View Full Version : Donovan Disses Houston
JazzyJ
30 Oct 2005, 03:28 AM
Here's an article (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/soccer/13029371.htm) that contains some disparaging remarks about Houston from Donovan.
The Galaxy's Landon Donovan can relate: The four seasons before this one, he was an Earthquake.
"Nobody wants to leave, especially if the option's Houston,'' he said. "Who wants to go to Houston? They love their lives here.''
I think this throws some water on the idea that Quakes players might like to play in Houston due to the cheaper cost of living or whatever. There may be a few exceptions but I think the vast majority of them love playing in San Jose.
Also, from an article in the same paper the previous day, a little attendance data that dispels another myth - that the Quakes don't draw in San Jose.
"Drawing an average of 13,037 fans per game at Spartan Stadium, the Earthquakes finished eighth in Major League Soccer in home attendance. But five of the teams ahead of the Earthquakes were part of international doubleheaders that heavily padded their numbers. If the attendance figures for those doubleheaders are excluded, the Earthquakes jump to fourth in the league in average home attendance behind Los Angeles (24,204 fans per game), D.C. United (16,664) and Real Salt Lake (16,515)."
Quakes also have I believe the highest single-game playoff attendance so far in 2005 (nearly 18,000). By contrast Dallas was something like 10,000 for their home leg against Colorado.
Chowda
30 Oct 2005, 07:36 AM
Some good points in there, but the player's comfortable lives in NoCal have little to do with any decision to more the franchise to Houston. Also, consider the source.
truthandlife
30 Oct 2005, 09:14 AM
I know you are trying to defend your team staying in California but if it happens, it happens. With the low salaries of the MLS, the Earthquake players could at least make a decent living than living in high cost, high tax California.
You can talk to a lot of people in Houston and they love it in Houston. I live in a very big house and have a great quality of life in Houston. Of course, 'Cali boy' Donovan would hate to live in Houston because he doesn't know anything else.
ElJefe
30 Oct 2005, 03:06 PM
I'm pretty sure that Landon Donovan and his million-dollar-a-year contract more than qualified to talk about the lives of guys making $30,000 a year. :rolleyes:
anderson
30 Oct 2005, 03:51 PM
Donovan also dissed San Jose fans in his post-game comments last night and called them "idiots". The kid's really insightful, eh?
ferrari77
30 Oct 2005, 03:57 PM
i have to say this, thats the reason a lot of foreigners wh've watched a few us games and mls games hate landon donovan. he comes off as an absolute idiot. just a whiny little b*tch. Most people prefer watching beasley because #1 he is a tough SOB. i bet if he was the one in leverkusen he would have shut his mouth up and made a go of it.
beasley also seems to have more tact than donovan. although donovan does have bianca.
ThreeApples
30 Oct 2005, 06:53 PM
I'm pretty sure that Landon Donovan and his million-dollar-a-year contract more than qualified to talk about the lives of guys making $30,000 a year. :rolleyes:I think what makes him qualified is that they are people he personally knows.
Mattbro
30 Oct 2005, 06:58 PM
Doesn't really sound like a dis on Houston to me. He's just saying why would anyone on the team want to pack up and move their wives and their kids and their pets to Houston, when they are settled and comfortable in the Bay Area.
Edit: Just re-read the quote. It does sound like a bit of a dig at Houston after all.
JazzyJ
30 Oct 2005, 10:39 PM
Some good points in there, but the player's comfortable lives in NoCal have little to do with any decision to more the franchise to Houston. Also, consider the source.I wouldn't claim that it would make a difference. Just offering up some evidence to refute the claim, by some people who are eager to see the team move, that the players might be eager to move to Houston. This doesn't necessarily prove anything, but it's a data point.
Donovan also dissed San Jose fans in his post-game comments last night and called them "idiots". The kid's really insightful, eh?Well, I didn't see those particular comments but I've seen similar ones in the past. He's not referring to the entire fan base, just the ones that really give him a hard time (cussing out and stuff like that). He also said, in the same article I referred to above, I believe,
"It's sad,'' Donovan said of the possibility that the Earthquakes could leave. "It's a good soccer city, a good soccer stadium.''
That indicates to me he doesn't think the entire fan base is made up of "idiots". I don't see how he could call it a "good soccer city" if he felt that way.
I know you are trying to defend your team staying in California but if it happens, it happens. With the low salaries of the MLS, the Earthquake players could at least make a decent living than living in high cost, high tax California.I think there's just potentially a lot more to it than cost of living. For example, I would guess weather is a pretty important factor for a professional athlete. There was a "Quakes Insider" piece earlier this year that showed where 3 or 4 of the younger players share a townhouse / condo near downtown San Jose. Nice new place, lots of activities, they're happy as a clam.
I think the potential move to Texas was actually one of the factors in Donovan's defection. He's made statements that indicate that.
Earthshaker
30 Oct 2005, 10:59 PM
I think there's just potentially a lot more to it than cost of living. For example, I would guess weather is a pretty important factor for a professional athlete.
I think the potential move to Texas was actually one of the factors in Donovan's defection. He's made statements that indicate that.
Weather-wise, you don't know what kind of a hell hole you live in compared to the weather in San Jose. I have been to Texas in the summer. It would be enough to scare me to LA. Read: We don't have humidity here.
Doesn't really sound like a dis on Houston to me. He's just saying why would anyone on the team want to pack up and move their wives and their kids and their pets to Houston, when they are settled and comfortable in the Bay Area.
That's what I was thinking when I read the quote. I personally wouldn't want to relocate my family, have to worry about moving 2000 miles, etc. That being said, I would like a team in Houston for my viewing convenience.
Beckham7
31 Oct 2005, 12:17 AM
I think what makes him qualified is that they are people he personally knows.
Exactly...San Jose is a better area to live than Houston anyways.But don't get me wrong i would love for Houston to have a team just not the Quakes or Wizards..
FC Tallavana
31 Oct 2005, 12:31 AM
I know you are trying to defend your team staying in California but if it happens, it happens. With the low salaries of the MLS, the Earthquake players could at least make a decent living than living in high cost, high tax California.
You can talk to a lot of people in Houston and they love it in Houston. I live in a very big house and have a great quality of life in Houston. Of course, 'Cali boy' Donovan would hate to live in Houston because he doesn't know anything else.
While Houston would at the top of my list for ideal hometowns, it's a lot further up the list than San Jose. Don't get me wrong, California is nice. I lived in San Diego for a couple of years and I've never had more fun. But, you can live like a king in Houston for the amount of money a bum would be ashamed to have in his pockets in San Jose.
FC Tallavana
31 Oct 2005, 12:32 AM
Exactly...San Jose is a better area to live than Houston anyways.But don't get me wrong i would love for Houston to have a team just not the Quakes or Wizards..
What makes it better? Seriously.
Weather-wise, you don't know what kind of a hell hole you live in compared to the weather in San Jose. I have been to Texas in the summer. It would be enough to scare me to LA. Read: We don't have humidity here.
I've been to San Jose & San Francisco for vacation in July.
I never want to have to wear a jacket in July again because of such a cold wind chill.
You can take the heat easy, its not that bad with water. However, a glass of water won't help you when its cold outside and you're wearing shorts.
Beckham7
31 Oct 2005, 12:36 AM
What makes it better? Seriously.
Crime rate isn't as high..More stuff to do....Come on, Its California we got everything here..:D
bright
31 Oct 2005, 12:41 AM
You can talk to a lot of people in Houston and they love it in Houston. I live in a very big house and have a great quality of life in Houston. Of course, 'Cali boy' Donovan would hate to live in Houston because he doesn't know anything else.
It would make sense that most of the people who live in Houston like it there. With today's transporation technology, it is easy for people to move wherever they like. Thus the population of most cities is self-selecting. For instance, I live in Seattle for a reason, and I would not voluntarily live in Houston, no offense.
A very big house isn't necessarily what Bay Area residents are looking for out of life. Your perception of quality of life may be different than that of a Bay Area resident.
- Paul
JazzyJ
31 Oct 2005, 01:00 AM
I've been to San Jose & San Francisco for vacation in July.
I never want to have to wear a jacket in July again because of such a cold wind chill.
You can take the heat easy, its not that bad with water. However, a glass of water won't help you when its cold outside and you're wearing shorts.The weather in San Jose in July (and throughout the year) is very different from the weather in San Francisco. There is really very little "cold wind chill" in San Jose in July, day or night. SF is a different story. This is one of the advantages San Jose has over San Francisco as a site for MLS. Night games are usually very pleasant in San Jose all season long, and in SF there'd likely be some very cold, windy nights.
Earthshaker
31 Oct 2005, 01:33 AM
I've been to San Jose & San Francisco for vacation in July.
I never want to have to wear a jacket in July again because of such a cold wind chill.
You can take the heat easy, its not that bad with water. However, a glass of water won't help you when its cold outside and you're wearing shorts.
San Francisco cold and chilly in July, definitely. San Jose, not a chance. In the Bay area we have what they refer to as micro climates. It can be a sunny 85 (and low humidity :) )in San Jose, and foggy and 60 degrees in San Fran, which is just 30 miles or so up the road. I lived most my life in the Seattle area and thought it was the best place on earth. Never in a million years did I think I would or could live in California. (A woman changed that thinking!) Now that I am here, I can honestly say, "you can't beat the weather!"
I hope Houston does get a team, an expansion team. The Quakes are staying put!
Armis36
31 Oct 2005, 01:41 AM
Your all missing the point. It doesn't have anything to do with attendance, or cost of living, or who has the better weather.
It all simply comes down to the fact that
a) AEG doesn't want to remain the owners of SJ
b) No I/O's have stepped forward and offered to buy the team to keep them in SJ, and
c) AEG have no future plans to build a stadium in N.Cali (which is what MLS want for all the teams)