Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central since 1999, sits behind the desk tonight for a final time. The comedian, a known soccer fan, played the sport through college; Stewart's journey to and career at Division I William & Mary was recently covered by Michael Lewis at BigAppleSoccer.com.
Here's a look back at some of the memorable soccer moments during Stewart's run:
Headlines - Snatched Victory
Stewart's earliest soccer-oriented segment was this recap of the much-heralded 1999 US national team's victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup, which poked fun at the lack of regulation goals (the US beat China, 5-4, on penalties after a 0-0 draw).
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Clint Mathis Interview
In 2002, Stewart decided the US won the FIFA World Cup, before hosting National Team forward Clint Mathis for a rollicking interview in which:
- Mathis presents Stewart with a New York/New Jersey MetroStars jersey
- They discuss the finer points of mohawk growth
- Mathis reveals he heard something about Stewart being a "plum smuggler" at William & Mary
Red Card
Stewart tossed an "awesome" American fan with a red card late in this 2006 World Cup recap.
Stewart as Soccer Mom
Striker Landon Donovan and coach Bob Bradley represented the USMNT in a 2010 appearance that featured halftime orange slices:
Where's the Press Box?
In 2013, Stewart poked fun at some ... curious design choices in the Qatar 2022 stadium plan:
And most recently, Stewart's epic, 9-minute rant following the FIFA indictments was an all-time classic.
We leave you, as always, with your "Moment of Zen":
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