What’s best about this ad is that it is a perfect example of a rec league team. We had a guy who literally smoked during his breaks but was faster than anyone on the field. We had another guy who was always tanned and brought his girlfriend to flex his muscles but he couldn’t even kick a ball straight. Some french dudes who were… well, french. And then the guy who was fast that everyone just kicked the ball to and he would miss the open net nearly every time.
I once played against the great Carlos Alberto (Captain of what is widely considered the greatest WC team ever [1970 Brazil] and scorer of what is considered the greatest team goal ever in WC history [the great lay-off from Pele]) in the U.S. Amateur Cup at Metropolitan Oval in Queens, New York. The historic ground/field was a complete dump prior to a multi-million dollar renovation,…no grass and dirt/sand. It was something out of a post-apocolypse film.
On that particular day,…it was pouring rain and the field was a swamp. I couldn’t believe we were playing. Anyway, The Great Man was playing in the center of midfield and the ball went into the middle of the huge puddle. Alberto was first to the ball. It was impossible to play and I knew the game was really just a rugby match at that point so I used my considerable size (6’4″ 200lb) to dump Alberto face first into the huge puddle of mud. He got up,…literally covered head to toe in mud and sand. He was seething!!! I looked at him and said “Welcome to Queens. This ain’t Mexico City.”
I once witnessed a former South Korean WC vet in his late 30’s dribble from the top of the 18 to the opposite end and score in an adult league…. unbelievable…. The guy kept getting hacked down and eventually decided this would make a strong statement.
My buddy played co-ed rec soccer with Jaime Moreno in the DC area. Back in the heyday of the Washington Freedom (young Abby Wambach days), I saw a group of Freedom players dismantle a rec team in an indoor league. That matchup was really unfair. There were also a couple Freedom players who would pop up in an outdoor co-ed league, as well.
Landon is a million times more charismatic in advertising than he is in interviews. I think it’s time for him to get the acting bug!
My parents played in an indoor co-ed league and played against Redmond Lane, who played with the St. Louis Steamers in the 80’s. I was young but I remember him almost taking a few of my mom’s girlfriends’ heads off with shots from about half field. It was ridiculous.
You know, there’s still something about these Donovan ads that rubs me the wrong way. Like Donovan still thinks he’s not getting his just recognition for being the best player on the field. I get that he might have a chip on his shoulder – probably rightfully so – but sometimes these sort of self-deprecating stunts seem tinged with latent self-aggrandization. Maybe I’m the only one.
I really like how Donovan seems to not take himself too seriously in these ads. I think it is refreshing and a great example for all of us. I have not always been in his corner, but admire the way he seems to handle things these days.
Sorry to reply to my own post, but I do want to add this. All of this leads me to think that maybe I was wrong or poorly informed in days gone by. And yes I think he is the greatest player the USMNT has ever had.
Agreed. I think he has a healthy sense of his place in the world. I hate how his national career ended, but I think he’s happy with where he is at. And that’s all that really matters.
Not taking himself too seriously is maybe why he got on Klinsmann’s bad side. Klinsmann expects soccer players to be 24/7 concentrating only on soccer.
Im not sayin Donovan is wrong to be less than super serious but yes for a guy like JK. (Or dudes like Ronaldo for that matter.) Success is everything
No its not a healthy attitude but thats how you win.
Sorry, the deal with Klinsmann is much bigger than that. It goes back a long ways and Klinsmann is a douche for it. The tweet from his son told you everything you needed to know about what discussions were had in that house about Donovan.
Nobody will ever convince me that Brad Davis and Wondolowski deserved to be on that team over Donovan. Klinsmann has transformed this team into the Germany B/C squad and it bears no resemblance to the great US teams I loved growing up.
Give me Ramos, Stewart, Pope, Reyna etc over this non US team any day. I’d rather we lose and work hard than hear all the bloviating coming from this clown.
Anyone played against famous ex-pros in their rec leagues? One of my team mates said they played against Etcheverry in the local leagues after he retired. Were they still fit and several levels above everyone else or they were just like any other guy out there?
I havent played against any famous ex-pros but have played against some not famous ex-pros and some high level d1 guys several years removed from their playing days. They see the field some much better than everyone else it doesnt really matter if theyre not as fit as everyone else.
Pretty sure you meant to say, your son, not your father
Read that again.
Played against a few retired MLS guys in my league in the Tampa Bay area.
Yes, still a level above, mostly because their vision and touch were still so sharp.
Mark Chung and Diego Serna, in particular, were several steps above.
Played against Lalas in the SFSFL. He was playing as a striker for the San Francisco Greek Americans, coached by Lothar Osiander, first coach of LA Galaxy, . Played against Christopher Sullivan in the same league (late 90’s early 2000’s). SFSFL!
Back in my 20s in the bay area and when you’d still see this, played against a few guys home from college who eventually had short stints in MLS. On the flip side had a guy (I’ll have to dig up his name) with about 7 caps and a couple of goals (in the 1980s) playing at about age 48 and sorta dominating. The ex college players in their 40s were more valuable than the young guns at age 20ish.
I played against Chung too, about 8 years ago. Eric Eichman was also on the team.
The was a 7-a-side, co-ed league.
Last summer I took my kids to NYC. We stayed at a dumpy hotel in Chinatown. Across the street from our room was a park, with rec league soccer matches going. We went across to watch, and my son realized the guy playing center back for the one team was Steve Nash. After the game, he went out to say hello, and Nash kicked the ball around with him for about five minutes. Very cool.
I like that i think of Nash as “small” but at 6’3″ he is like perfext CB height.
wow, i oddly had no idea Nash was 6’3″, and you’re right, he’d be a great CB i bet.
When I was a senior in high school, I worked at a soccer camp during the summer. 3 of the coaches were ex-pros (Brazilian who played for Cosmos, Mexican who played in Liga MX, and a guy from Trinidad). I played on good teams in NY: top 10 ranked in the state, college team that was regionally ranked, and ranked club team). These guys were MUCH better. When we played pick up games, their ability to move and place the ball was uncanny. I was faster than 2 of them, but their ability to move the ball and hit open space/men, direct the game was another level.
My local league has a few ex-pros. No matter how old, (even in their late 40’s or early 50’s) … they are head and shoulders above us mortals. Normally they will play down to their competition and are very cool to play against (or for). They’ll “take over” once in a while … and when they do, it’s amazing to see … unless you’re the one getting scored on!
I played against Roy Lassiter in a pickup game in the Austin, TX, area in the early 2000s. He was living in the area at the time. By the standards on that field that day, he was phenomenal in terms of fitness and skill.
I played against a guy who played for Palmeiras back in the day. Even after two blowout knee surgeries which forced him to retire from the professional game, he still blew away everyone on the field. I also currently play in a rec league against a team made up of mostly over 40 former English division 2 and 3 guys who as a unit don’t move very much, but never get beat because of their spacing, triangles and clever passing. They usually have one forward up top who can hustle. Most of these guys were former Grimbsy Town etc.
There is this one other guy who must be like 50 who plays for an over 30 team who played in England, but I can’t remember where. He is miles above everyone on the field and even has moobs that distract everyone.
Since when did this site start deleting harmless comments? Id’ say it’s about time to dump this all together if that’s the case.
What’s best about this ad is that it is a perfect example of a rec league team. We had a guy who literally smoked during his breaks but was faster than anyone on the field. We had another guy who was always tanned and brought his girlfriend to flex his muscles but he couldn’t even kick a ball straight. Some french dudes who were… well, french. And then the guy who was fast that everyone just kicked the ball to and he would miss the open net nearly every time.
I once played against the great Carlos Alberto (Captain of what is widely considered the greatest WC team ever [1970 Brazil] and scorer of what is considered the greatest team goal ever in WC history [the great lay-off from Pele]) in the U.S. Amateur Cup at Metropolitan Oval in Queens, New York. The historic ground/field was a complete dump prior to a multi-million dollar renovation,…no grass and dirt/sand. It was something out of a post-apocolypse film.
On that particular day,…it was pouring rain and the field was a swamp. I couldn’t believe we were playing. Anyway, The Great Man was playing in the center of midfield and the ball went into the middle of the huge puddle. Alberto was first to the ball. It was impossible to play and I knew the game was really just a rugby match at that point so I used my considerable size (6’4″ 200lb) to dump Alberto face first into the huge puddle of mud. He got up,…literally covered head to toe in mud and sand. He was seething!!! I looked at him and said “Welcome to Queens. This ain’t Mexico City.”
Ha, that video was fun.
LD: The only player to ever make me cry with a goal.
2002 World Cup. 2nd Round. USA vs. Mexico …. Cross by Eddie Lewis, Donovan heads it in …. 2-0
I once witnessed a former South Korean WC vet in his late 30’s dribble from the top of the 18 to the opposite end and score in an adult league…. unbelievable…. The guy kept getting hacked down and eventually decided this would make a strong statement.
This coach clearly comes from the coaching tree of Jürgen Klinsmann.
Love Landon.
Rec leagues are fun, too.
My buddy played co-ed rec soccer with Jaime Moreno in the DC area. Back in the heyday of the Washington Freedom (young Abby Wambach days), I saw a group of Freedom players dismantle a rec team in an indoor league. That matchup was really unfair. There were also a couple Freedom players who would pop up in an outdoor co-ed league, as well.
Landon is a million times more charismatic in advertising than he is in interviews. I think it’s time for him to get the acting bug!
My parents played in an indoor co-ed league and played against Redmond Lane, who played with the St. Louis Steamers in the 80’s. I was young but I remember him almost taking a few of my mom’s girlfriends’ heads off with shots from about half field. It was ridiculous.
This is why America likes Donovan…can make fun of himself a little bit. A little humility goes a long way. Donovan will be missed.
You know, there’s still something about these Donovan ads that rubs me the wrong way. Like Donovan still thinks he’s not getting his just recognition for being the best player on the field. I get that he might have a chip on his shoulder – probably rightfully so – but sometimes these sort of self-deprecating stunts seem tinged with latent self-aggrandization. Maybe I’m the only one.
Yes
Yes, you’re the only one.
Yep, you are. Seek help.
The coach’s job is to get the best out of his players. With Donavon, JK failed spectacularly. Sure Donavon bears some responsibility, but JK failed.
Played with an ex-Liverpool and capped English player who was overweight and in this late 40s and his passing and vision were amazing.
I really like how Donovan seems to not take himself too seriously in these ads. I think it is refreshing and a great example for all of us. I have not always been in his corner, but admire the way he seems to handle things these days.
Sorry to reply to my own post, but I do want to add this. All of this leads me to think that maybe I was wrong or poorly informed in days gone by. And yes I think he is the greatest player the USMNT has ever had.
Agreed. I think he has a healthy sense of his place in the world. I hate how his national career ended, but I think he’s happy with where he is at. And that’s all that really matters.
Not taking himself too seriously is maybe why he got on Klinsmann’s bad side. Klinsmann expects soccer players to be 24/7 concentrating only on soccer.
Excellent point, Gary.
Im not sayin Donovan is wrong to be less than super serious but yes for a guy like JK. (Or dudes like Ronaldo for that matter.) Success is everything
No its not a healthy attitude but thats how you win.
Sorry, the deal with Klinsmann is much bigger than that. It goes back a long ways and Klinsmann is a douche for it. The tweet from his son told you everything you needed to know about what discussions were had in that house about Donovan.
Nobody will ever convince me that Brad Davis and Wondolowski deserved to be on that team over Donovan. Klinsmann has transformed this team into the Germany B/C squad and it bears no resemblance to the great US teams I loved growing up.
Give me Ramos, Stewart, Pope, Reyna etc over this non US team any day. I’d rather we lose and work hard than hear all the bloviating coming from this clown.
Anyone played against famous ex-pros in their rec leagues? One of my team mates said they played against Etcheverry in the local leagues after he retired. Were they still fit and several levels above everyone else or they were just like any other guy out there?
I havent played against any famous ex-pros but have played against some not famous ex-pros and some high level d1 guys several years removed from their playing days. They see the field some much better than everyone else it doesnt really matter if theyre not as fit as everyone else.
My father played against Eric wynalda when he was a kid and yes that makes me very young
Pretty sure you meant to say, your son, not your father
Read that again.
Played against a few retired MLS guys in my league in the Tampa Bay area.
Yes, still a level above, mostly because their vision and touch were still so sharp.
Mark Chung and Diego Serna, in particular, were several steps above.
Played against Lalas in the SFSFL. He was playing as a striker for the San Francisco Greek Americans, coached by Lothar Osiander, first coach of LA Galaxy, . Played against Christopher Sullivan in the same league (late 90’s early 2000’s). SFSFL!
Back in my 20s in the bay area and when you’d still see this, played against a few guys home from college who eventually had short stints in MLS. On the flip side had a guy (I’ll have to dig up his name) with about 7 caps and a couple of goals (in the 1980s) playing at about age 48 and sorta dominating. The ex college players in their 40s were more valuable than the young guns at age 20ish.
I played against Chung too, about 8 years ago. Eric Eichman was also on the team.
The was a 7-a-side, co-ed league.
Last summer I took my kids to NYC. We stayed at a dumpy hotel in Chinatown. Across the street from our room was a park, with rec league soccer matches going. We went across to watch, and my son realized the guy playing center back for the one team was Steve Nash. After the game, he went out to say hello, and Nash kicked the ball around with him for about five minutes. Very cool.
I like that i think of Nash as “small” but at 6’3″ he is like perfext CB height.
wow, i oddly had no idea Nash was 6’3″, and you’re right, he’d be a great CB i bet.
When I was a senior in high school, I worked at a soccer camp during the summer. 3 of the coaches were ex-pros (Brazilian who played for Cosmos, Mexican who played in Liga MX, and a guy from Trinidad). I played on good teams in NY: top 10 ranked in the state, college team that was regionally ranked, and ranked club team). These guys were MUCH better. When we played pick up games, their ability to move and place the ball was uncanny. I was faster than 2 of them, but their ability to move the ball and hit open space/men, direct the game was another level.
Don, join my team!
My local league has a few ex-pros. No matter how old, (even in their late 40’s or early 50’s) … they are head and shoulders above us mortals. Normally they will play down to their competition and are very cool to play against (or for). They’ll “take over” once in a while … and when they do, it’s amazing to see … unless you’re the one getting scored on!
I played against Roy Lassiter in a pickup game in the Austin, TX, area in the early 2000s. He was living in the area at the time. By the standards on that field that day, he was phenomenal in terms of fitness and skill.
I played against a guy who played for Palmeiras back in the day. Even after two blowout knee surgeries which forced him to retire from the professional game, he still blew away everyone on the field. I also currently play in a rec league against a team made up of mostly over 40 former English division 2 and 3 guys who as a unit don’t move very much, but never get beat because of their spacing, triangles and clever passing. They usually have one forward up top who can hustle. Most of these guys were former Grimbsy Town etc.
There is this one other guy who must be like 50 who plays for an over 30 team who played in England, but I can’t remember where. He is miles above everyone on the field and even has moobs that distract everyone.
Funny.
I’m now going to refer to everyone as Hat Trick Rick.
Make it stop