Donovan Provides Validation

Monday, March 08, 2010 | View Comments
Football - Everton v Hull City Barclays Premier League

As American soccer fans, we live in a world framed by perceptions. We struggle with prevailing opinion that Americans don't play the sport that well, that we're incapable of developing quality talent, and that the sport will forever be a second class citizen in our own country.


It's natural then, that so many of us are enthralled by Landon Donovan's success at Everton. Donovan isn't just over there doing himself proud, he's over the validating our collective soccer chops to the greater footballing world. Or the most visible part of the greater footballing world.


Donovan might as well have been wearing a Captain America uniform when he's was on the field for Everton. It's not fair to say he "carried the hopes of a nation on his back", but he certainly had the eyes of the American soccer community on him; to play as well as he has, while also being stamped with that label of "best American player", only serves to make all of us look good.


His play proves his champions right and takes the edge off the inferiority complex possessed by so many of his detractors. The haters hate a little less now. The fans relish in lavishing the "attaboys". Evertonians might as well all be honorary Yanks for how much they've taken to Donovan and shared their affinity for him with the world. Who else chants "USA! USA!" like that outside of our borders these days?


Other Americans have done fine, even pretty damn good, in England and other leagues of note. Clint Dempsey is one of Fulham's most important attacking players and with Donovan returning home, will once again the best American outfield player in England. Michael Bradley is consistently solid for Monchengladbach in Germany. Keepers like Tim Howard and Brad Friedel maintain the high standard American netminders abroad. All are worth mention, and all deserve praise. But none of them have ever been American soccer's poster boy.


Depending on your loyalties, Donovan's loan stint at Everton has either proved Americans can play, proved MLS isn't as bad as so many think, given American players a larger profile abroad, or other and varied combinations of them all. But at its essence, I think most Americans are happy to see Donovan succeed for selfish reasons. Donovan validated his own talent in the eyes of some of the world's harshest critics. He validated his maturity and mental toughness, things many still doubted he had. He, in a small way, validated MLS as a serviceable place for players to hone their craft. And perhaps most importantly of all, despite the hyperbolic element, he validated American soccer.


And therefore, he validated all of us, even if just a little.
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