During Sunday's US-Ecuador match, Eric Wynalda suggested that Landon Donovan was disingenuous when he said he was so excited about the L.A. Galaxy's season that he was considering skipping out on the summer tournaments. Wynalda said Donovan's reasoning was "an excuse" and seemed to imply that Donovan was ducking the "important" games in the summer tournaments.
I think Wynalda is off the mark here. While some may suggest Donovan has underperformed in big games (Luis Bueno has a good counterargument on Sideline Views), he has never been one to avoid the spotlight or refuse a challenge. Because of the "flop in Europe" chip he has on his shoulder, I'd argue Donovan has actually been quick to put himself in the limelight of the big games.
If Donovan skips the summer tourneys, it won't be because he's afraid of the bright lights--it'll be because he knows the real stage is going to be in Los Angeles when the Beckham show comes to town.
As I've said in the past, the Beckham bet may or may not pan out for MLS, but for a few shining weeks, there will be more MLS highlights on Sportscenter than you've ever seen before: Beckham entering the stadium, Beckham taking free kicks, Beckham looking great while he loses a footrace with Jim Curtain, Beckham making a perfect cross that Tyrone Marshall shanks into row H.
For all his love of country, Donovan knows that the world soccer press will be focused on Tinseltown when Goldenballs lands at LAX. You can't have Santino Quaranta and Chris Albright soaking up all the reflected glory.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's just a publicity hound--far from it. But it would be understandably galling to Donovan to work so hard, to be the heart and soul of that team for so long, then have to be away playing for the Gold Cup while Beckham becomes the face of the franchise, at least for the passing sports fan.
If the Beckham experiment actually succeeds on the pitch and in the general sporting conscious Donovan wants--and probably deserves--to be part of the story.
Showing posts with label Beckham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beckham. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
The obligitory Beckham post...
If you haven't already, check out David Mosse's excellent article on Beckham-palooza
Any American soccer fan should be delighted by the wave of publicity that Beckham has brought to the sport in the US mainstream media. The publicity has been more about Beckham as a personality than Beckham as a footballer (not a new trend in his career), but if his celebrity is bringing attention to the game, so be it.
As a player, Beckham has been undoubtedly overhyped. His highlight set-piece goals and flair for the dramatic have long belied a very limited set of skills. Mosse reproduces George Best's famous and blunt assessment:
"He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."
Beckham has certainly been very influential in games for club and country, but he's not going to control a game like less-publicized MLS imports like Marco Etcheverry or Carlos Valderrama.
However, while Beckham's talent has been overstated, he's not the complete slouch some detractors would suggest. He still has a truly remarkable right foot that should provide plenty of Sportscenter material. Sampling a few swerving, physics-defying free-kick highlights may keep casual sports fans from changing the channel instinctively when they see the Galaxy on the television.
Beckham has played regularly and successfully at the very top level of European football, and with that experience, he'll make the Galaxy better. He'll distribute the ball well, and the improvement on set pieces alone will pick up points for the Galaxy.
For me, the most fascinating sideplot in the Beckham invasion should be seeing how he and Landon Donovan coexist. I haven't seen too much written about the interplay (there's a brief mention in a long piece on Better Sports).
Andrea Canales indicated a positive reaction from Donovan, who thought he'd have much to gain from Beckham's service. However, Donovan has positioned himself as the leader and face of the team, and while the reticent Beckham is unlikely to challenge Donovan for the captain's armband, he will certainly nudge Landon from the spotlight.
The success of Beckham's move is hard to predict. From a publicity standpoint for soccer in the US, early evidence suggests it will be a success. For the reasons noted above, I also believe it will be good for the Galaxy. Beckham will be a good teammate and a hard worker as he tries to carve his place in the American sports landscape.
Will it be good for MLS? That's harder to tell. If Beckham piles up goals and assists and provides enough highlights to keep turnstiles spinning and casual sports fans watching, then it will be a success. Sadly, however, if Beckham greatly improves the LA side, but his contributions don't show up on the stat sheet, then the mainstream sports media may brand his signing as a very expensive failure.
Any American soccer fan should be delighted by the wave of publicity that Beckham has brought to the sport in the US mainstream media. The publicity has been more about Beckham as a personality than Beckham as a footballer (not a new trend in his career), but if his celebrity is bringing attention to the game, so be it.
As a player, Beckham has been undoubtedly overhyped. His highlight set-piece goals and flair for the dramatic have long belied a very limited set of skills. Mosse reproduces George Best's famous and blunt assessment:
"He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."
Beckham has certainly been very influential in games for club and country, but he's not going to control a game like less-publicized MLS imports like Marco Etcheverry or Carlos Valderrama.
However, while Beckham's talent has been overstated, he's not the complete slouch some detractors would suggest. He still has a truly remarkable right foot that should provide plenty of Sportscenter material. Sampling a few swerving, physics-defying free-kick highlights may keep casual sports fans from changing the channel instinctively when they see the Galaxy on the television.
Beckham has played regularly and successfully at the very top level of European football, and with that experience, he'll make the Galaxy better. He'll distribute the ball well, and the improvement on set pieces alone will pick up points for the Galaxy.
For me, the most fascinating sideplot in the Beckham invasion should be seeing how he and Landon Donovan coexist. I haven't seen too much written about the interplay (there's a brief mention in a long piece on Better Sports).
Andrea Canales indicated a positive reaction from Donovan, who thought he'd have much to gain from Beckham's service. However, Donovan has positioned himself as the leader and face of the team, and while the reticent Beckham is unlikely to challenge Donovan for the captain's armband, he will certainly nudge Landon from the spotlight.
The success of Beckham's move is hard to predict. From a publicity standpoint for soccer in the US, early evidence suggests it will be a success. For the reasons noted above, I also believe it will be good for the Galaxy. Beckham will be a good teammate and a hard worker as he tries to carve his place in the American sports landscape.
Will it be good for MLS? That's harder to tell. If Beckham piles up goals and assists and provides enough highlights to keep turnstiles spinning and casual sports fans watching, then it will be a success. Sadly, however, if Beckham greatly improves the LA side, but his contributions don't show up on the stat sheet, then the mainstream sports media may brand his signing as a very expensive failure.
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