Is sunny weather really all that Important for ye northerners? I'm from Louisiana and so use to humidity and hot climates. I'm done with all that. Though I now live in California but would love to move back to a snow-laden Sweden or rainy/windy Northeast.
I doubt Lalas could carry US soccer. Keller and Friedel did their part playing week in/week out against the best in the world. Dempsey and Bradley did the same, despite the many obstacles once they moved to bigger clubs and left to chase the $$$$. Not saying that's wrong. But their ambition got them to big clubs.
He has not. He lacked the ambition to test himself in the best leagues. How else do you explain his career choices?
Watching that video makes me realize how much history DMB is bringing with him. Congratulations man. Hope you do well in the tourney. You deserve it.
He married a Hollywood actress...He made craploads of money....He's happier in LA...WTF else do you need? Lack of ambition my left nut.
DMB has always had the heart of a lion. He's like an improved version of Hejduk but only more injury prone.
Yes, Sun is that important. It is literally better for your mind and body. People in the north often need supplements and artificial lighting to avoid winter depression. If I could pick up and move to my preferred climate without loss of income/hassle, I would do so.
Love me some Run-DMB. Speedy wingers with tons of energy who lack the ball skills to succeed at high levels in midfield can be turned into fantastic fullbacks (see Hejduk, Frankie). While DMB has more skill than Hejdude, and the switch was later in his career, it is still a good one for him. IIRC, he was only minutes away from a CL final with PSG only to lose out to Milan, yes? In 2005. He was double digit goals that year for PSV I believe.
Back on topic: Proud of DMB and how far he's come. I hope he shines in this one, certainly his last, and that he gets a good opportunity with a club team once this World Cup is over.
I've never seen anybody confuse DC with LA weather wise. From a quick search it appears that LA averages about 50 more sunny days a year and that says nothing about humidity and cold.
And this brings up a good point. For most humans, there are other, easily more important priorities than what we do to earn a living. Some people are not willing to forego those priorities to *maximize* other priorities. So, as an adult, I'm not going to fault someone for acting on life priorities that don't jibe with my footie fan priorities. While we may (arguably) legitimately accuse lando of lacking ambition on *soccer terms*, despite his unquestionably lofty accomplishments, it would be much harder to level the same accusation on his life. DMB on the other hand, I can't think of anything I might pick on him for.
Donovan has done a ton for US SOCCER. but the question I ask is would he have done more had he stuck it out in Europe? Could he have started for a big EL type club or got a role at a CL squad? Would a trophy or 2 or a running as best player of the season have done more for US soccer than his accomplishments in MLS? Could he have made it like Park Ji Sung did? And if he played in Europe, would he have had as many opportunities as he had with MLS? I can imagine his commitment would have wavered (as often most TOP players who return for pointless friendlies with their NT). I don't say whether Donovan lacks ambition or not. He clearly chose country over club. Which is not a bad thing.
With his talent, there's no question in my mind he could have done "more" for us soccer had he DMB levels of drive. Although it's hard for anyone to display the superhuman levels of professionalism park ji sung has every day, I personally think lando could have surpassed parks euro career if he went all in. And while lando would have traded any type of racism park might have faced for that infamous "anti American" bias in Europe many are talking about, he could have gone a long way towards obliterating that bias.
You asked me: I replied with an answer to those questions with: The part of Germany I lived in had weather that really wasn't that different than DC. Maybe a little colder in Germany during the winter, but not much. Coastal Germany has very different weather, and many more days of sunshine than where I lived. In other words, I've never seen anybody confuse Schönberg with Traben-Trarbach, weather wise.
I 100% agree. With the successes of Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Altidore (in Holland at least). Sky's the limit
I wasn't saying you were confused. I was just saying that DC/Germany weather is not LA weather. I don't know if he puts that much stock in it but I know that I do now. When I was a teen and picking colleges I didn't even think about it. If you tried to get me to school in the North now... I'd really have to be sold on the other factors.
I think that's a legit question. I mean, we'll never know for sure, but it could be the subject of an interesting counterfactual.
You sort of implied that Germany is a hideously ugly country that has perennially shitty weather. That's not in the least bit true.
Nope wrong. He didn't. Has he been the most well known player of the last 12 years? Yes! The "face" of US soccer? Yes! At times the best player on the team? Yes! Has he almost singlehandedly carried US Soccer, not even close. The current popularity of the game has a lot more to do with the game itself and a younger generations changing attitudes to it than any one player or event. Did Algeria help, sure as hell did, but even if we draw that game this 2014 World Cup is still bigger in the US than the last one. I would argue the fans have done more to carry US soccer than any single player or coach. I know longer call him names. Promised myself I in the 70th minute as I sat in the stadium in Pretoria I wouldn't call him a name if he scores. But he does lack ambition when it comes to playing at the highest level. I understand and respect his decision. He sees soccer and his career as merely a part of his life not his entire life. But he had the chance to test himself at the highest level and he choose not to. As a result it is fair to say he had a lack of ambition. As for the strange weather debate going on. I live in Southern California and love it. Had a friend visit from the UK. We went to the beach, the desert, the mountains beautiful weather the entire time. She liked it but she preferred Northern England. California was to dry, to crowded, she missed the rain. To each their own.