Thousands Want to Rename DC Airport after US Goalie -- and 'National Treasure' -- Tim Howard

While the U.S. soccer team was eliminated Tuesday from the World Cup competition in a 2-1 loss, American goalkeeper Tim Howard was the star of the match. Howard's 16 saves were more than any goalie had tallied in a single match since 1966. Now, a U.S. soccer fan has petitioned the White House to commemorate the goalie by naming an airport after him.

A petition posted Tuesday to the White House's We the People site asks the Obama administration to rename Ronald Reagan National Airport to Tim Howard National Airport.

Whereas Tim Howard has shown himself to be a national treasure, Minister of Defense, Friend of Joe Biden, and the holder for the record of most saves in a World Cup match; Therefore, we politely request that we rename the airport to recognize his accomplishments, and meritorious service to the United States of America.

As of Wednesday morning, the petition has 2,700 signatures. A petition needs to garner 100,000 signatures to merit an official response from the White House.

We the People petitions have been sports-based before. Earlier this year, Budweiser and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith promoted a petition to make Opening Day a national holiday and a different petition was started in January to similarly make the day after the Super Bowl a federal holiday. The former received a White House response.

The Internet-based Howard fascination didn't begin or end with the petition. USA Today's Nicole Auerbach suggested on Twitter that "one of the Dakotas" be named after Howard; new U.S. quarters were designed with Howard's face; and someone edited on Tuesday the Wikipedia page for the defense secretary to put Howard in the position. The page was changed back later in the day.

Best wiki update of the Cup so far, or ever: pic.twitter.com/GehIqfFtc1

— Danielle Elliot (@daniellelliot) July 2, 2014