Nothing made me prouder as an American soccer fan when Landon Donovan slotted home the injury-time winner against Algeria that heroically sent the USMNT through to the knockout stages of the World Cup in 2010. It was a moment, that's for sure. A big moment, if not the biggest in US Soccer history (see above photo). I am forever grateful and a fan of Landon Donovan for his devotion and accomplishments for this country.
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| "Stop being meanies NYRBs" |
Landon Donovan the MLS player infuriates me. His cocky, over confident attitude just comes off as petulant to me. He is a real competitor - I'll give him that - but sometimes his do-no-wrong disposition is grating. Donovan's a great player, but he's sort of prone to complaining and whining. Just play hard like you do for the USMNT, dude!
Recent hate Full disclosure: I am a New York Red Bulls fan.
Landon's recent comments following a scrappy semi-final first leg with the New York Red Bulls, I thought, were unprofessional:
“There a few plays where they took some cheap shots at us. In all my years in this league, I’ve not played against a cheaper team, and they’ve been doing it all year. We saw it a few weeks ago with [Thierry] Henry kneeing someone in the back. We’ve seen that stuff all year. You just deal with it, and at the end of it, the cream rose to the top, and the better team won.”"What a d*ck." First thoughts that come to mind after reading that. Talk about attitude. The game was heated, there were tackles on both ends, and frankly, I believe LA embellished more than a few fouls (DAVID BECKHAM *ahem). Even if Rafa Marquez (the biggest baby/waste of space in the league) threw a ball at you at the end of the match, there's really no reason to denounce the whole team like a sad clown in public. As far as I can see, the Red Bulls are just as competitive and hard-nosed as any other team in the league. Forget about the little tidbits you're griping about and be happy you won!
When did footballers start getting soft? Cheap shots, Landon...really? You know how you counteract cheap shots (other than b*tching to the media after the match)? You win. You play hard and you win. You did that on Sunday...so why drone on and complain? Just shut up and play.
Tune in to leg two of this semi-final on Thursday at 11pm ET.
And one other thing: WE'RE RED, WE'RE BULLS, WE'RE REDDDDD BULLS. GO RED BULLS.
I'm with you on the Donovan part, but I feel the need to add a bit more. Full disclosure, I hate the Galaxy and the Redbull. If a team's reputation stems from the actions and attitudes of its leaders, which in this case I think it does, then the Galaxy are arrogant, spoiled babies (Donovan and Beckham). The Redbull are dirty and classless (Henry and Marquez). I want to cheer for the Redbull in this one, but really I'm just glad one of these two teams will be going home after tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteDamn. Timbers fan wrath. I'd hate to hear what you think of the Sounders.
ReplyDeleteI don't think these teams on the whole are characterized by their leaders. I agree with the individuals mentioned, with a soft spot for Henry, but on the whole, no.
Dirty and classless? Do you know a man named Dane Richards? Sure he has a dogs first name, but he is neither dirty nor classless. A hardworking little bundle. The same can be said on the other flank for LA's Mike Magee. It sounds like a fake name of an old Hollywood debonair, but he's neither arrogant nor spoiled. We need players like this on the forefront of our teams!
In other news: thanks for Keel. He has been AMAZING!
Haha. Honestly, just from watching Keel a few times this season, he's gotten so much better since he was on the Timbers two seasons ago. Back then I couldn't understand how he was a professional soccer player. He just always looked so awkward, on and off the ball, like he really had to go to the bathroom or something.
ReplyDeleteI think the attitudes of guys like Donovan/Beckham and Marquez/Henry do set the tone for their respective teams, though I'll admit it's much more evident with cocky LA. I like Magee and Richards (even though he owned the Timbers this year) and a bunch of other guys on either team, like Rogers. They stand out because they work hard and go about their business. But in general, I think the lack of class from both team's leaders trickles down.
I used to have a soft-spot for Henry, but the guy's a disgrace, no matter how talented he might be.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/sports/soccer/henry-defends-red-bulls-tactics-before-decisive-game.html?src=recg
ReplyDeleteLuke Rodgers is dirty too, it's not just Henry and Marquez:
ReplyDeletehttp://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/DTotD-Luke-Rodgers-blasts-ball-at-woman-8217-s?urn=sow-wp6330
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2982161.stm