Landon Donovan is a Stand Up Guy

By: jen | July 10th, 2009

LD has had moments of immaturity in the past (remember the sports bra a la Brandi Chastain?), but honestly, who hasn’t? The whole comments-about-Beckham storyline only proves that he has matured beyond his years.

Paul Oberjuerge had an opportunity to talk with Landon yesterday about the fall out from his comments in Grant Wahl’s new book (new interview with Wahl here).

Some excerpts from Oberjuerge’s interview:

Q: Has he given any indication he plans to be with the club longer than these final three months of this season?

A: No. I don’t know. That’s a question for him and maybe a question for Bruce (Arena). I’m just worried about, well not worried, I’m interested in 1) as a person and as a man, settling whatever we need to settle and 2) if that makes us better on the field, great.

Q: As team captain, does that give you a platform to critique the performance of teammates?

A: I appreciate being the captain, but I would be this way regardless of the sitatuation. I would talk to him. That’s just the way I am now. I feel like I’ve matured a lot in the last six months. I think David will understand that. But I would tell him that if I was out for the rest of the year not playing. I owe him that, to tell him how I feel, and tell him that what I did was wrong. I owe him that as a person, whether he’s David Beckham or David Jones.

He’s a good guy. He’s able to be honest with himself and others. I expect that the media will lose interest in the story once Beckham has returned and played a few matches. What do you think? Is this just another distraction that Beckham’s presence brings?

I still have not received my advance copy of the book. It will be interesting to read Landon’s comments in context. Once we have read it (Nathan will be reading it too) we will share our thoughts on it and hopefully lessen all the drama surrounding the book.

I’m looking forward to having Landon back in action with the Galaxy tomorrow night against Chivas. I’ll be back with a preview post a bit later.

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: Player News

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dana

Thanks for posting the link to the article, Nicole. Nice comments from Bornstein.
dana

G-da,
What are the leadership skills that you think Landon lacks? What do you think he should be doing differently?
DAVE

I just wish Beckham would go away. He hasn't helped the team on the field one bit. Think about it. He's a distraction. Let's just get on with building a team that can win the MLS Cup. Piss off Brand Becks.
Nicole

Here's another really good article about it from the Galaxy web site.

http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/ne...
Nicole

You got that right, Colin.

I just wonder...does Beckham plan on apologizing to the team? Because he certainly owes them an apology, and then some.

I can't wait until Becks is gone.
G-da

Landon continues to lack leaderships skills
jen

Agreed Colin, he is! And without all the posturing that often accompanies men who are TRYING to be BAMFs.

Yes Dana, that is exactly it -- he is dealing with it like a man -- he's doing the right thing regardless of how it makes him look.
Colin

Maybe Landon WOULD have talked to Beckham face to face if Becks hadn't used every excuse in the book to ditch the team...

Landon Donovan continues to be a BAMF.
dana

I saw a short interview with Landon Donovan on the local news last night. The reporter asked him his thoughts about what he said in the book and he responded that he regrets not having talked to David Beckham, about the things that were bothering him, at the time. He said he will be talking to him, face to face, like he should have, like a man. That is not an exact quote, but it is what I understood from his answer.
Landon impressed the heck out of me! Good for him! Way to "man up" and take responsibility, Landon. I, for one, am proud of you!