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A look at Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan (JohnToddISI)

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

 In the coming days and weeks we will see a plethora of TV profiles on U.S. national team players, and few will face the spotlight more than U.S. star Landon Donovan.

Here is a new look at Donovan from the folks at CBS News (and no, die-hards won't learn anything, but it's still interesting to see these profiles that are clearly made for folks who have yet to catch on to the growing soccer craze in this country):

Comments

  1. Oter:

    Thanks for sharing that Landon Donovan World Cup song… Awesome stuff… Seems that D-Wreck never runs out of crazy stuff!

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  2. Reyna was named to the ’02 All Tournament team after the World Cup, had nearly as many caps (of course nowhere as many goals) as Lando, and overlapped with Alexi Lalas, so whatever success the team had with Reyna is so much more impressive.

    I kid. I love Lalas. Such a goofy bastard.

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  3. Yeah, but you’re already a sports fan. Think they’re trying to convert those who either a) are not sports fans at all (think of how they pimp the Olympics, here) or b) sports fans but not at all familiar with soccer.

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  4. In what respect, being the greatest national team player ever because Donovan has already proven that. At a club level, Reyna wins but Donovan still has some good years left in him.

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  5. got mad luv for Land-O!!!

    i could do w/o ESPN trying to sell to the general public. i know they like to dumb down things, but really, the general public doesnt want things dumbed down. when someone wants to watch a new sport, they dont wanna hear the basics – they wanna hear how intricate it is and how its a whole ‘nutha subculture – that makes things exciting and interesting! when i watch lacrosse i dont want a Bob Costas telling me the basics and talking to me like a 4th grader. i want the experts who live and breathe the sport to tell me how great it’s gonna be and i can feel the excitement in their voices and see it in their eyes. im tired of basic cable or ESPN trying to dumb down things, or draw analogies to baseball (that’s like saving a homerun!). im really hoping the announcers are awesome.

    ok im done!

    i must say I do luv me some ESPN HD!!! wow so crazy good i can see glares off donovan’s head in detail in my own house!

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  6. JohnC,

    You bring up some great points. This issue is of what defines someonesnational identity is interesting. I agree that he is American and should be tied to the USA based on this. Rossi is not doubt a walking contradictory–according to a recentESPN article he basically considers himself 100% American in everything other than soccer. However, as long as the current governing rules allow for this to happen, this will no doubt continue and may even worsen. Take outnationality for a second…lets say youwere a 23 year old that has gone through anice European academy andhad the chance to start for the L.A. Galaxy or the opportunity to compete for a spot on any of the final four CL rosters. What would you do all things being equal? I know what I would do.

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  7. I wonder if there will be many stories on Howard or Cherundolo or even Bocanegra?

    Most stories seem to favor Donovan, Altidore or Dempsey.

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  8. It’s a step forward. I don’t mind that mainstream media feels it has (correctly) to introduce our best player to the general public. In past years the story wouldn’t have been told at all.

    I loved the description of the EPL. It sounded like a country club.

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  9. I love Torres. But before we go off the deep end talking about how great Torres is for choosing the US and how bad Rossi is for choosing Italy, remember that Torres only chose the US after Sven ignored him for the Mexico team. Not as black and white as most think.

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  10. The Italians left forwards Rossi, Totti, Del Piero, Toni, Balotelli and Cassano at home… they’ve scored 74 goals between them in all competitions and 55 Serie A/La Liga league goals… talk about depth (or bad roster decisions)…

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  11. Hell ya, I’m glad Benedict didn’t make the cut, I hope he has a long introspective look into his career decisions, and never mentally recovers.

    🙂

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  12. I def. blame him a hundred percent. He is American, born in America, grew up in America, his dad coached High School soccer here. He is not Italian, he is American. Torres grew up a couple hours from Mexico in a neighborhood that is mostly Mexican and is called Gringo. What reception do you think Italian Soccer fans (ones actually in Italy) have of him- they think, they know he is an American. The guy could have been a God in America, starter on the US National Team with Italian Roots, the Media would have ate that up. Every goal he scored in Spain would have been a highlight on all these websites, he could have played in the Olympics, U20 and U17 world cup and prob. had a deal with Nike just like Jozy but at the end of the day he made a foolish decision. I blame him 50000%!

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  13. yes, yes we can. he’s an opportunist and now the chickens have come home to roost. laughing my arse off.

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  14. If that is the case, I really feel for Rossi. As a huge U.S. fan, I hold no grudge against Rossi and only wish him the best. Does it hurt that he chose the FOUR time WC champions over the U.S.? YUP! But can you honestly blame him?

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  15. Well… I know a Villareal team-mate who would have loved to have a quick and familia strike partner up top with him this year starting in SA… shame pops had to get involved and force the Azzurri on him..

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  16. Love the galaxy goal from last year that ends the story. Great shot, and awesome reaction from Beckham (in slow-mo, you could see him start to celebrate before the ball even went in).

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  17. I’m really glad Landon is getting some much-deserved national exposure. It’s funny they say he’s “suddenly” appeared. It took him going to Europe and shining at Everton for the general US media/public to hear about him. But at least it’s finally happening.

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