Is Landon Donovan an American sports superstar?

• dat dude

  American soccer superstar? Probably.
  
  American sports superstar? Not even close.
• gerb131

  

  I say yes.
• Sonofanump

  He ranks somewhere between Melaine Oudin and Keith Tkachuk.
• Laley23

  

  WebFire;399247 wrote:Really? Who led Div. I college men's lacrosse in goals scored last year? Pfffft, casual fan you are.

  
  A.) Max Quinzani of Duke if Im not mistaken.
  B.) I have never watched a college Mens Lacrosse game in my life, yet have heard of about 8-10 players.
  C.) I am talking more along the lines of profession sports that are covered on TV for the casual person to watch. Mens Lacrosse gets the tail end of their tourney and thats it.
• Con_Alma

  dat dude;399254 wrote:American soccer superstar? Probably.
  
  American sports superstar? Not even close.

  
  This.
• Speedofsand

  

  more like International superstar....
  
  [video=youtube;UhAZD5XCucY][/video]
  
  wait til the end, the poor goalie just can't play soccer with such a bad haircut
• Ironman92

  

  I say not even close
  
  
  
  I mean where would he rank if we were to make a list of the biggest superstars of american sports right now? Seriously.....what did he do? Did he juke 5 guys and drill a shot marginally past 4 others from an impossible angle???....or did he make a kick that an alert 10 year old could've made? Kinda like a hitter in baseball being revered for getting a walk off walk with bases loaded and a wild pitcher
• sportchampps

  Donovan will be all over the tv sets when he gets home and already is on the front of yahoo and has been on letterman. he will also make news in about a month and a half when a premiere team pays big bucks for him I would venture to say more young people will know him then older closed minded soccer haters
• Hb31187

  

  Superstars are known to even casual sports fans, hes no superstar. Hes a star though
• Laley23

  

  Ironman92;399370 wrote:I say not even close
  
  
  
  I mean where would he rank if we were to make a list of the biggest superstars of american sports right now? Seriously.....what did he do? Did he juke 5 guys and drill a shot marginally past 4 others from an impossible angle???....or did he make a kick that an alert 10 year old could've made? Kinda like a hitter in baseball being revered for getting a walk off walk with bases loaded and a wild pitcher

  
  I92, I respect you opinion, but that just isnt even close to a rational argument.
• Ironman92

  

  I only based it on people jumping on the soccer wagon for his extended time goal that was basically handed to him and his good hustle...much like Ron Artest grabbing a missed fast break layup and laying it in pretty much uncontested.
  
  Landon is certainly at the top ranks of american soccer.........but I do not believe this would've been a topic of a thread had the World Cup not been going
  
  Seriously laley.....I obviously have no clue.....in terms of world-wide.....where does Donovan rank?
  
  
  As far as being the most recognizable......would he honestly be top 100 in america? I don't know.
• Ironman92

  

  you can debate me laley....I completely respect your opinion and your knowledege of sports in general....I, personally don't get the big concept of soccer....I do understand the amazing athletes and talent these guys have.
  
  I hope the Cup remains good for the US and enjoyable to all the soccer fans
• WebFire

  Laley23;399345 wrote:A.) Max Quinzani of Duke if Im not mistaken.
  B.) I have never watched a college Mens Lacrosse game in my life, yet have heard of about 8-10 players.
  C.) I am talking more along the lines of profession sports that are covered on TV for the casual person to watch. Mens Lacrosse gets the tail end of their tourney and thats it.

  
  Google is a wonderful tool, isn't it?
• Laley23

  

  Ironman92;399389 wrote:I only based it on people jumping on the soccer wagon for his extended time goal that was basically handed to him and his good hustle...much like Ron Artest grabbing a missed fast break layup and laying it in pretty much uncontested.
  
  Landon is certainly at the top ranks of american soccer.........but I do not believe this would've been a topic of a thread had the World Cup not been going
  
  Seriously laley.....I obviously have no clue.....in terms of world-wide.....where does Donovan rank?
  
  
  As far as being the most recognizable......would he honestly be top 100 in america? I don't know.

  
  The goal itself wasnt tough, but its significance is what is the big deal here.
  
  He would imo, be ranked around the top 75 players in the world at this point. I think Landon and then Dempsey would be fighting for a spot around the top 100 in terms of player. Some other guys have big names, even in big leagues like La Liga, Serie A, and EPL...but Donovan I would take over a good number of the perceived stars. He is getting better and better as his career keeps going.
  
  Being most recognizable....well to be honest he is more recognizable in probably 100 countries before ours lol. Anytime American soccer is mentioned in England, Spain, France, Ethiopia, etc. Donovan is the face attached. He is probably a bigger global star than he is domestic star. He would probably crack the top 100 in America though. Not easily, but I think he would crack it. You have a few NASCAR, a few tennis, a few golf, then a host of NFL, NBA, and then a smaller number of MLB, then soccer.
  
  BTW, this is American stars, so Pujols for example is not counted.
• Ironman92

  

  He probably knew it.....he's top at my sports trivia I do
• Laley23

  

  WebFire;399400 wrote:Google is a wonderful tool, isn't it?

  
  So is FSN Rundown last month. I said I believe cause I had no clue if anyone passed him over the course of the tournament. I know some Lacrosse players based solely on reading them on ESPN.com etc.
• Ironman92

  

  Top 75 out of 6 billion or so people.....so he's Brandon Phillips of soccer? lol
  
  The significance of the goal was huge.....I get that completely...it's just amazing to me how many unbelievably talented things that go on during a soccer game and then it is won on something like that in which most of us could've kicked (if I had the simple ability to run down the field with his speed)
• Laley23

  

  Ironman92;399408 wrote:Top 75 out of 6 billion or so people.....so he's Brandon Phillips of soccer? lol
  
  The significance of the goal was huge.....I get that completely...it's just amazing to me how many unbelievably talented things that go on during a soccer game and then it is won on something like that in which most of us could've kicked (if I had the simple ability to run down the field with his speed)

  
  Yeah, the actual event was simple. But thats kind of what soccer is, a lot of times the talent is completely in the build up. Legends in this sport are born from what they do in the context of importance.
  
  And yes, the Brandon Phillips reference is a good one (although 6 Billion ppl dont play soccer) Also, Phillips would be 75 in MLB (only America). Donovan is 75 in soccer (the entire world). And just like any ranking, once your past the top of the top, the next group (large) is pretty subjective...He would be in that category. I could make an argument for top 50 as well as outside the top 200.
• Ironman92

  

  I just read page 3-14 of the game thread....pretty awesome....yet violent...good god
  
  
  Americans love to trty to be rowdy like much of the world during soccer it looks.....a lot of negative and positive fuck calls! lol
  
  Just because they don't play soccer doesn't mean he is not better......I mean I'm better than anyone who has never golfed....as is Phillips in the world of baseball....but also see your point
• GOONx19

  

  WebFire;399400 wrote:Google is a wonderful tool, isn't it?

  
  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.
• Laley23

  

  Ironman92;399422 wrote:I just read page 3-14 of the game thread....pretty awesome....yet violent...good god
  
  
  Americans love to trty to be rowdy like much of the world during soccer it looks.....a lot of negative and positive fuck calls! lol
  
  Just because they don't play soccer doesn't mean he is not better......I mean I'm better than anyone who has never golfed....as is Phillips in the world of baseball....but also see your point

  
  I gotcha now. I think you get me also, but I was just getting that its tougher to be top 75 at something that more people are trying to excel at.
  
  Also, we got fucked out of another goal...those swears were warranted. Im not sure where the others were cause I was at a bar watching and not posting. But Im guessing some were for our shit defense almost allowing a goal early again...the blown goal/non goal.....then us just blowing so many good chances for a goal when we needed the win to advance.
• Ironman92

  

  I believe 99.378 % of the posts were negative towards some player named FIFA.
• GOONx19

  

  ^ LOL.
• Laley23

  

  Ironman92;399433 wrote:I believe 99.378 % of the posts were negative towards some player named FIFA.

  
  HAHA! What about his evil twin REF???
• Speedofsand

  

  For the next month, he is an American superstar. After that he will be more famous in Europe than here.