An Uncertain Donovan

touche, tim

 

Substitute "Dempsey" for "Dempsey fans" and you are onto something. I've never seen a shred of evidence that they don't like each other. It's all projection by fans.

 

That was part of the joke...

 

some conversations I just need to stay out of, as they are over my head!

 

After last night, DMB needs to call his buddy, to tell him the old band is getting back together...

 

Just ran across this on YouTube:

We really miss Donovan.

 

OT, but it just looked to me like DMB was having too much fun out there. It might be that his face just seems to naturally carry a semi-smirk, but he just seemed loose and intense at the same time.

Maybe he'll tell Landy how much fun it is to play in the snow!

 

Donovan simultaneously gearing up and sowing his wild oats at the University of Wisconsin of all places. The descriptions of him by the Wisconsin players are pretty cool. Hope he hit some keggers while in town. Never got a taste of the good ole college experience till now!

http://www.wisconsinsoccercentral.com/college/uw-men/4206-badgers-relish-sessions-with-donovan

I have to say, this kind of ramping up isn't consistent with someone who's about to quit the game. Welcome back, Landon!

 

Landon has turned up at two college campuses during this sabbatical, both in situations where he wants to provide guidance to students. Interesting.

The bit about him knowing everyone's name, listening to the coach, and playing within the team structure even at college training - that's what I love about him as a person. I realize that this lack of ego is also what probably kept him from the upper reaches of the club game, but....I see more to admire in it than I do in naked, self-serving ambition.

 

I believe he also showed up at Michigan State - they're the Spartans, right? So counting USC, that's 3 colleges. He's a good guy. And quite obviously, a natural leader - contrary to some opinions in here.

 

Training and scrimmaging alongside a player of Donovan's stature had an immediate impact on the Badgers.
"It had a good effect," said senior midfielder and captain Tomislav Zadro, who is coming back from a torn ACL in his knee. "The guys, the intensity just went up, everybody wanted to show their best stuff."

That is the same thing we've seen happen when he plays with the US.

 

There are a lot of people who have an uncritical conception of leadership that Landon doesn't try to fit into.

 

Dana Wessel ‏@DanaWessel

24m​

Obama to Landon Donovan: "You wanna take Air Force One to Mexico City? We can still make it. Just say the word."

 

He's back...



At least for the Galaxy.

 

Well, in colleges there are also hot chicks, so...

 

That online petition clearly worked.

 

The only story that could possibly top the "SnowClassico"/Colorado-grounds-crew-incredible-night-of-shoveling item from 3/22 would perhaps have been if Donovan had actually responded to Obama with "Let's go." And then gotten to Mexico City via Air Force One, somehow gotten on the game-day roster (I do wonder if he's even listed on the official preliminary list with FIFA for this match) and came on as a late game sub for Zusi or whomever and scored the winning goal as the Mexecutioner on 3/26.

 

^He'll help bury them in September.

I'll also take heroics against Monterrey.

P.S. Does he not look so happy and relaxed in that photo? About a world of difference from any image of him Nov/December of last year.

 

Obama, "Have they got a uniform in Mexico with the number 10 on the back of it?"

 

Well, apparently not:

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/reporting-twitter-espn-san-jose-mercury-new_b100139

 

I don't know about you, but hearing that from Landon brings a smile to my face.

 

I'll believe it when I see him walking through the tunnel in Kingston.

 

It's bound to happen.

But yes, one just can't trust twitter.

 

If he has his drive back, that's probably a bad thing for MLS and CONCACAF opponents.