in a very short time walked his way into many lives. Our thoughts are with his family.” Police said Palmer’s soccer ball was recovered. “I felt destined that I should go on this trip,” he said. Swanson started out in flip-flops, and managed to spend 13 nights but switched to hiking sandals in Portland, Ore., Schwesinger said. He stayed two nights in Vancouver, Wash., with his son, Devin, but otherwise had been able to sleep on on the couches of one stranger after another who befriended him and helped him on his journey. In an interview with The Daily News in Longview, Wash., Swanson said he picked up soccer just five years ago and played on club teams and rooted for the Seattle Sounders.

Almost made it dude! Almost made it to Brazil. All the way from Seattle, Washington to…right next door in Oregon. Just about 9,750 miles short of your goal. You know what the sickest part of this whole fiasco is? The dude just picked up soccer 5 years ago. He’s on the soccer bandwagon for like 5 minutes and now he’s gotta dribble a ball 10,000 miles? That would be like me trying to ice skate across the Arctic or something since I’m such a diehard hockey fan. Hey bro! It ain’t worth it! Soccer sucks and nobody in this country cares.

PS – Who gets hit by cars? At 10am in the daylight too? How does that even happen?