Landon Donovan: The Decision

Act I

The setting is the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles.  Landon Donovan and Chris Fowler are sitting in director chairs across from each other, exchanging awkward stares and remarks.  The crowd, made up of a mixture of Landon's entourage, hordes of media, and a handful of kids (to make this whole spectacle somehow seem like it's about someone else other than the balding man with the ear piece) waits quietly, watching intently.  

The tension is palpable.  Many rumors have swirled in recent weeks, but misinformation reigns, and the minutes agonizingly creep by for those in attendance and the millions watching on ESPN.  

Chris: Alright, Landon, we're coming back from commercial in a couple of seconds.  Time for your big decision...

Landon shifts around in his chair, looking visibly uncomfortable and wearing what appears to be a tablecloth with sleeves.  

Chris (to audience): And we're back!  Okay...time for the answer that everyone wants to know.  Landon, what's your decision?

Landon: Uh...man...this fall...ah, this is tough.  (Gulps and refocuses) This fall, I've decided to take my talents to Liverpool and play for Everton.

An awkward, completely isolated round of clapping breaks the silence.  Mumbles and camera shutters soon add to the cacophony.  

The interview continues, with Landon referring to himself in the third person a handful of times and constantly discussing his desire to play with the best and win a trophy in Europe.  

The camera cuts away to scenes from outside the Home Depot Center, where angry Galaxy fans are burning their Donovan jerseys in disgust.

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Okay, so Landon Donovan's decision this summer likely won't be accompanied by a narcissistic hour long special on ESPN.  And, of course, it won't exactly work the same way that Lebron James' brief but heavily covered stint as a free agent was since Donovan is under contract with the Galaxy.  

But, much like NBA fans (and marginal fans who got hypnotized into watching by the relentless reminders on the ESPN family of networks) last night, we too will be wondering about what will happen to our league's marquee player this summer.  Will he stay, or will he go?

Because of transfers and the unique structure of MLS, it's not as if this is Donovan's decision alone to make.  But you have to figure that he will have some kind of input into what Don Garber and company ultimately decide to do. 

Unlike Lebron James, Donovan won't leave an entire fanbase crying "betrayal" in his wake (or at least I hope not, considering all he has done for the league and his team).  No, instead he'll just leave what is sure to be many teams disappointed that he is not joining their ranks.  Whether the lone, happy exception is Everton, Manchester City, the Los Angeles Galaxy, or some other club is yet to be determined, but you can bet that, much like Lebron, Landon's silly season will bring plenty of speculation, rumors, and scenarios to occupy us soccer addicts in a way that Lebron's unprecedented, "everyone look at me" decision show probably never could.

Last summer, many American soccer fans felt Landon had to move overseas to become an elite player.  This summer, things are a little bit different; he's proven to the world just how capable he is, and he has shown that MLS can in fact be the employer of a top-class player.  Does he need the move now, particularly after redeeming himself with Everton?  Can the money he'd make in Europe be made up for by new endorsements in the States, capitalizing on his now nationwide popularity?  Most importantly, does he want the move?  Sometimes people choose what makes them happy and comfortable, and who knows, that just might be Southern California for Landon Donovan.

At this point, I think he will make a permanent move across the pond.  That is...if the right bid is put forward...by a team that he wants to go to...and if he thinks the direction of his personal life would make such a big move appropriate...

Alright, it's really not as cut and dry as I think.  Though I do think he wants to go abroad, I think he wants to make sure he finds the right situation.  If that doesn't present itself, he still has the luxury of a cushy contract in Los Angeles and the position as the face of American soccer.  In the coming weeks, we'll probably hear lots of rumors and scuttlebutt, with interviews and actions dissected by people with far too much time on their hands.  And then...we'll find out where he's going, and we'll look forward to the next chapter in his career.

It's kind of like the Lebron thing.  

Except, ya know, a lot better.