Donovan and his Angry Face

Tonight on Glenn Davis' excellent weekly radio broadcast, he brought up the Donovan-Ianni exchange that took place after Donovan shook off Ianni to head in an excellent goal off an excellent feed from Lord Beckham.

The outline of events:

• ~60th minute: Barrett heads a long ball back to Caig. Ianni runs with the ball to make sure it makes it to his keeper's hands. Donovan pursues the pass with the slim hopes of getting to the ball first or, more likely, of pressuring Caig into making a mistake. Ianni shields the ball by stepping in front of Donovan, and the Balding One goes flying through the air like a rag doll and grabs his head and writhes in pain in an amusing homage to his ailing teammate, Carlos Ruiz.
  
  Ianni later said, "I wanted to kind of protect my goalie. He's running full sprint at our goalie and so I'm trying to get in front of him just to cut off his run and I gave him a little nudge. It's part of the game...."
  
  
• 67th minute: Beckham has the ball on the right side of our penalty area, and Donovan makes a run toward goal. Ianni is checking Donovan the entire way, but Donovan dives and knocks Beckham's cross into the net to tie the game at 1. With Ianni lying on the turf, Donovan bends over the fallen defender and scolds like a bitter virago. Ianni gets up and walks back into position like a professional and looks like he doesn't even hear Donovan's yelping. Ianni later said, "I don't know. I heard him saying something."

And that was pretty much it. A little drama. A little passion. Not much fireworks. But a good contrast between a professional attitude and a childish one, between a young player who is just doing his job, and a formerly young player who needs a chip on his shoulder in order to succeed. Apparently the incident held enough drama that it was covered immediately after the game in the article quoted above. And apparently some fans voiced displeasure at the conduct of Donovan.

Landon Donovan says "Nanny, nanny, boo-boo."

Tonight Glenn took the stance that people are blowing this out of proportion and fans just need to chill. Now, I usually agree with Glenn and I am truly appreciative of what he's done for soccer (and the Dynamo) in this town, but:

• First, I don't know why he's surprised with the response. The incident was notable enough that it was immediately covered by Glenn's peers in the fourth estate. It was recognized as a newsworthy event almost immediately. And newsworthy events get discussed.
• Second, I don't know why he is decrying the passion of the fans. Glenn repeatedly calls for more passion on the field, in the stands, and in soccer conversation. The outcry against Donovan's behavior is good passion. This sport needs heroes and villains, and Glenn shouldn't want to extinguish the passion of this particular conversation just because it is directed against one of his favorite players.

I posted my thoughts on his blog (and, professional that he is, he even emailed me an "atta boy," even though I disagree with his position on this), but let me see if I can expand upon and clarify my thoughts here.

Donovan's outburst — emotionally exploding against a player who may one day play with him on the USMNT — isn't a big deal in and of itself. It wasn't illegal. It wasn't a faux pas. It sure didn't faze the Dynamo players, including Ianni. I think only the spectators cared. And what's wrong with that? Fans SHOULD care.

Some say that the fans' reaction is simply due to the fact that Donovan is the subject, that fans wouldn't say anything had any other player done what he did. No argument there (unless the player was another high profile player, like Taylor Twellman). The Balding One has been anointed the "face of American soccer." Anyone in that position receives scrutiny that others do not. And if he cannot handle the scrutiny then we truly have a flaccid face for American soccer and it's time for the marketing hacks at MLS and SUM to anoint someone who understands and accepts that with the benefits comes accountability. Donovan apologists who want Donovan to be treated like any other player are usually guilty of the same sin by hyping Donovan as an ubermensch — a person and a player beyond his peers — who is allowed the special accolades, but not the special critiques. He is ubermensch when convenient, and "just another player, guys, go easy on him" when convenient.

Donovan has terrific athleticism and skill (and receding hairline) beyond his years. Unfortunately, he also has the emotional maturity development of someone younger than his years. It's good that some fans are content with that. It's also good that some fans care enough to passionately voice their opinions that they expect more of elite players.

Soccer journalists and the Powers-That-Be trumpet the statistical accomplishments of players, as they should. But, as in anything in life, it takes more than good data to be accepted by those who ultimately pay the players' paychecks: the fans. Refer to Eric Wynalda: his scoring ability is respected, particularly since it was during the otherwise grim days of US soccer, but his arrogance and self-promoting have ensured that he will never be a revered icon.

Contrast Wynalda with Brian McBride. Americans have a thing for hard working, talented individuals who do their job well and without histrionics. That why we like Clint Eastwood in his role in the spaghetti westerns so much, and why we admire Brian McBride for more than just his accomplishments.

Fans are perspicacious enough that they can see through marketing hype. And they are sophisticated enough that they can separate their respect for accomplishment from their respect for players. Accomplishments are easily supported with data and statistics, but respect (and especially Biggio-like reverence) for the player himself falls under separate criteria. The cacophony that we heard after Donovan's meltdown is an indication that soccer fans respect Donovan's athleticism, but that he has a long way to go if he wants to become a venerated legend. (And, no, being elected to the Hall of Fame -- which will happen one day with Donovan -- doesn't make one a legend.) The clamor shouldn't be silenced, but should be understood as a good barometer of the widespread view held by the hoi polloi, rather than the concocted insider views of the "soccer intelligentsia."

There was a series of events that led to Landon falling out of favor with fans. First, after he returned to the MLS in 2005 from a stint with Bayer Leverkusen that lasted the duration of the MLS off-season, he was falsely judged as not being good enough for Europe when, in fact, he just wasn't a fit for the system his team was playing (and wasn't patient enough to pay his dues). Then, in what seemed to tie Landon to the good ol' boy politics of the MLS, Landon ended up not returning to the team he departed (San Jose), but through the machinations of the MLS, he went to the LA Galaxy, the bad boys of the league. On the national side, Landon's anonymity versus any opponent except Mexico has exasperated supporters. Then there were his endless quotes in the media, which, perhaps in reaction to the negativism he was experiencing from fans, were heavy with self-aggrandizement and haughty arrogance.

Then there are smaller events like these recent on-field histrionics. Perhaps it wouldn't be so irritating if Donovan were more consistent and these histrionics were a mere eccentricity. Perhaps it would have been more acceptable had Donovan vented on a seasoned veteran rather than looking like an upperclassman hazing a young player. And maybe this is the new Donovan, the one who will give it his all for 90 minutes and whose explosive play will spill over into an explosive personality. (See #3 here, although Donovan only stuck one in Ianni's ear, the other was in Mulrooney's.)

In fact, Donovan is talented enough to be The Great One. But in addition to maturing his game and his focus, he needs to mature emotionally. That's hard to do when people treat you with kid gloves and tell you how special you are all the time. Ask my niece!

Ahem. Anyway.

Some may say it's better to have passion rather than stoicism on the field. I hope those are the same people saying it's better to have passion rather than apathy in the stands. Let the fans rant, fer cryin' out loud.

And take time to raise a pint to Brian McBride.