-Ben McCormick

One of the most common questions any US Soccer fan asks is who is going to replace Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey when they retire. They have held the attack together for the past few years and fast approaching is a time when the US will have to rely on someone other than “Deuce” or “’Cakes” for a goal when they need it.

The scary thought is this process might be happening a bit faster than we all thought. Dempsey is still performing at the highest levels and he shows no signs of slowing down, but Donovan on the other hand, is a different story.

Sure, his MLS scoring record this season has been stellar, but I would expect that from a player of his caliber playing on a MLS team that may go down as one of the best in MLS history. Where it has been noticeable his speed may be slowing a half step, though, is in his performances for the USMNT this year.

- Jason Davis

It was worrying, both for the LA Galaxy and the USMNT, that Landon Donovan was sidelined at all. The Galaxy said it was a knee ailment that was keeping him out of three league matches, the result of a knock he picked up on the club’s trip to Philadelphia. Considering Donovan’s hectic and near non-stop schedule over the past few years, it was understandable that there was speculation something else was bothering him. It would actually make some sense if he was finally breaking down after playing so much soccer. Between matches, training, and travel, Donovan might have been the hardest working player in the world in 2010.

If Landon Donovan is tired, and how could he not be, then staying home this winter is probably a good idea.  There is only so much life in the legs of a soccer player. Donovan's schedule over the last two years borders on insane, particularly because while he's supremely conditioned, he's hardly a young player anymore.
I'm not really sure the reasons matter.  Maybe Donovan just want to relax a bit coming out of the MLS season (and LA's trip to the other side of the world directly thereafter), which set him back on his fitness.  I don't get the feeling he'd want to head to England (likely Everton) and not be at his best.  It's not that he thought he'd still be tired in January, it's that he wasn't ready to startup the engines in December.

Rumors of Ronaldinho landing in LA with the Galaxy have circled back around, and I'm wondering what they mean.  The unrealized reports of the summer, when Milan was dancing a contract samba with the superstar, and the Galaxy were said to be in the contest for his services, gave a sense of inevitability to the Brazilian coming Stateside.  Sure, he could always go back to Brazil, but when AEG is involved, you shouldn't bet against them. We might not have to wait long, as LA is itching to bring the saga to a resolution.

With the MLS season coming to a close, and with the January window rapidly approaching, steam is building behind another winter loan for Landon Donovan.  Everton are the most vocal bidders, of course, and Donovan has regularly expressed his desire to return to Goodison since leaving England in the spring.  Newcastle is also rumored to be interested in the Galaxy attacker.

Landon Donovan might be headed back to England and Everton in January, and the chances that it will be permanent just got a lot better.

Landon Donovan hasn't had much time to recuperate over the course the last few years. Starting with the MLS season of 2008, Donovan's off-season has consisted of no more than a short period of inactivity between the end of the domestic season and the opening of the winter transfer window in Europe. In 2009, Donovan took another shot at Germany and spent the pre-MLS months with Bayern Munich. In 2010, he went on that successful loan to Everton, a stint that set the table for much of the intrigue over a possible permanent move to Europe following a good showing at the World Cup.

Everton doesn't have the money. Manchester City's interest was spurious at best, and they have a massive squad to whittle down besides. No other concrete links have popped up, and barring a minor miracle, Landon Donovan will be finishing out the 2010 MLS season playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy.


But a lack of transfer funds doesn't mean Everton isn't interested in bringing him back; if David Moyes can't/won't buy Donovan's services, he's more than happy to rent them again come January. Donovan appears emotionally attached to the Toffees after his loan there last year, and with his comfort level in SoCal being what it is, it's difficult to see any other outcome than another January loan. For fans wishing for Donovan to head to Europe permanently, that would no doubt be a let down. For MLS though, it would be the best of both worlds; keeping their most marketable and talented American player at home to grow the game domestically while allowing him to trot off to Europe for a few months in the winter and spread his proverbial wings.


One has to wonder if a repeat of 2009 would satisfy Donovan, whether Everton is the only club he'd truly consider a permanent move to, and if there is truly significant interest from anyone else. The market is not robust for 28-year old outside midfielders with 8 figure price tags, and it's not only cash-strapped Everton that would pass on such a player. Donovan's ability to sell shirts back in the States might help a bit, but it doesn't necessary justify the expenditure.


Oddly enough Donovan, with Beckham blazing the trail, has managed to create a new program for US-based star players. Each had unique circumstances that enabled them to force the Galaxy and MLS to let them head to Europe in the American off-season, so perhaps we won't see something like this again. But with a precedent set, it wouldn't come as a total surprise if other MLSers pushed the league to let them do the same in the future, especially if the transfer market tightens, MLS desperately clings to its talent with high valuations, and late-blooming stars find themselves good enough to play in Europe but too old to have serious transfer offer materialize.

I'm on Twitter if you somehow didn't know, constantly engaged in a rolling conversation on soccer (and other topics). During games, beyond the simple relating of events as they transpire or obvious opinions ("So-and-so should have done better there"), debates erupt spontaneously. This is the wonder of Twitter.


Landon Donovan's 100th MLS goal is a perfect example of how Twitter can spawn conversation; Donovan scored his century tally on a penalty last night in LA's loss to Chicago, a circumstance that led to some pretty strong pronouncements that doing so was unsporting. Per some Twitter friends, Donovan should have demurred, let a teammate take the kick, and waited to get his 100th on something from the run of play (though I wonder if the same thing would have been said if he scored from a free kick).


Because that's how Taylor Twellman did it, and Donovan sucks for taking the PK.


That may be just a bit unfair to my Revs fan friends who spurred the discussion with their "Taylor did it better" Tweets, but their sentiment wasn't too far from it. I have no problem with giving Donovan stick for getting his 100th the easy way, and Twellman is the only player to have scored 100 faster than Donovan; there's an element of homer-ism there, but it doesn't make the question any less interesting to me.


Should Donovan have let someone else take the penalty?


It honestly didn't occur to me until the Twitter proclamation was made; I simply took it for what it was, and Donovan is known for being the Galaxy's penalty-taker, so there was no immediate reaction on my part. After a bit of thought, I'm still not sure I care to color it unsporting. It's hard enough to score 100 goals, and many of Donovan's came through penalties; should those somehow count less because they didn't come from the run of play?


If you're a Revs fan, or don't value penalties, you likely view Donovan's feat less impressive than Twellman's. That's fair I suppose. I don't know how many penalties make up Twellman's 101 (I'm guessing not many), so perhaps that should be considered. Both worked hard, both are great players, so I'm not interested in rating one accomplishment over the other. You don't get to 100 goals by skating.


I'm guessing it never occurred to Donovan not to take the penalty, 100th goal or not. With a bit of spin, it could be that he just wanted to get it out of the way so that it didn't become any type of distraction to him or his team. Most likely he just stepped up because that's what he does; he takes penalties for the Galaxy, he's a confident player who knows he can get the job done, and he's a leader on a team that was reeling at the time. With the way the Galaxy have played, it's hard to blame him for taking control of the situation.


In perfect world, not down three goals at home and with zero pressure, it might be nice for a player to demur. Unfortunately, I don't know the circumstances of Twellman passing on the penalty that could have been his century. I do know that Twellman was hardly the Revs designated spot kick-taker at the time.


We have a tendency to foist our sporting morality on players without considering all of the factors involved, or sweeping the practical concerns aside. Usually, it's just about results and being a stand up guy is secondary or of no concern. Scoring the way he did doesn't make Donovan a bad guy, but it obviously gives a few people reason to criticize.


I'm very curious to see how many of you might agree with the Twellman-backers I interacted with last night.


So I put the question to you: Should Donovan have passed on the penalty? Vote below.

poll by twiigs.com

Landon Donovan says he would love to return to Everton. Everton says they would love to have him back. In a perfect world, Donovan's permanent move to the Liverpool club would just be a matter of cutting a check.


But the financial concerns are now a major roadblock. The Galaxy/MLS valuation of Donovan falls somewhere north of £10 million, and rightfully so. With Everton's books running on small margins, David Moyes says the chances of a reunion aren't looking good. Unless Everton decides to sell a player to raise the funds to buy Donovan, a feel good move back to Merseyside looks increasingly unlikely.


Donovan speaks reverently whenever asked about his time at Everton and a possible return; whether it's "Goodison or Bust" isn't clear, with the midfielder talking about "options" plural, but anyone with knowledge of Donovan and his personality think the particular situation matters greatly to his choice. Donovan doesn't want to go back to Europe just go back to Europe; he wants to go to a place where he'll be comfortable, something which will undoubtedly mean a greater chance of success on the field.


If Everton can't afford him, Donovan's 2010 might very well end with him still on the Galaxy payroll.


But don't expect the dance to stop. Until the clock strikes midnight on the day the transfer window closes, reporters here will continue to ask Donovan about his plans while reporters there will continue to ask Moyes about Everton's interest. The end won't come until the rules no longer allow a move to happen.


They're star-crossed lovers, Everton and Donovan, kept apart by the harsh realities of the business of football and destined to dance with each other through words spoken across an ocean. It seems odd that money, and not that ocean is the true barrier to consummation.


It's possible there are other suitors for Donovan's services, and it's possible one or two can swing the required fee with less trouble than Everton. If one of those clubs come calling, perhaps Donovan would push his Everton love aside. The right price and a chance to play at the highest levels are powerful aphrodisiacs; but would Donovan ever seem as perfect a fit somewhere else as he did with the Toffees? Would his abilities and contributions be as appreciated? Would the fans of another club take Donovan in as one of their own so quickly and wholeheartedly?


Nothing in the career of a highly-paid professional footballer in Donovan's position, barring catastrophic injury on the field, could be termed tragic. But if Landon Donovan never returns to the scene of his one and only European success, the warm bosom of Goodison Park, "tragic" is the first word that comes to mind.


In the next two weeks, Donovan and Everton will dance. Then the deadline will hit, and the dance will take on a different tone; a shift will bring talk of a possible future together, of what could be come January when Donovan and Everton will have another chance to bring about a glorious reunion.

A little while back, in a late night ramble that may or may not have been ill-advised, I went off on those who reacted negatively to the possibility that MLS would't "allow" Landon Donovan to go back to Europe. I rejected the idea of valid indignation on the subject, and I talked at length about what we didn't know about Donovan's own wishes and the role that played in my response.


It's time for me to back down, at least in one regard. Donovan spoke about a possible transfer in the All-Star Game aftermath last night, and went just about as far as we could expect in outlining his hopes of a move. It wasn't a "let me go" plea necessarily, but it does seem pretty clear Donovan is ready to head back to Europe now as opposed to the winter (on loan or otherwise).

"We have had transfer interest and we will have some time to think about it and see where it goes," Donovan told Reuters after featuring for the MLS All Stars against Manchester United on Wednesday. "There is interest from a number of teams."

I'll still defend MLS on their right to hold out for a good return on a Donovan sale.  I'll still cling to my belief that Donovan here is ultimately better for American soccer than Donovan abroad.  But the latter doesn't really matter if Donovan wants to go; the reality of this game is that the player can essentially force a sale if he wants to and the market will bear a fair price.  No one wants a malcontent, and even if Donovan's influence and impact is greater as an MLS player, the league shouldn't keep him around "against his will."


As I mentioned in that meandering rant, I would be happy to see Donovan playing in England.  Believing Donovan does more good for American soccer playing here and my own selfish desire to see him in a top league are two different things.  And there is a knock-on effect for the perception of MLS if Donovan leaves and contributes in England or elsewhere at a high level. Both can be good, it's just a matter of degrees.


At the time of my original reaction, I found the indignation distasteful.  Now, seeing Donovan's comments as I do (as a roundabout admission that he's looking to go), and with the possibility that we'll hear a number on an offer, I'm backing down.  A bit.  If Donovan really wants to go and the offer is good, I can understand an angry fan reaction to his not being sold.


Just don't buy the idea that MLS would be holding American soccer back if Donovan stays in a Galaxy uniform.

If this were an journalistic enterprise, and believe it or not I do have a few standards, I'm not sure I could get away with posting this bit of "news."


Luckily, this is just a blog, so I'm going to post it anyway while making sure to frame it with serious amounts of skepticism.


There are suggestions floating around that Ronaldinho might still sign for the Galaxy. In return, Milan would receive Landon Donovan.


The bar has been raised on the MLS transfer window silliness to heights never seen before.


I honestly don't what to make of this. I don't know if it has to be complete nonsense, or if it makes some sense on a weird level. If Donovan wants to go and the Galaxy want Ronaldinho to replace him, it's almost somehow conceivable. Except for the nagging problem that Milan have never once mentioned any interest in Donovan.


One of the "sources" says the price is 24 million euros and Donovan in return for Ronaldinho. That's insane. Ronaldinho's price tage was 10 million euros just recently.


The mentions of this deal are posted in languages I don't speak. I'm relying on Google Translate here, so if I'm missing some nuance, please let me know.


Meanwhile, I'm glad it's Friday.


A thanks for the heads up on this go to @jguesman. Follow him on Twitter and visit his Galaxy blog Section 108.

And that's just about all we can confirm right now on the Donovan-to-Manchester City rumors that exploded yesterday. In New York for the "Barclay's Football New York Challenge and Burlesque Review" (okay, maybe I added that last part), Man City manager Roberto Mancini was apparently asked about Landon Donovan. This would seem reasonable considering Donovan's name has already been linked to City; whichever reporter brought it up wasn't trying to start rumors that didn't exist before.


In response, Mancini said, "Donovan is a good player. Could be possible."


That's hardly a declaration that City is "swooping" for Donovan, or reason for the Interwebs to explode with six million stories announcing that he is now on their shopping list. But that's the silly season, and with Donovan's rep at an all-time high and transfer rumors a magnet for traffic, everyone just runs with the story.


It was even suggested by one English journo on Twitter that Mancini was just being polite to his American hosts and that Man City has no interest in signing Donovan. Alright...


We'll find out soon enough if Donovan is headed back to England this summer or if he'll wait until January. I'm still not clear on his own aspirations, and while I know he makes noises of wanting to go back for the right situation, I get the feeling it wouldn't bother him a bit to stay with the Galaxy.


But if the City rumors, and Mancini's "interest", are legitimate, the question becomes whether that would be a good move for Donovan. On the surface, it doesn't seem so; City's midfielder is crowded and a starting spot might be hard to come by. Initially, I was against Donovan-to-City, and mostly for this reason.


The more that I think about it, though, the more I'm coming around. Donovan is 28 and may never get another chance to join a club with the profile of City. Even if he's fighting for playing time, the risk is worth the reward; should he break into the lineup, and he's certainly capable, it would be a boon both for him professionally and for American soccer's rep abroad. Because, let's face it - it doesn't matter where or how much Landon Donovan is playing, he'll always be a part of the USMNT. It would be nice to have him playing regularly and on top of his game when the Gold Cup rolls around next year, but I'm not sure anyone is going to endure sleepless nights because Donovan isn't starting in England. As for World Cup qualifying, things could always change again for LD before anything serious comes up for the National Team.


By the time it will really matter if Donovan is starting with whatever club he's with, the problem of him sitting on the bench at Man City in 2010-2011 might not be a problem anymore.


If Donovan wants to go and City is paying the price, he should go. Can't be afraid of failure in this situation.


It doesn't matter though, because Mancini was just being polite.

The Donovan talk, the Donovan debate, the Donovan backlash (in the direction Garber and the league, not Landon himself) is a swirling pool of putrid projection and condescension. You want Donovan to go back to England. Bill Simmons wants Donovan to go back to England. Your mom probably wants Donovan to go back to England.


Hell, I want Donovan to go back to England.


Too bad it's not about what we want.


It might not even be about what Donovan wants, though that's obviously a factor. It should be noted, strongly, in black permanent marker on your spouse's forehead so you cannot possibly miss it, that none of us really know what Donovan wants. We know he loves Cali. We assume, and have real reason to believe, that he wants to reconcile with his estranged wife, who happens to live there. We have his statements about wanting to be a force to grow the game in the United States, and we know he's making good money to play in LA.


What we don't know is how strong his itch is to return to Europe. We don't know if he is telling MLS to let him go, that he's ready to make the permanent move, that his career as a player will be incomplete without a transfer this summer. We don't know that he's as anxious to get out of Dodge as some of us seem to want him to be.


We don't know if bidders are lining up. There are rumors, just as there are about any player with a pulse, but not much more. Everton and Manchester City. One club with limited funds unwilling to overspend on anyone, let alone a 28 year old midfielder, and one with lots of money but a notable appetite for big fish - a label that can hardly be applied to Donovan, no matter his standing in the American soccer world.


We don't know what MLS wants. Despite what Don Garber said, we don't know that the league is flatly rejecting any bids without consideration. We don't know that they're not just playing a game, sending a clear message that it will take an impressive offer to pry Donovan away. What we do know is that Landon Donovan, American soccer superstar, is worth more to Major League Soccer in terms of talent, marketing clout, face recognition, paparazzi-worthy celebrity, youth soccer heroism, soccer bar godhood, franchise frontmanitude, corporate glad-handerism, and a multitude of other aspects subtle and unclear enough to be undetectable to the our non-corporate brains, than he ever could be to Euro Club X. Donovan isn't just a player, he's an Asset, with a capital "A", and the usual forces of the transfer market simply don't apply.


For reasons I cannot fathom, we've applied a different standard to Donovan and his potential transfer than we have to anyone else across the rest of professional the sports spectrum. Maybe that's what so many can't get; that on the world stage, the relative quality of MLS and the LA Galaxy specifically should not in any way dictate how the league and the club view Donovan leaving. MLS is Double A, as our newly converted MLS-ignoring friend the "Sports Guy" says, so it must be incumbent upon those with the power to sell Donovan on to a better league. Sports, apparently, is business for everyone but them. Donovan's freshly signed contract doesn't matter. The league, in the person of Don Garber, has an obligation to unshackle their biggest American name so he might soar with the eagles on the right side of the Atlantic.


Bullshit. Excuse me.


Double bullshit.


As sure as we might be, we simply don't know that Donovan abroad would do more for American soccer and MLS than Donovan at home, as so many have claimed in an attempt to justify their disdain for Garber's words. There's no scoreboard hanging over this game, indicating clearly that Donovan at Everton/Man City/Chelsea/relegation candidate is a point for footy in the USA. It doesn't work that way, and of all players to help spread the gospel that MLS can develop talent, Donovan is not at the top of the list. See Bradley, Michael, Altidore, Josmer, Kljestan, Sacha, and a score of others. Donovan's just a very good player with a checkered European past who "matured" later than most people hoped. He can provide quality for whomever he plays; anything more than that is ephemeral at best, a pipe dream at worst.


I could argue that MLS needs him more. Most of you won't listen. I could argue that Donovan's effect as soccer ambassador in the United States trumps anything he could do from distant shores. You won't care. I could even argue that LA has every right to hold on to him no matter how he feels about the situation. It won't matter. So I'll say this as a closer, if only to remind you that what we don't know is just as important as what we do:


Landon Donovan probably knows what he wants better than you do. Until he comes out and blasts the league for holding him back, scathing indictments of MLS up to and including an asinine personal boycott because they've said they won't sell him are ridiculous, indefensible, and downright idiotic.


Stop being indignant on his behalf. It's not becoming.


Who let me post this with that terrible headline involving a non-word?

If you believe The Don.


At the Thierry Henry hubbub on Thursday, Garber reportedly said that Donovan is a "real soccer hero" and that the league can't do without him.


I can hear you gasping in horror, those of you hoping to see Donovan plying his trade abroad in the near future; there's an overriding sense, just as there was last year around this time, that MLS "owes" it to Donovan to let him leave. Provided the price is "reasonable", Major League Soccer should just take the money and send off their most marketable American asset.


I'm taking Garber at his word here, for the simple reason that it's easier to say "no comment" when asked about Donovan's sale status than to produce a statement like this. Simply put, Donovan's value will always be greater to the league than any club is willing to pay. Donovan's pushing thirty, he's hardly a game-changing player, and talents are likely most in-demand with mid-level teams without the ability to overpay. Unless Man City is stepping up with a truckload of cash, the seller and the buyer are going to have trouble coming to an agreement on value.


I've vacillated a bit on my belief as to whether Donovan would stay or go. I believe him to be happy with his success at Everton, comfortable with himself as a player and a person, and not in need of another "challenge." He just signed a new MLS contract in December, the very thing that allowed him to go to England to prove to himself that he could play there. A full season or more there would solidify his reputation as a top player, but what would it bring him personally?


Let's not get indignant with Garber or the league on Donovan's behalf. It's probable we'll never hear if he's upset with the possibility that the league won't sell him, because he's not the kind of player to make a stink. Since that's the case, I'm not going to presume that some great injustice has been done; Donovan has willingly assumed the mantle of American soccer's poster boy, with an eye towards "building the game". The reality is that the best place for him to do that job while still in his playing days is here, in MLS, not in England or elsewhere where he would be off the mainstream American radar.


I would love to see Donovan back in England. But I'm not going to rip the league for holding on to a player that is much more valuable to them than he is on the open market. It won't be the end of the world if Donovan stays.


Again, if you believe Garber. I know some of you never will.

No one, perhaps even Landon Donovan himself, knows if he'll be around for the end of the MLS season. Surely someone in Europe, that land where they take their soccer seriously, wants the services of the American midfielder. Major League Soccer might even listen to a few offers. Perhaps he'll be sold.


There's more to it than dollars (or pounds, or euros); Donovan is at the peak of his American celebrity, and there's some reason to believe he himself is a draw. It's not the Beckham Effect, but it's noteworthy. Landon Donovan is an American soccer superstar. Can the league afford to let him go? Don't they owe him a chance to go? Does MLS risk alienating potential fans if they spin off their biggest American commodity to England or elsewhere?


Inquiring minds have no idea. Neither do we know what Mr. Garber is thinking while stroking his manly stubble; as the calculating businessman we all know him to be, it's hard to imagine he'll willingly let Donovan go. Short of an astounding offer, Donovan is probably worth more playing in Kansas City and Dallas than he is on the open transfer market. These things are hard to accurately value.


But while Garber is mulling, Donovan proclaiming, and the league slowly pulling out of the World Cup-break station, the chances for a truly magnificent season for the LA Galaxy hang in the balance.


The Galaxy have thirty-six points from fifteen games. They've scored twenty-five goals while only allowing five. They've lost only once, to Real Salt Lake just before the break and without Donovan and Buddle, and are the unstoppable force in a league usually noted for its parity. The Galaxy have risen above the mediocrity, found ways to win on the road (always difficult in this league), and appear headed towards something fairly special. There's a lot of the season to go, of course, and the Galaxy may come crashing back to earth; for the time being, however, this is their world, and we're all just living in it.


Can they keep it up without their talisman? Is Bruce Arena such an MLS genius that losing Donovan won't stop his team's momentum? Donovan's abilities are almost irreplaceable in a league with the financial restraints of MLS, and even a top-quality replacement of equal or greater talent will be slower, older, and have the potentially difficult task of gelling with a team already at the top. The sale of Donovan and the signing of someone else (if they go that route) would be the embodiment of "messing with a good thing."


If you despise the Galaxy, no matter the reason (here are a few: AEG, Tim Leiweke, Bruce Arena, "superclub" nonsense, David Beckham, perceived fan arrogance), none of this will bother you. But if you're a fan of the league intrigued by greatness, Donovan's departure would be a sad occurrence. The chances of a historic season for LA drop considerably without their Number 10. That's a fact.


I want Donovan to go back to Europe. I think he belongs there. If he goes, I won't shed a tear for the Galaxy. I'm sure I'd spare a thought or two for what might have been, though. Greatness, likely lost.

Landon Donovan, American soccer's poster boy, is on a whirlwind media tour. His name hit new heights for Internet buzz in the past week, and if ever an American soccer star has tickled household name status, it's now and it's Donovan.


This is new territory; the idea that an American soccer player might be fodder for talk shows and tabloids is foreign enough to be noteworthy. Donovan's star is brightest now because of the World Cup, and will likely fade over the course of the next few months. Nevertheless he's as close to the Jeters and LeBrons of the world in terms of notoriety as a footballer has ever been in the U.S.


What does this mean? Not much, probably, and those of us concerned only with how Donovan plays on the field might not care at all. Still, a cultural milestone has been reached, one that indicates that soccer may not be stuck in the blind spot of the gossip machine much longer. Freddy Adu merited a similar level of attention based purely on hype; Donovan has "earned" it mostly due to his play.


It appears, at least from my comfortable place inside the American soccer whateversphere, that everyone is taking the news that Landon Donovan might have a British baby momma in stride. Donovan's image, one of All-American athlete, hasn't suffered in the short term. There are no scathing rebukes of his behavior (which may not be rebuke-able in modern terms), and no one is bemoaning that American soccer could be hurt by the existence of a Donovan love-child.


Perhaps we've simply reached the point where, American or not, these things don't surprise us anymore. Donovan's indiscretion, if it can be labeled as such, pales in comparison to the major gaffs by his English contemporaries. Donovan is no John Terry.


The reasons why Donovan has made the gossip "big time" at Page Six and Perez Hilton may not meet the criteria of a "good thing" for American soccer, but the fact that his name is mentioned there is a sure sign that the game is reaching the masses in new ways.

Right at this very moment, the American soccer world is ready to canonize Landon Donovan. He scored the goal that put the United States in the knockout rounds, ending ninety-one minutes of protracted agony. Given the chance off a rebound, he didn't miss.


It doesn't matter if Donovan did his best Casper impression for some of the match. It doesn't matter that he missed earlier chances or failed to impose himself on a game that needed him at his best. It doesn't matter what he did for ninety-plus minutes, because what he did in the ninety-first was the most important thing he did all day.


This is soccer; funny to a fault, eliciting manic laughter in fans when thing just simply won't go right. Crossbars, referees, hell, the ball itself maybe - all against us, all seemingly intent on breaking our hearts just for fun. Forget man-made conspiracy, this was beginning to feel like something supernatural.


So Donovan's rebound goal, a simple shot that took nothing more than making sure it didn't go wide, is just about as sweet as it could possibly be. For the whole of the match the Americans squeezed and squeezed with nothing to show for it; just a small collection of seconds away from the end, the bloody thing finally decided to yield a drop of joy. Donovan did it, Donovan is a god.


For now, naturally. If Donovan doesn't show up on Saturday or makes some horrendous mistake, he'll be quickly demoted to mere mortal once again. Perhaps even much-criticized mere mortal. Perspective could come later, and the glory of Donovan's moment might rise again in our minds; if he plays well and the U.S. still lose, at least we have this to cherish. This sporting god-status is ephemeral in the recent but can become forever-lasting in the months and years to come; there aren't too many like this in the American soccer story, so no matter how the rest of the tournament plays out it should remain special.


As a fan, these are the moments we live for. Nothing that came before Donovan's goal is material anymore. The fact that they seemed unable to grab the game and take over means nothing. All that matters is that they won, that they found a way, and that they live to fight on. Today is perfect.


Today, Landon Donovan is a god. Rightly so.

I'll admit it; I like athletes with chips on their shoulders. I can empathize with the pressure they must feel, the natural reaction being one of hurt feelings, raw nerves, and an desire to "prove people wrong".


It doesn't even really matter if there are too many of those "people", or if the athlete is erecting a straw man with the help of their own over-sensitivity. Sometimes, people under the microscope don't always respond the way they should. They're human, after all.


So I'm giving Oguchi Onyewu a pass on the chip he's cultivating during the run up to the World Cup. He seems to be feeding it indiscriminately, tweeting about "haters", bristling when the press questions his fitness, and just generally giving off an angry vibe. Everyone doubts him. No one believes he'll be fit. Hell, some were saying that leaving the big guy off the team might be a good idea.


Not the sane ones, but whatever.



I'm giving our man Gooch a pass not because I think his reaction is justified, but because I think it is truly motivating him that there is any doubt at all that he can be ready for England on June 12th. As a fan, this is all I care about; I get the media reacting in shock horror when they ask what is a reasonable question and Onyewu fires back with vitriol, but that doesn't affect me. If Gooch needs a chip to push himself, I'm all for it.


It's not like Onyewu is the only guy harboring a me-against-the-world grudge. Clint Dempsey's comments, specifically when asked about his inconsistent performances when wearing the U.S. jersey, were intriguing to say the least. Deuce seems like a guy with an internal fire constantly burning, one stoked by the fuel of external criticism, and it's hard to argue that it hasn't helped him. Dempsey got defensive, and probably rightfully so; American fans put a lot on the Texan's shoulders, and he considerable talents only serve to bring him harsh assessments when he doesn't seem to live up to them. Again, if this is what he need to spur him along, I say stoke away.


Athletes are human beings (in case you didn't know), susceptible to all of the same insecurities and personal demons we all face. There's a line they must be careful not to cross, but a hearty desire to "prove everyone wrong" can be beneficial. The motivation each player drums up to push them to new heights on the field is extremely personal, and varies from man to man. Donovan dealt with scathing criticism for years, internalized his processing of it, and claims it now has made him a better player. Dempsey seethes, and has only become an integral part of both his club and national team. Onyewu is new to this, with his recovering knee sowing seeds of doubt, giving both fans and media reason to question his ability to play on an high level in two weeks time.


If it pushes him, means he works just that much harder in training, or is able to push beyond the natural reluctance he might have to land on the knee (see Tuesday's non-jump), then it won't matter to me if he gets a little testy.


Oguchi Onyewu has haters? I hope he proves them all wrong.

It's been a good year for Landon Donovan. MLS MVP, brand new big time contract, glorious loan stint at Everton, continued National Team stardom, and a new level of respect from his peers and fans around the world. From a purely professional standpoint, it's difficult to come up with more that could have gone right for the American.


Off the field, however, Donovan's life hasn't been so rosy. His three year marriage to actress Bianca Kalich ended, and while the low level of media attention given American players kept the details mostly out of the spotlight, there was a public element to the breakup. It wouldn't have been surprising if Donovan had shrunk on the field for a time, allowing the personal emotional issues to affect his level of play.


Instead, he seemed to increase his focus, and results followed. The Everton stay was a rousing success, and while the sample size still allows room for debate on where Donovan falls in the hierarchy of star players, there's no doubting his quality. Considering the label Donovan carried before heading to Merseyside, that he was a soft player who came up short on the big stage, beating back the demons must have been a self-satisfying experience. That he's continued his strong play in a much different role with the LA Galaxy is another bit of evidence that Donovan may have turned a corner professionally.


As Donovan readies himself for the World Cup, he's welcoming questions about how his personal turmoil has positively affected his play on the field. He's explaining the process of maturing as a player and how looking inward while shutting out the criticism has allowed him to improve. He's not the first athlete to say such things, and he certainly won't be the last. The words, though, will only matter if the performances back them up. So far, so good.


Yes, camp is for the most part uneventful in its initial days, and writers must find angles to cover during the buildup to matches next week. But the explosion of stories focusing on Donovan's growth, his willingness to discuss his personal life, and the quiet confidence he projects as one of the leaders on a youngish team is still notable.


After disappointment of 2006, American star Landon Donovan feels prepared for World Cup - New Jersey Star-Ledger

Divorce helped Donovan reconcile differences - Yahoo! Sports

Entering World Cup, Landon Donovan finds himself in a good place for U.S. men - The Washington Post

Landon Donovan sees greater opportunity with U.S. National team at World Cup in 2010 than in past - New York Daily News

Donovan ready to lead the U.S. - Philadelphia Inquirer

Donovan Pushes Ahead, Looking Inside - The New York Times

Straight shooter - New York Post

Donovan maturing before our very eyes - Ives for Fox Soccer


None of it will matter if he doesn't step up at the World Cup, of course. A taste of success in England is nice. Continued dominance in MLS, as expected, is all well and good. But if Donovan's new found understanding of himself doesn't translate to a star performance in South Africa, all of it will just be words.


He certainly seems ready.


Just a note, and based on my personal recommendation, you should check out SoccerPro.com, the best soccer shop, for great deals on soccer apparel and cheap USA World Cup Jerseys.