Landon ESPN chat, Some inevitable drivel, some interesting parts Options

[josh24601]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=21921

You know how these things go... "HEY LANDON WUT IZ UR FAVORITE COLOR"

But he did have some interesting comments as well.


SportsNation Buzzmaster: Landon is here!

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Sorry for being late, it has been a hectic day. Ask anything.

Sergio (Canoga Park, Ca): Landon, I know Cobi has not had an adequate amount of time as an assistant coach, what do you believe he will bring to the table as the interim coach?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Well his biggest attributes are that he has the immediate respect from everyone here and he knows our team well and the league well. So were are fortunate to have him around to be honest, in this time.

Lexington,Kentucky: There have been persistent rumors that you would be open to a switch overseas as early as the end of this season. If so, where what league would you prefer to play and for what team?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I have said since the start of the year that if an opportunity came along, that made sense, I would consider it. In an ideal world, I would want to go somehwere where I have a good chance to play, where I know the language, and a place that is easy to get to so I could see my family as often as possible.

John (Studio City, CA): Does the annual turnover at Galaxy intensify your desire to return to Europe?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: No I do not think that has anything to do with it. This situation here is clearly not good right now. But that being said, I am having my best year and my focus is on continuing that.

Mark (Los Angeles): How is the locker room reacting to all the management departures? Are you afraid players may check out mentally?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: It has been very interesting to observe the younger players this week and watch them experience this. It is not an easy situation, but our job as a team, and my job as one of the leaders, is to make sure that guys are not worried about what is going on outside the field. I think we do too much of that and we need to just focus on what is going on on the field.

Max (Dallas): Now that he is gone, what are your thoughts on Gullit? How did you like him as a coach?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I think Ruud had a problem adjusting to the way soccer works in this country. Ruud and I did not always see eye to eye. But as long as he treated me with respect, we got along fine. There were some cases where I thought he was disrespectful and I did not appreciate that. But after a while I think he realized that he could say anything to me as long as he was respectful.

Ari (Cali): If you had to choose between playing at the Olympics right now or the upcoming World Cup qualifier, which would you choose and why?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Good question. As a sports fan, I realize how important the Olympics are and how honored I would be to be there. From that perspective, I would want to be in China. However, as a soccer player and someone who cares about the U.S. National Team as much as anyone, I realize the importance of the World Cup qualifying process, and that part of me would want to stay here and do what I am doing.

Trent (New Jersey): Landon, what has gone wrong this season? What is the one thing that has to change in order for this team to become a title contender?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Well, in my opinion, we still do not have all the pieces we need to be successful. We are close on the field, but off the field I think at some point we need stability in what is going on and we need to see a real direction as to where the team and organzition are going, so players that do come in understand it and feel it and are held accountable to that. We are still lacking that at the moment.

Paul (San Diego): What is Lalas' legacy with this team, in your opinion? 10 years from now, how do you think he'll be remembered?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Well Alexi is the guy who helped bring David here, so on one hand he was extremely successful; but the reality is we have not made the playoffs since he has been here. So on that side of things he was not successful.

Mike (Iowa): What are your feelings on Giuseppe Rossi playing for Italy? Do you feel he should have played for the US?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Honestly, I do not care. And if he does not want to play for us, then we do not want him either.

Zach (England): Are you worried that the recent team turmoil will cause Becks to want to leave? Or is he commited to expanding soccer in this country?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Well that is more of a question for David. In my opinion, I do not think David is going anywhere or wants to go anywhere. But certainly, at some point, this is going to become frustrating for him if we cannot turn things around.

Jordan (Slinger, WI): Madden NFL was released today. Are you a big gamer?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I am sitting outside of GameStop right now waiting to buy one. So yes, I am a big gamer! Once I get off this chat I am going to go buy my copy!

Jeff (Norman, OK): Landon, what are your thoughts on WC 2010? Are you excited about Coach Bradley and the player pool he has to choose from?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I am very excited. I think Bob has done a great job, a difficult job, in getting us to see the big picture. We will have a very young team, a very talented team, and I am really looking forward to it.

Keith (MD): What is the loudest stadium you have played in?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: The loudest would have to be our game against Korea, in Korea, in the 2002 World Cup. The entire stadium was chanting and cheering for the whole game. It was awesome.

Matt from Berkeley, CA: Adu looked great against the Netherlands. Both of you seem to play very similar roles. Looking ahead to 2010, are you and Adu competing for the same spot on the field in the USMNT? How could you best play together?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I would not say we are competing for the same part. On the National Team you compete with everyone to get on the field. If neither Adu or myself are playing well, then we won't play but if we are then it is the coaches job to get us both on the field. I have played a lot over the years in the midfield, so I think Bob is comfortable playing me in different spots if he feels he has other guys with similar abilities that need to get on the field too.

Alaniman (Dallas): How much joy to get from beating Mexico, even in a friendly?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I can honestly say that there is no other team that I like beating more...no matter the circumstance.

Ian (Chicago): I have been really impressed with the play of Italy's young No. 10 Sebastian Giovinco. Have you seen him play? What do you think of him? Who would you say is better him or Freddy Adu?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I have not seen him play, so I cannot really answer that.

John (Orlando, FL): Outside of the soccer world, what sports teams are you a big supporter of?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I am a Lakers fan, but I was very impressed by the Celtics this year. Garnett was as inspiring an athlete as I have ever watched. For me, they were the team of the year.

John (Orlando, FL): Have you ever considered walking in your former teammate's (Cobi) footsteps and move to coaching once your playing days are over?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: If you asked me right now, I would say I do not have a lot of desire, just because I see what you have to go through. But the older I get the more I think about it. We will see. I still have a lot to learn as far as soccer as a whole goes.

John (NC): alot of people are saying that you wont reach your full potential until you play in a harder league than MLS. what do you have to say about that?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: That is a fair statement. Clearly leagues in the rest of the world are more advanced and have a longer history than MLS, and that is a fair comment. You are probably right.

Steve (Los Angeles, CA): Any tension in MLS between the high salary players like yourself and the really quite low-paid players that constitute the majority of the league? Is that a problem for the Galaxy?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: No, that is not a problem with us. I think where guys get discouraged and upset is when the players who make a lot of money act like they do not care, or they do not try as hard. And I think in the past that was often the case. Guys would come in and earn a lot of money and not really care about the league. But I think that has changed, and I cannot think of any high profile guys, or designated players, that have not validated what they are making.

John (Orlando, FL): Who is your team on Madden? Why?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I am a weird Madden player because I like to take a bad team and over years and years make them a good team by getting FA and developing players. I like that more than just picking the Pats and going with them, which people may find weird. Therefore, my team this year will probably may be the Raiders or the Chiefs, maybe the Dolphins...a team like that.

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Thanks again for everything. I hope I answered some of your questions and I appreciate all the support as always. And tune into the Chivas USA-Galaxy game, Thursday on ESPN2 (11 p.m. ET), more pressure on us.

[ESCO]

Max (Dallas): Now that he is gone, what are your thoughts on Gullit? How did you like him as a coach?

Landon Donovan: I think Ruud had a problem adjusting to the way soccer works in this country. Ruud and I did not always see eye to eye. But as long as he treated me with respect, we got along fine. There were some cases where I thought he was disrespectful and I did not appreciate that. But after a while I think he realized that he could say anything to me as long as he was respectful.

[CALEXICO]

Trent (New Jersey): Landon, what has gone wrong this season? What is the one thing that has to change in order for this team to become a title contender?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Well, in my opinion, we still do not have all the pieces we need to be successful. We are close on the field, but off the field I think at some point we need stability in what is going on and we need to see a real direction as to where the team and organzition are going, so players that do come in understand it and feel it and are held accountable to that. We are still lacking that at the moment.




Word

[BARON DE BELTER]

I thought that this was the best Galaxy question...

Steve (Los Angeles, CA): Any tension in MLS between the high salary players like yourself and the really quite low-paid players that constitute the majority of the league? Is that a problem for the Galaxy?


Anyone know who steve is?


The best US Nats question was the one about beating mexico.

Rock On!

[Captain Obvious]

You have to love Landon for the way he speaks straight. No BS with him.

It seems like the guys might be looking forward to playing for Cobi. We shall see...

[soccerhockey]

Alaniman (Dallas): How much joy to get from beating Mexico, even in a friendly?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: I can honestly say that there is no other team that I like beating more...no matter the circumstance.



AWESOME!

i piss on mexican soil.

[franknstein]

Good stuff- Interesting stuff about him and Ruud clashing, it seems Xavier wasn't totally full of it.

I liked his comment about Rossi.

[soccerhockey]

Good stuff- Interesting stuff about him and Ruud clashing, it seems Xavier wasn't totally full of it.

I liked his comment about Rossi.

agreed. you better love putting on the national team jersey of the red, white, and blue...otherwise get out.

[The Sign Guy]

My respect for Lando has grown even greater.

[Riggs.]

The Rossi question was awesome. I hate that traitor, he should give up his US passport...

[We Own You]

Love this man, i truly do.

[Chalky]

that was actually pretty good

[Ben7]

Steve (Los Angeles, CA): Any tension in MLS between the high salary players like yourself and the really quite low-paid players that constitute the majority of the league? Is that a problem for the Galaxy?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: No, that is not a problem with us. I think where guys get discouraged and upset is when the players who make a lot of money act like they do not care, or they do not try as hard. And I think in the past that was often the case. Guys would come in and earn a lot of money and not really care about the league. But I think that has changed, and I cannot think of any high profile guys, or designated players, that have not validated what they are making.

I found that very interesting, who's he refering too ? X ?

good stuff, straight answers mostly. I like that.

[josh24601]

Love this man, i truly do.

Seriously, I can see why others would want to hate him, but when he's your guy, you've gotta love him - mainly for the same reasons the others hate.

[-stagnant-]

Mike (Iowa): What are your feelings on Giuseppe Rossi playing for Italy? Do you feel he should have played for the US?

SportsNation Landon Donovan: Honestly, I do not care. And if he does not want to play for us, then we do not want him either.

Good stuff.