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Putting the Ham in Beckham

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

body

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 10
date 07-02-2009 11:09 PM
author mnhtn writes:

body fairly obvious (and that is why it is so disconcerting)!!. He and his charming wife needed to make more $ (or so they think) and the US was making itself an attractive target . I think that Becks could not have gotten away with this if the management had made sure his ties were more bound. He literally got away with making the bucks without very much effort and being blatant about it as well. It's strange because football (soccer) has gotten more popular here amongst the youth (they play it in middle school quite a bit) but for some reason does not hit it up there with the MLB and the NFL. I believe the Beckhams should be in Europe where they want to be and we should pursue those who might not be models and stars but who want to really play the game.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 11
date 07-02-2009 11:11 PM
author zxcvbn writes:

body Definitely some jealousy. I am not a Beckham fan but not a Donovan fan either. Especially after watching the two goals for the FIFA Confed... Cup (US v Brazil) where I saw every player except the goalie and Donovan in the huddle celebrating that first goal and what looked like Donovan pointing to his chest saying "Me...Me...Me" for his goal. Not exactly leadership qualities himself or even being a great teammate.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 12
date 07-02-2009 11:18 PM
author Gino64 writes:

body The comments that Donovan (sub standard team leader) made should have been kept in the club house. How many times did Beckham feed Donovan excellent passe only to have him NOT finish off (Beckham didn't complain just played on). The feeds that he gives to Donovan would have been finished off if they were to European players. It's easy to talk big when the person you are talking about is on another continent. Just shut up and play ball Landon and finish off when you get excellent feeds. As far as the money is concerened who the hell is not going to accept it.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 13
date 07-02-2009 11:19 PM
author teej writes:

body I agree with the person who wrote that he hopes Donovan addressed it face to face with Beckham, otherwise it's sniping. He is right in his opinion, but tell the man how you see it, and let him defend himself. Personally I don' t know why the US keeps bringing people here to popularize the sport. What's wrong with using the national team as inspiration? It will take a while for the game to catch on because here people perceive soccer as an elite sport. In all other places where it is popular, children play on the street, in the park, in the school yard, on the beach...you name it, and poor children can play because if they don't have a ball they make one. It doesn't require equipment; if you have a ball you play...barefoot and all. You don't need a soccer ball, just a ball. Forget the Beckhams and company and try to make the game interesting to all Americans, in schools and sports clubs. Beckham wants badly to return to the other side of the pond where soccer is king, so let him go. Maybe make him pay back the rest of the money and send him packing. And i agree, he came because his wife wants the Hollywood life. Enough already.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 14
date 07-03-2009 12:24 AM
author pup0726 writes:

body Football anyone......... American soccer is so lame

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 15
date 07-03-2009 12:41 AM
author Caverissimo writes:

body Angie43..You said " are ready to play with the big boys" and if I think otherwise I will get a big surprise in the next couple of years...I would love,but I'm not a
dreamer.
Our players are very good physically and also mentally
...BUT...2 other important things are being missed; one
is the Tactical issue and the other is the tecnical! If the
first one can be solved with a good coach (not the one
we have) the second one is the PROBLEM! Kid's with
4 and 5 years of age start to play soccer with expensive
cleats,shin pads and balls...when they should do it with
oranges,apples,plastic or other cheap soccer balls,they
should learn how to do a soccer ball,from old news papers,plastic bags,grass,etc,etc. They should be let be
free playing against each other without coaching interference...they must be free to be creative and not
being robots...this is something who should and must
be done ASAP...But soccer balls made from scrap do not "MOVING MONEY",that's the problem. Just some
names of NOT DONOVAN'S but REAL PLAYERS,who
used to play when children the way I just mentioned:
Garrincha,Zico,Falcao,Pele,Eusebio,DiStefano,Puskas,
Rossi,Maldini,Maradona,Ronaldo,Messi,Kaka,Cruiift,
Ronaldinho Gaucho,Romario,Cristiano Ronaldo...I
believe is enough for example...but the list is a lot,lot
longer. I think I made my point.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 16
date 07-03-2009 12:42 AM
author Reagan07 writes:

body The fact of the matter is that soccer will never amount to __it in the USA no matter what overpaid European idiot you bring over! You can keep it and Beckham in Europe!

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 17
date 07-03-2009 12:51 AM
author 18FAN writes:

body Pot calling kettle black. If you have ever seen a Galaxy game, you know Donovan walks and whines for 90.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 18
date 07-03-2009 12:56 AM
author Caverissimo writes:

body The first thing who could be done was get a different name
for "football"...I stil doesn't understand why a game who is
played 95% with the HANDS was named football...and so,
the Real FOOTBALL lost his name...is okay call it soccer
or even the greatest sport in Earth! No time outs,no
stopping every 6 or 7 seconds...at least Ragbby is played with out pad's,that's a real man's game.
Just a question of taste.

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Re: Putting the Ham in Beckham

comment number 19
date 07-03-2009 01:15 AM
author vshy writes:

body Typical "woe is me", Donovan! Whine, whine, whine. It's always someone else's fault that he underachieves. He's certainly not the leader that the national team needs. Give us someone like McBride, talented, strong leadership skills, dedicated, uncomplaining....and patient!

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