There’s a Reason why Some Call Him Landycakes

By: Bob | September 18th, 2006

We’ve always thought that sports were about competition and that the people who get paid to play sports were by their very nature competitors. They are driven by the challenge of facing other top athletes. They will dedicate their time and sacrifice their bodies to become the very best they can be.

That is why it is so disappointing for many United States soccer fans to see the actions and read the quotes of Landon Donovan. The international and LA Galaxy player has twice tried his luck in Germany and twice returned to the United States with his endless ego wounded by extended stints on the bench. This experience, along with a comfortable life unknown to many soccer players in the States, has apparently taken away Donovan’s desire to make the necessary sacrifices to become a better player.

Says Donovan of the prospects of returning to Europe:

“I’d probably become a better soccer player just from the day-in, day-out grind of it there,” said Donovan, who has been the dominant player in the U.S. league since returning to the Galaxy from a sub-par World Cup performance in July.

“But I wouldn’t be a better person. I wouldn’t be a happy person. I’d be pretty miserable,” added the man who has called food in Europe “crappy.” He once said that while playing in Europe he missed American hamburgers, the beach, sun and women.

Donovan, whose World Cup performance in Germany can be best described as lackluster, adds that there aren’t many European teams knocking on his door at the moment and you can hardly wonder why considering the type of heart he has shown.

It is sad to see that arguably America’s most talented player has chosen comfort over sacrifice. While he enjoys the surf in California, hopefully the Americans who have chosen to get better by going to the crappy-food-eating Europe will also be developing leadership skills that Donovan clearly lacks.

Some other reactions to Landycakes from around the Blogosphere:

Soccerati
So Many Balls
The Sports Frog

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Fog

Strange that he shows leadership skills while playing in the MLS, but lacks them when faced against serious competition. When playing in the Champions League against Liverpool, he was the worst player on the pitch that day and the first one sent to the bench.
thobus

donovan hasn't had heart ever. give klinsmann 10 mastroeni's and he will win a cup.
Walter

What a gutless wonder and an absolute disgrace to the US. I hope the new manager for the our side remembers this kind of garbage and leaves this punk off the national squad altogether. I'd rather see the guys who are at least trying to make themselves better players represent this country.
Pete

Landon Donovan has been dead to me for a few months now.
Owen

Sad, sad, sad. On the other hand, more Americans than ever are making the trek - some without having enything to do with MLS. Convey is going to be a MUCH better player within two years. He's getting to go every week against the best int he world on a team that encourages him to go for it. I bet he's having a blast.
Trent

This is painful. I don't blame Donovan for following his 'heart'; he's the one that has to live with these decisions. But it's a definite bad sign for USA football when one of its (former) leading lights refuses to play in the big leagues.

Also, I can say with some authority that Europe does boast hamburgers, beaches, the sun and, uh, women. As a matter of fact, around half of all Europeans are women. Statistics are weird like that.
Chris

Maybe Donavon should have been a surfer, but then again Michael Ballack said this week that London property prices were too expensive and its better to rent and he earns £130,000 per week net, so imagine how miserable Donavon would be playing for say Millwall and living in a pokey flat in Peckham.