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The SBI Show: Episode 160 (Talking Landon Donovan’s USMNT farewell, Jermaine Jones, and more)

Landon Donovan

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP

Landon Donovan’s U.S. Men’s National Team farewell, and Jermaine Jones’ MLS arrival, headline the latest episode of The SBI Show.

Episode 160 of The SBI Show discusses the recently-announced inclusion of Landon Donovan in the USMNT’s October friendly against Ecuador, which will serve as Donovan’s swan song from the national team. We discuss the significance of the inclusion, and the reaction by many U.S. fans to Donovan being honored.

Co-host Garrett Cleverly and I also discuss the Jones move to New England, and the latest questionable maneuvering by Major League Soccer that made the big deal happen. We talk about MLS transparency as well as the single-entity structure and what it might take for the league to start giving teams more freedom to operate on their own.

We also discuss Americans Abroad, the latest from Europe, and we even wrap up the show with some Emmy talk.

Give Episode 160 of The SBI Show a listen after the jump:

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What did you think of the show? Agree with our take on the Donovan USMNT finale? Think we will see MLS teams be given more autonomy any time soon?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. @32:24 – “These faceless people…these suits in New York”
    that’s right, Ives! FIGHT THE POWER!!!

    Glad to hear more love for FCD and at least one of you had the cajones to give your opinion (and the correct one at that Garrett) on the Blas second yellow red card…though equal amount of props go Ives’ way for artfully dodging any statement of his judgment of the play.

    Just a little side note, Amphibian – chill pills come in many different shapes, sizes and colors these days, ask your doctor if experimentation is right for you.

    Reply
    • Yo, I’m cucumber chill, babay. Perhaps I got a little absorbed in the fiasco, turned into a sort of overzealous caricature, but it was all like water on a duck’s back, in reality.

      Reply
  2. 27th minute: MLS single entity issue.

    I like what MLS is doing/trying to do, as far as helping to maintain a parity in the league, keeping our league growing steadily, all teams at a relatively similar pace. I don’t want them to give teams that much more autonomy, I just want them to be much more transparent in their decision making.

    Reply
  3. Finally home from work, and very happy to see another podcast. I’ll go out back and take in the evening, with my dog and a few beers, while I listen, hoping to hear some mention of that long forgotten contest. (Saying that I’ll be drinking is most likely foreshadowing the tone of my future comment(s) on this board.)

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    • Ives,

      Scarf-gate has gone on long enough; this controversy will destroy the show unless dealt with properly.

      Just give this man his scarf already.

      -Fred

      Reply
      • Haha, thank you, my friend.

        I don’t even care about the scarf anymore though, honestly. Perhaps my thorough calculations were incorrect, and the prize is some other person’s honor. No big deal.
        Why I continue my struggle, is because I like podcast contests, and think SBI should do more of them, but, I feel that with this hanging over their heads, like a sword over Damocles, they really can’t do another credible contest.
        I think that’s what you implied by saying this ongoing drama could destroy the podcast.

        (Ives, please know that all of my comments concerning this matter have been made with my tongue firmly in my cheek. I’m aware you may have already announced a winner, and I am simply oblivious. However, I wouldn’t continue this bit, this charade, if I didn’t have my heart behind it’s purpose. Do you feel there is no merit behind my rally cries, or have I offended you, and made you obstinate to acknowledge me? Either way, I’ll continue to listen, read, support, and make dumb comments.)

        (Yo, if you are ever running out of ideas for intro beats, hit me up!)

        (Sorry Fred, I started out replying to you, and ended up talking to Ives the whole time.)

      • Obviously, that was written before I heard the end of the show.

        Thank you, Ives. I have been with you long before the SBI show started, and long before I started sharing raps on SoundCloud, to clear the air about my motivations.

        Garrett, I appreciate your opinion, regarding shout outs on podcasts, but think you shouldn’t doubt so much, without fully understanding the context.

        I am glad this whole ordeal has been put to rest. One day, we’ll all laugh together about it, at an after party to the premiere of this story’s big budget hollywood film, as we sip girly cocktails.

      • I also should say, that dudes don’t win contests everyday. I don’t think I’ve ever won jack.
        My stripes is hard earned, baby.

        So, when I think I might have won something I covet, from a analyst and reporter that I dig and respect, well, I’m going to search it out.

        I know I wasn’t acting serious in these comments a lot of the time, but I promise you that I wasn’t consciously trolling. I thought what I was doing was kind of important for the credibility of the site, even though I saw and acknowledged the ridiculousness in my plea.

        Whatever, it’s done now.

        Props to Ali Dia for his encouragement, in my moments of SBI Show despair.

  4. Ives, which young American do you see lining up as Jermaine Jones’s midfield opponent in MLS and earning a USMNT spot in the process?

    It has to be in the minds of Kitchen, Ulloa, Trapp, Gil, etc… and it will be interesting to watch.

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  5. I long for the day when journalists return to no comments meaning no comments. However I’m not a journalist so,,,, JK can’t be liking this because if Landon decides to play 100% and his teammates go out of their way to pass him the ball he could have a multi-goal game (especially if the Ecuadorians get into the spirit of the tribute and not play overly aggressive defense on him) and then the WC snub becomes front page news again.

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    • “JK canā€™t be liking this because if Landon decides to play 100% and his teammates go out of their way to pass him the ball he could have a multi-goal game (especially if the Ecuadorians get into the spirit of the tribute and not play overly aggressive defense on him) and then the WC snub becomes front page news again.”

      I don’t think anyone, even JK, is worried about whether JK likes this or not. Why should he care one way or the other? He has what he wants.

      This game has the potential to be an exhibition game where everyone will put on a show. which means it will tell you nothing about what might have happened in the WC in Brazil which, by the way will have been over by nearly over three months by the time the Ecuador game is played.

      The people who will dog JK until his dying days over LD’s treatment or just because they hate JK anyway need no incentive. This game means nothing to them either way.

      However, for whoever is willing to move on, the game will give LD a singular, unique honor and it will give the issue some dreaded “closure”. After all, I could be wrong but I don’t believe the USSF has actually ever held a “retirement match” like this for any player ever.

      He is now on at least equal footing with Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

      It is not a true testimonial because the gate from a real testimonial match is typically donated to the player for his fave charity and I doubt the USSF would ever give money away to anyone even LD.

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      • “The people who will dog JK until his dying days over LDā€™s treatment or just because they hate JK anyway need no incentive. This game means nothing to them either way.”

        no one’s dogging him…he’s living in the bed HE made GW…you don’t get that part. Jurgen did this, no one else.

      • “heā€™s living in the bed HE made GWā€¦you donā€™t get that part. Jurgen did this, no one else”

        Sure I get it, JK is happy with his decision from what I can tell.

        Those unhappy with it talk about what might have been. They are part of the past.

        JK moved on a long time ago. Which is why I doubt he has no issue with this tribute one way or the other.

  6. am i the only one annoyed with this speculation that JK didn’t want this callup for LD to happen? yes, we can all agree that Sunil drove this, but JK is not dumb. LD is the best US player to ever play, there is NO WAY Klinsmann did not know this was going to happen. so to accuse him of not being okay with this seems really lame to me. he’s a professional, LD’s a professional, and they can put it together for one game.

    turn the focus on honoring LD and don’t turn this into a narrative about JK disapproving of this call up. especially if the sole evidence is he doesn’t have a quote in the announcement.

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    • also, as an FYI Ives, this REI pop-up ad keeps pausing the podcast. i don’t even have the browser window open, so i know i’m not doing anything to trigger it.

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    • Where exactly did anyone say Klinsmann didn’t WANT this for Donovan? Saying it wasn’t his idea isn’t the same as saying he doesn’t want it to happen.

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      • multiple places, not necessarily referring to your podcast. Goff, Doyle, Carr all implied it yesterday. but since the topic was in the podcast, i figure i would see what SBI readers thought. i actually appreciate that you DIDN’T say that.

      • Ah, OK. I was gonna say. I actually thought I said Klinsmann has to understand the need for an honor like this, whether he likes Donovan or not.

      • for sure, you absolutely did. i totally agree and wish that had been the narrative in other places as opposed to what i was reading.

    • I sincerely doubt you’re alone bryan

      but the reason the narratives about Jurgen disapproving of this exist–accurate or not–are a result of how Jurgen bungled the LD situation imo, and so are a result of his own making seems to me. I’d like for it to be to honor LD but it all seems way beyond that now unfortunately with Jurgen being the coach and the obvious problem he has with LD

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      • absolutely, it’s his fault this is happening. i certainly don’t deny that. i’m in the same boat as the people who thought LD should have been at the WC (i’ve always said over Davis or Wondo).

        i guess i was just annoyed to jump on Twitter the other day after hearing about this news and seeing tweets from journalists i respect all accuse JK of not wanting this because he didn’t have a quote in the release from USSF. and then to see a few minutes later JK tweet something.

        it just rubbed me the wrong way. idk, maybe i’m just sick of hearing about JK v. LD every time one of them is mentioned anywhere.

      • “maybe iā€™m just sick of hearing about JK v. LD every time one of them is mentioned anywhere”

        Maybe you’d prefer a second by second account of how Jozy’s career is rising and falling?

      • worse is the second by second attacks on Jozy followed closely by having to endure those who have anointed Jurgen as Savior evidenced by his exclusion of LD and its justification šŸ™‚

    • beachbum,

      What makes you think it is JK’s gesture?.

      Or even Sunil’s?

      There are 14 other votes on the USSF board, other powerful people in the USSF and if they wanted this, and I’m sure they did, why would Sunil or JK give a f++k one way or the other?

      Should LD give them all, some of whom might have been on his side in this little debate, a golden shower because they want to give him the singular honor of a “retirement game”, something they have never done for any other USMNT player as far as I can tell?

      It would also be pissing in the general direction of those fans who will want to attend.

      Does Landon want to do that?

      Reply
      • “something they have never done for any other USMNT player as far as I can tell?”

        other USMNT players of Donovan’s stature have been treated with the respect they deserve. They were allowed to retire instead of being slapped in the face in front of the country and the world

      • Mr. zip,

        You miss the point. There are no there USMNT players of LD’s stature.

        But even players of that level sooner or later have to be told they aren’t good enough any more by the manager.

        Your problem is you don’t agree with the manager’s opinion and of course, you lose that debate since he picks the team and you don’t.

      • GW, I read Jurgen’s tweet, was referring to it when I wrote that, and I’ll stand by it

        LD will not do that of course

      • beachbum,

        So you expect LD to send an email to JK telling him “f++k you and horse you rode in but I’m going to my testimonial in spite of you and your treatment of me anyway”?

        How do you he hasn’t already done that? And what business is it of yours or mine if he did?

    • I usually don’t speak as much as others on this LD/JK issue because I am over it, but some of you LD fans REALLY need to let this go. He should act CHILDISHLY so he can “strike” back. I really hope he is mature enough not to do that. It is even sadder that others on this board would entertain it. Personally, I think that both LD and JK have issues with each other. BOTH! However, as BIG an LD fan as I am, I was a little taken aback by his behavior after he got left off by taking swipes at the team and JK. I still think JK should have brought him, but this is not the first time a coach or boss has played favorites. It didn’t make a huge difference (if we are being honest). He might have made the last shot that Wondo missed, but given the balance of everything, would TH had made the necessary 16 saves to keep us there). Who cares? It’s over!!!!!!!!!!

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    • I’d rather just see LD go away for awhile. Forget the “tribute” game let’s just let him go away. It’s not like he’s going to stay away, he will come back and play again, he’s a spoiled little primadonna and he’s a good player…that’s all, he’s good but not great LD needs a break from the game and we need a break from him so less attention paid to him now the better.

      Reply

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