Ohio Chatter
Ohio Chatter

Forums

All Threads Serious Business Sports Politics Archive Pick 'ems
Log In Create Account

Is Landon Donovan an American sports superstar?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Pro Sports ▸ Is Landon Donovan an American sports superstar?
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

Senior Member

15,696 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:18 AM
Ironman92;399433 wrote:I believe 99.378 % of the posts were negative towards some player named FIFA.

LMAO!!! This is a classic post. Wow. Seriously, I almost spit out my Pepsi on this one.
Jun 24, 2010 12:18am
F

Footwedge

Senior Member

9,265 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:47 AM
Seriously? Soccer? Would much rather get stoned and watch my tomato plants bloom.
Jun 24, 2010 12:47am
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

Senior Member

8,534 posts
Jun 24, 2010 1:09 AM
How can people seriously be voting that hes a superstar? If this was asked to random casual sports fans a year ago(aka not during the WC) id bet quite a few would say "Who?"
Jun 24, 2010 1:09am
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

Senior Member

15,696 posts
Jun 24, 2010 1:14 AM
Footwedge;399536 wrote:Seriously? Soccer? Would much rather get stoned and watch my tomato plants bloom.

Because you're ignorant. Look, if you don't like it, fine, but nobody gives a damn.

In fact, I can make the "stoned to death" portion of your sentiment come true if you'd like :D
Jun 24, 2010 1:14am
CinciX12's avatar

CinciX12

Senior Member

2,874 posts
Jun 24, 2010 3:49 AM
I toyed with the idea of naming my son Landon for the hours of 1 pm to 10 pm tonight. I'd say yes.
Jun 24, 2010 3:49am
L

Life's a Pitch

Member

79 posts
Jun 24, 2010 7:32 AM
I love the game of soccer (playing for over 25 years of my life and coaching for the past 10) and I'm also an avid sports fan of all sports (and athletic competitions!) and it pains me to say BUT unfortunately I wouldn't consider Donovan an american sports superstar. He's definitely an american soccer superstar and quite possibly a global soccer superstar due to him being the face of US soccer all over the world for some time now (and rightfully so). When you get right down to it soccer and soccer athletes are still 2nd class citizens when it comes to popularity and exposure in the US sports market. When talking superstars you're still only talking about a very small group of athletes and unfortunately I don't feel any US soccer players are in that category quite yet...If the USMNT continues their current run though who knows!!!
Jun 24, 2010 7:32am
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

Senior Member

7,730 posts
Jun 24, 2010 7:40 AM
I love the amount of people feigning ignorance on this thread just because they hate soccer.

He might not be an American sports superstar... but there are quite a few posters who are lying to themselves about the popularity of him.
Jun 24, 2010 7:40am
S

Sonofanump

Jun 24, 2010 8:29 AM
Sonofanump;399284 wrote:He ranks somewhere between Melaine Oudin and Keith Tkachuk.

I was serious about this post. He is elite in his sport where the vast majority of sports fans don't pay attention like Tkachuk would be.

Who is more popular today Donovan or John Isner?
Jun 24, 2010 8:29am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Jun 24, 2010 8:39 AM
Laley23;399146 wrote:
Donovan was the best player for Everton a few matches when he was there.


Nah, Timmy H is ;)
Jun 24, 2010 8:39am
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jun 24, 2010 8:55 AM
GOONx19;399425 wrote:Why the hell would you ask the question if you were just going to assume he Googled it anyway? If you think you've gotta be a lacrosse fan to know about the top players it doesn't say much about the sport.

To make the point that not knowing names of every sport makes you a "casual fan", as stated by Laley23. I think that was a dumb and ignorant statement. You don't have to know names of every sport to make you a sports fan. How many people do you think know Lacrosse names?
Jun 24, 2010 8:55am
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

Troublemaker

5,529 posts
Jun 24, 2010 8:55 AM
[video=youtube;J19-ROSfwY8][/video]
Jun 24, 2010 8:55am
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Jun 24, 2010 9:08 AM
Hb31187;399545 wrote:How can people seriously be voting that hes a superstar? If this was asked to random casual sports fans a year ago(aka not during the WC) id bet quite a few would say "Who?"

This is stupid. Obviously he is more popular now, after scoring THE BIGGEST GOAL IN USA SOCCER HISTORY, than he was one year ago.

That's like saying Obama isn't a global icon because if you asked people two years before the election who he was a lot would say they do not know.
Jun 24, 2010 9:08am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jun 24, 2010 10:43 AM
WebFire;399615 wrote:To make the point that not knowing names of every sport makes you a "casual fan", as stated by Laley23. I think that was a dumb and ignorant statement. You don't have to know names of every sport to make you a sports fan. How many people do you think know Lacrosse names?

You are right it was a dumb statement. But you took it more literal than I meant. A sports fan would know the best player on their country's team in a HUGE international event. I GUARANTEE you I would know the top cricket player, rugby player, darts player if they were competing in a huge international event like the World Cup (say the Olympics). LAX is a college sport with no coverage. I meant how does a casual fan not know the best players in sporst that are covered quite a bit on almost all outlets of the media.
Jun 24, 2010 10:43am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Jun 24, 2010 10:51 AM
Laley23;399700 wrote:You are right it was a dumb statement. But you took it more literal than I meant. A sports fan would know the best player on their country's team in a HUGE international event. I GUARANTEE you I would know the top cricket player, rugby player, darts player if they were competing in a huge international event like the World Cup (say the Olympics). LAX is a college sport with no coverage. I meant how does a casual fan not know the best players in sporst that are covered quite a bit on almost all outlets of the media.

This
Jun 24, 2010 10:51am
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jun 24, 2010 11:29 AM
Laley23;399700 wrote:You are right it was a dumb statement. But you took it more literal than I meant. A sports fan would know the best player on their country's team in a HUGE international event. I GUARANTEE you I would know the top cricket player, rugby player, darts player if they were competing in a huge international event like the World Cup (say the Olympics). LAX is a college sport with no coverage. I meant how does a casual fan not know the best players in sporst that are covered quite a bit on almost all outlets of the media.

It doesn't matter. If someone doesn't like or watch a sport, why would they know the names? I can't name 1 single World Cup soccer player. Well, now I can because of this thread.
Jun 24, 2010 11:29am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Jun 24, 2010 11:31 AM
i can't name any soccer players, but i know donovan and howard, so they're both superstars in my book.
Jun 24, 2010 11:31am
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jun 24, 2010 11:32 AM
And to further my point, neither could most people. They become "casual" soccer fans when World Cup is on AND The U.S. does well. They learn the players as they watch.

That doesn't mean that a soccer fan doesn't know outside of World Cup. I just think the whole World Cup soccer event is a live-in-the-now type event, much like the Olympics. People will tune in while it's on, maybe enjoy it, and then forget it when it's all done. It happens every World Cup.
Jun 24, 2010 11:32am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jun 24, 2010 11:40 AM
That's very true Webfire.
Jun 24, 2010 11:40am
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jun 24, 2010 11:51 AM
US soccer has a long way to go before it's considered mainstream in the states, be realistic. If your mom loaded your ass in the mini-van and took you to soccer practice for ten years, I understand your allegiance to the sport, the rest of us don't care. It's relevant every four years like the Olympics in this country, fair or not. I remember Eddie the Eagle, Mark Spitz, Olga Korbut etc., but I won't remember Landon Donovan. That's not just me, that's America.
Jun 24, 2010 11:51am
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

Troublemaker

5,529 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:46 PM
With that goal, soccer will be more popular in the USA. But think if the goal had not been, and the team came home after having 2 goals/wins taken away by the referees ? Everyone would say how bad soccer sucks and the World Cup is political bullshit.
Jun 24, 2010 12:46pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:53 PM
Mooney44Cards;399122 wrote:Soccer has not snuck into the American consciousness yet. So no. They will need a miracle run to catapult anyone to superstar status. You need him to be on the Today Show, The View, Regis and Kelly, the late night talk shows, stories on the nightly news. He's closer than any American soccer player has been, but he's not there yet.
He's been on Letterman and Kimmel before and many other shows too.
Jun 24, 2010 12:53pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:56 PM
ytownfootball;399796 wrote:US soccer has a long way to go before it's considered mainstream in the states, be realistic. If your mom loaded your ass in the mini-van and took you to soccer practice for ten years, I understand your allegiance to the sport, the rest of us don't care. It's relevant every four years like the Olympics in this country, fair or not. I remember Eddie the Eagle, Mark Spitz, Olga Korbut etc., but I won't remember Landon Donovan. That's not just me, that's America.
America has room for more sports.

It always amazes me how defensive people get when someone suggests that soccer might be getting more popular in the country (which it is).

Go to a college soccer game sometime (of a team that is somewhat decent) there are people there. Wasn't always like that.

But I can understand if your mom loaded your ass in her SUV and took you to flag football practice for ten years you might feel an allegiance to the sport.
Jun 24, 2010 12:56pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:57 PM
Let me ask this, too - do you think his personality hinders his potential star status? He's not a very eccentric guy, fairly soft-spoken, not a fairly memorable physique or anything. If he was a bit more eccentric, do you think he'd be more of a star?
Jun 24, 2010 12:57pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jun 24, 2010 12:59 PM
Characters are always more memorable than the simple guy next door.
Jun 24, 2010 12:59pm
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jun 24, 2010 1:07 PM
I Wear Pants;399900 wrote:America has room for more sports.

It always amazes me how defensive people get when someone suggests that soccer might be getting more popular in the country (which it is).

Go to a college soccer game sometime (of a team that is somewhat decent) there are people there. Wasn't always like that.

But I can understand if your mom loaded your ass in her SUV and took you to flag football practice for ten years you might feel an allegiance to the sport.

I don't care if soccer is popular or not. I don't like the NBA either, but it's popular. Who cares?

However, this discussion happens every World Cup it seems. And it never popularizes as much as some want it to. Much the same with hockey in the U.S.

I just wonder why people who like soccer can't just watch it and enjoy it, and those that don't watch something else. But it seems these pissing matches always have to take place, and it accomplishes nothing.
Jun 24, 2010 1:07pm