Landon - "I Want to make Soccer at least the #2 sport in this country"

[appoo]

yep, sounds like a coward to me.

[Wahoo]

yep, sounds like a coward to me.

See - he is living in a fantasy world. :D

Where did he say that?
And what did he plan to do to put it ahead of baseball, and basketball?
(Hockey has killed itself off for now)

[Wahoo]

Ok, I shouldn't address this again but ...

What was the context?

If he meant in terms of people playing the sport - he doesn't have anything to do... we're there.

More youth play soccer than any other sport save basketball.

If he means as far as a revenue sport with advertising $$$.... that's a tall tall order.

[sregis]

yep, sounds like a coward to me.

today's juiciest rationalization.

[fidlerre]

"When people criticize me needing to be overseas they are stunting the growth of soccer in this country. They are the ones who don't understand."

Umm, okay Lanny-Cakes. Whatever you say.

[appoo]

he didn't give a contxt really. He just said that one of the big reasons for returning to MLS is that thats where he feels he should be. He wants to be to leave a legacy of making this sport big in America and he feels the best place to do that fromm is from MLS. He also said that things started ouot well at LEverkusen but the last few weeks he wasn't playing and he fel he was not going to be given a chance too play for the rest of the season and this oppurtunity came up all of a a suddent and he jumped on it.

He's doing this for himself, and for his country. I don't see how anyone could be critical of this

[jri]

I'm kindof tired of Landon's comments actually. I wish he's just quit commenting on stuff, and raise his game and consistency level to be honest...

Seriously.

(BTW- You get the feeling that Lanny or Bianca are closet BS junkies? How many times do you here Lanny say stuff like "everybody says, " etc.

Memo to Landon- no one talks about this stuff on the streets or even on sports TV. Soccer 'critiqueing' is a very small circle of folks, most of whom show up regularly..we just aren't that important! :)

[appoo]

"When people criticize me needing to be overseas they are stunting the growth of soccer in this country. They are the ones who don't understand."

Umm, okay Lanny-Cakes. Whatever you say.

yes, that was an idiotic thing to say. thats like sayign DMB is stuntung the growth of US soccer.

[appoo]

I'm kindof tired of Landon's comments actually. I wish he's just quit commenting on stuff, and raise his game and consistency level to be honest...

Seriously.

at least he's trying to make waves.

[EEUU]

I'm kindof tired of Landon's comments actually. I wish he's just quit commenting on stuff, and raise his game and consistency level to be honest...

Seriously.

Rep for that... I couldn't agree more. However, if Landon can experience the same level of play in MLS that he can in let's say the Euro Champions league, EPL, etc., I'll gladly eat my words!

-Arthur

[BelhavenKeeper]

The only thing this comment is going to accomplish is to get "Landonchastadonabeckaham" ripped up on the Jim Rome show tomorrow.

Is Landon really that naive. Soccer is never going to be anything more than maybe the 3rd or 4th sport in the U.S.

[jkl;]

The only thing this comment is going to accomplish is to get "Landonchastadonabeckaham" ripped up on the Jim Rome show tomorrow.

Is Landon really that naive. Soccer is never going to be anything more than maybe the 3rd or 4th sport in the U.S.

There's Landon and his low expecations again.
He should have said he wants to make soccer #1, not #2!

[Alexi]

How much did he grow as a player during the last two years, playing in MLS all the time?
Seeing him week in and week out I can say: not much.
His 2004 season was much worse than 2003.

[PSsoccer123]

yep, sounds like a coward to me.
Yes, after that line we should retire his jersey.

Anyone could say that. And that's the kind of thing Donovan always says. He quit after two months. You can't deny that. Yes he had a great game against Guatemala. But so did many other players. It was really annoying how JP and Marcelo said 20 times "He's back!" Back from what? Quitting Europe, that's what. He's never been a superstar, and he never will be. Just a pretty good player, a mainstay on the U.S. team...He'll probably win two more MLS Cups. But he's not going to be the superstar everyone (including me) has been hoping for the last 5 years.

[PSsoccer123]

The only thing this comment is going to accomplish is to get "Landonchastadonabeckaham" ripped up on the Jim Rome show tomorrow.

Is Landon really that naive. Soccer is never going to be anything more than maybe the 3rd or 4th sport in the U.S.
It could get there, but not because of Donovan haha.

[Slim Pickins]

I've decided to stop looking at Landon in terms of what his potential would be if we could control him and make him stay in Europe, and instead look at what he can do for the U.S. given that he insists on playing in MLS. It's obvious that he plays better for the U.S. when he is snug at home in California, so that's the Donovan I've decided I want. He just won't be as good for us as he might have been otherwise.

For now he's one of the best players on the national team. Maybe in a few years he'll find himself challenged for a position, and he'll reevaluate his career then.

[Magpie Maniac]

The only thing this comment is going to accomplish is to get "Landonchastadonabeckaham" ripped up on the Jim Rome show tomorrow.

You're probably right about that.

Is Landon really that naive. Soccer is never going to be anything more than maybe the 3rd or 4th sport in the U.S.

Never is a mighty long time. Considering demographic changes, you can't know what the sporting landscape will be like three decades from now.

[DCM]

From the official press release:

"My decision to return to MLS and be part of a growing dynasty of champions with the Los Angeles Galaxy is one that I have made with thoughtful consideration," said Donovan. "MLS competition continues to vie for a place among the world's leading leagues and can only continue to grow if the American player plies his trade here. For the last decade, MLS has seen internationals coming to the States to be part of this league and if we, as Americans, can't contribute to our league, it's a bit of a disservice in growing soccer here in the U.S. and making MLS as fierce as it can be. With every National Team call up of an MLS player, it only further proves that it's not only ok to play professionally in our own backyard, but is an honor."

To me, this sounds like league PR; It doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard from Donovan. All I've ever heard from him is "I like it in California. My family's here, my girlfriend's here..." etc. As much as I'd like it to be true, the idea that MLS competition is vying for a place among the world's leading leagues is major navel gazing. This all just smells like post-hoc justification and rationalization for being afraid to rise to a new challenge to which any world class player should be able to rise. It's "an honor" to play in a league that (however great it might be for American soccer fans) cannot match the quality and intensity of most european leagues? MLS, given it's present make-up, cannot match Donovan at his best. Problem is, he's rarely at his best in MLS because he doesn't have to be. He's a big baby, and he wants to coast, and that's a disservice to American soccer.

[Adam Zebrowski]

need we go back 100 years and see what the face of sport was like...

indoor bike racing and pedestrianism were the rages....

things change...and ya never know when...

nfl....50 years ago.....very marginal and TV made the difference....

suspect soccer won't become the national game, but if you look at baseball and the decline in the american aspect of the game in 30 years, you never know....

[Jegao Paraiba]

We're number 2!
We're number 2!
We're number 2!
We're number 2!
We're number 2!

Thank you Landon!
You're the greatest!:D