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Putting the Ham in Beckham

date 07-02-2009 11:09 AM
author Lee_Russakoff writes:

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Remember all that noise about David Beckham bringing soccer to America? Yea ... not so much.

In The Beckham Experiment, a new book by Grant Wahl, Landon Donovan takes a few bites out of the Beckham aura. The L.A. Galaxy's second-most famous player calls out the captain for a lack of leadership, a lack of commitment and a generally laissez-faire attitude.

"Maybe he's not a leader, maybe he's not a captain," Donovan said. "Fair enough. But at a minimum, you should bust your ass every day. That hasn't happened. And I don't think that's too much for us to expect. Especially when he's brought all this on us." ...

"Somewhere along the way - and in my mind it coincides with Ruud being let go - he just flipped a switch and said, 'Uh-huh, I'm not doing it anymore'." ...

"My sense is that David's clearly frustrated, that he's unhappy and, honestly, that he thinks it's a joke," he said. "I also kind of feel (he has taken the team) for granted. I don't see dedication or commitment to this team, and that's troubling."

In other words, "Blue's dead. Frank's divorced. I lost my house. Nicole thinks I'm a total jackass. And now we got nine kids who are gonna get expelled from school, and you're not even gonna help them."

Donovan went on to say he can't take much more of this tomfoolery.

"Let's say he does stay here three more years," Donovan said. "I'm not going to spend the next three years of my life doing it this way. This is f------ miserable. I don't want to have soccer be this way."

The irony: Donovan did more for American soccer last weekend in South Africa than Beckham could ever hope to do.

The lesson: Importing foreign talent to American leagues is not the answer. Building a national program that can compete on the international level is. We're Americans. We want to be the best at everything. If we aren't, we deem it unimportant.

Case(s) in point: the Winter Olympics, math, science, women's synchronized swimming.

Your Feedback

What do you think of Donovan's comments? Did Beckham give MLS enough effort? Are other players just jealous of Becks for the insane amount of money he makes? Sound off here.

Email me at russakoffrules@comcast.net; follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/russakoffrules.

Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 07-02-2009 11:28 AM

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 1
date 07-02-2009 04:20 PM
author ddcw writes:

body On one hand I've always felt that you have to give a guy a year or 2 to settle in to a new city especially when he's coming from over seas. Now some of you may think to yourself that's BS you should be able to pick up and go to any city and have the same success as you did previously. In a perfect world your absolutely right, however this world is far from perfect.

On the other hand, we are not talking about a Japanese ball player who has never been outside of Asia and now is coming to America to play the best ball players in the world. We are talking about a man who has frequented the U.S. for years before he played here, also speaks the same language, and is getting paid over 100 million to play in a league that really doesn't come close to the talent that he is used to. He should be mopping the floor with this league even if he has the flu on game day.
Maybe Donovan is jealous, but in a league where most players aren't making much more then 50 grand they should expect and get more from a guy that is making 100 million. And frankely Russakoff if this was an American athlete on an American team, and Not Beckham we are talking about jealousy wouldn't be the question........ Because we would all be in agreement that this player needs to step up and do his job. Just ask A Rod, everytime he even thinks about slumping, out come the Boo Birds.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 2
date 07-02-2009 07:47 PM
author JoeHinLG writes:

body I think Landon Donovan has every right to bring this issue out if he sincerely feels that David Beckham has not performed his duties, responsibilities and commitment to the LA Galaxy. But more importantly, for his sake, for the LA Galaxy, for the league's sake too - I hope he talked to Beckham about this first in a F2F meeting. Backhanded snipes are useless and destructive - get this solved and get back to the beautiful game.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 3
date 07-02-2009 07:49 PM
author keissski writes:

body Landon can't even make the starting line-up for a second rate German League team. US professional soccer is a J-O-K-E. It's like watching a college level game, except almost all the players are from South America or Mexico.

It's barely better or more interesting than a high school game.

The top US players all operate with some sense of entitlement which is wholly unnecessary and inappropriate. Bunch of prima donnas all waiting for someone to slap them on the back and confirm their long-held delusions of grandeur.

One big win against Spain does NOT mean that US soccer is healthy, or ready to play with the major international teams on a regular basis.

Who can blame Beckham for wanting to stay in Europe?

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 4
date 07-02-2009 08:01 PM
author Shaleen1 writes:

body True, True, True. I think Mr. Donavan is correct. We (United States) spend way too much money to bring outside talent to the United States instead of using the talent we have here.

Every time the World Cup comes around, or some international tournament is activated, all these foreign players run back to their country and play for them. Even some US born players with dual citizenship play for the other guy, which is wrong.

Beckham was a joke from the beginning. He never wanted to play for LA. You could see it in his style of play. He probably gave 20 percent, when he wasn't faking his bull____ injury. Isn't it funny how since he has been playing in Europe, there doesn't seem to be an injury issue.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 5
date 07-02-2009 08:09 PM
author Shaleen1 writes:

body Beckham should have never come to play in the United States. He used the LA Galaxy and its fans for financial support. Why did he make so many commercial when he was here in the US about his after shave and such, but hardly a morsel on Soccer.

You knock Donovan who is defending the US Soccer program and support Beckham and all the other out of state players, makes me wonder if your a United States Citizen or just a want a be.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 6
date 07-02-2009 09:12 PM
author bdrunning58 writes:

body Am surprised and happy Donovan was so honest. Very refreshing. Soccer is a team game and if "the best player" isn't giving it his all it creates a negative influence. If Beckham does think its below him have him give the money back and get out of town. Congrats to the USA in their showing last week.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 7
date 07-02-2009 09:17 PM
author aworld3456 writes:

body Proof that the U.S. soccer team is ready to play with the major international teams on a regular basis will come during the World Cup. They've already done well against these teams in friendly games but the Confederations Cup showed they could do it under pressure, where losses mean going home.

They deserve respect because they work hard to win, they never show up to a game and think they'll win easily. They understand that the team that shows up with the most determination and passion will win, because they have lost against Central American teams that European teams believe are pushovers. The consistency is not knowing you will win every game , it is having the mentality that you will lose if you don't prove your the better team. That sense of entitlement is needed in the game. Any team is ready once they figure this mentality out.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 8
date 07-02-2009 09:44 PM
author Caverissimo writes:

body Donovan comments should be done against the team owners! If he expected for David B. to come here to play soccer hes really not a intelligent person,because just a stupid person will be expecting dedication or commitment from Beckham at this time of his life and
above all in the MLS! David B. was invited to come here
to make and help someone to make money,nothing less
nothing more.
Now about some comments posted here...Most of you
maybe are thinking a soccer ball is a square...is not!
Now about Donovan...YOU do not are good enough to
play in any good European premier league at all,you are just a product of marketing like Freddy Adu...one
other joke...Freddy who!? Now...to finish...I was very
happy for our victory over the Spaniards...BUT let's
be REAL! None of the 11 US players HAVE a SPOT in
the first 18 Spanish National team,this is the reality.
We still decades behind of the majority of the teams
from Europe...So Let's be real,and if we lost with Brazil
was because the US head coach still an apprentice! he
should take some time off and go Inter and learn with
the "Special One" Jose Mourinho.
Donovan...don't be a cry baby! You right but blame
your bosses not David B.,and please what you really
want is to be a star on your team...true,just on your
team and at MLS,because you are to bad to play in
any REAL SOCCER TEAM!

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 9
date 07-02-2009 10:34 PM
author Angie43 writes:

body Donovan correctly called Beckham's commitment - I think his wife wanted to live in the USA, and that is the main reason (the other being the easy money) he is here. And the majority of the blame should be on the management of the Galaxy for expecting more.....
Donovan and the rest of the USA team showed this past week that they are catching up with the rest of the world and are ready to play with the big boys - and if you think otherwise, caverissimo, you are in for a big surprise within the next couple of years! Yes, the manager and the players are still a little green - but they are making strides, and every international match is giving them a little more confidence, as was shown in the Confederations Cup matches. They should have their best showing ever in the upcoming World Cup.

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