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Is Landon Donovan an American sports superstar?

  • gorocks99
    Yeah, the pissing matches do always seem to take place. HOWEVA (in my best Stephen A. Smith voice) the numbers are improving for the sport overall in the U.S.

    MLS is averaging just north of 16,500 fans per match this season across their 16 teams. The ratings for USA-England were the highest for a US soccer match since 1994 (when we hosted the WC). I would expect the game against Ghana to surpass that and then some this Saturday.

    REGARDLESS, the sport will never be above the NFL, NBA, MLB in the U.S. I think the base of loyal fans is there, and probably getting slightly bigger each year (demanding more coverage by the big networks). What the USSF CAN do is continue to grow the game slowly at the youth levels and produce world-class talent, and I think that's what they should be focused on (not necessarily trying to drive ticket sales/jersey sales).
  • Laley23
    Ok webfire. You can just have a different opinion on sports fan. If people dont know who Landon Donovan is I dont consider them avid American Sports fans. I consider them casual. You fall into that boat. You know and follow certain sports. But someone who didnt know who Landon Donovan was isnt an Avid American Sports fan in my eyes.
  • WebFire
    Laley23;399922 wrote:Ok webfire. You can just have a different opinion on sports fan. If people dont know who Landon Donovan is I dont consider them avid American Sports fans. I consider them casual. You fall into that boat. You know and follow certain sports. But someone who didnt know who Landon Donovan was isnt an Avid American Sports fan in my eyes.

    What exactly do you mean by American sports fan? Someone who follows international sports?
  • hoops23
    WebFire;399981 wrote:What exactly do you mean by American sports fan? Someone who follows international sports?

    I'm guessing he meant someone who follows American sports.
  • I Wear Pants
    By the way, you know what I love about the World Cup? The winners are actually the world champions. Unlike the NBA finals, World Series, or Superbowl winners who are merely American champions. That really bugs me when they're all "you're the world champions". You don't see the winners of the English Premiere League being called the world champions. Because they aren't. They won the EPL. Just like an MLB, NBA, or NFL championship doesn't mean you're the champions of the world.
  • Sonofanump
    I Wear Pants;400014 wrote:By the way, you know what I love about the World Cup? The winners are actually the world champions. Unlike the NBA finals, World Series, or Superbowl winners who are merely American champions. That really bugs me when they're all "you're the world champions". You don't see the winners of the English Premiere League being called the world champions. Because they aren't. They won the EPL. Just like an MLB, NBA, or NFL championship doesn't mean you're the champions of the world.

    What team outside the US or Canada (Toronto Blue Jays early 1990's) do you think could complete against anyone in those sports?
  • SportsAndLady
    Sonofanump;400071 wrote:What team outside the US or Canada (Toronto Blue Jays early 1990's) do you think could complete against anyone in those sports?

    That doesn't matter...the winner of the NFL, MLB, etc. are not world champions...yes, they might be the best in the world, but they aren't world champions.

    We can chalk that up to either a) American ignorance or b) tradition..I'm pretty sure they made the MLB winners the world champions in the early 1900's, and it just stuck
  • I Wear Pants
    Sonofanump;400071 wrote:What team outside the US or Canada (Toronto Blue Jays early 1990's) do you think could complete against anyone in those sports?
    It doesn't matter. Many years no one could compete with the top Premiere League team or Barcelona depending on the year. But they aren't called the world champions because they didn't beat the world.

    I'm not saying anyone could beat them. In all likelihood no other countries top club/pro team could beat the top NFL/MLB/NBA team (MLB would probably be the closest competition). Of course you could chalk some of that up to the fact that very few places outside the US give even one shit about American football (like less than the US as a whole cares about soccer). But you aren't the world champions until you beat the world.
  • Life's a Pitch
    WebFire;399908 wrote: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.
    I can't stand the pissing matches between soccer supporters and non-soccer supporters. I absolutely love the game (as well as pretty much all other sports) and people I know always try to get discussions going about how soccer isn't popular here and how it never will be...blah blah blah. I really couldn't care less if more people watch/like soccer or not. I like it and that's enough for me.
  • Sage
    I'm 23. The levels that soccer has increased since I was playing as a child absolutely stupefies me. Dumb to say it will "never be this" or "never be that" because, well, we simply don't know. I'm sure many of you would have laughed if in 1996 you were told that in 14 years, the MLS would have 19 teams in two countries. It has nowhere to go but up.

    And I can tell you this, my generation, soccer is very big.
  • I Wear Pants
    I mean, in the 90s if you'd have asked most kids at any American school to name some English soccer teams I bet they couldn't do it. Now almost all of them would be able to name either Manchester United, Chelsea, or Liverpool.
  • Strapping Young Lad
    Not a "super"star. Just a plain old star :(
  • Laley23
    Soccer has increased dramatically in popularity. The MLS hasnt taken off as was hoped. But all you really have to do is look at the coverage on TV. All World Cup games in 2010. All the Euro Games (America wasnt even in them, obviously) were on ESPN/ABC. All the Champions League games were on ESPN and this past year all on FSC/FSN/FOX.

    ESPN has picked up EPL and La Liga coverage. in 2006 most (I dont recall if all) WC games were on TV. 2002, not all games were on. 1998 WC I was in France so I dont know the USA TV coverage. But you can clearly see the coverage shift. It does have a lot to do with the generation that grew up kicking a ball around now being in their early 30s and younger. Im 24 and 90% of my friends are very into soccer, especially the bigger events. I know a lot of 5th-6th-7th-etc graders who I coach in basketball who wear European jerseys and follow those leagues as well as Euros/WC. fi this type of popularity continues, when my age group in 50, you will have a very very large number of 60 and younger folks very into soccer.

    Now, I cant say with any certainty that the progression will continue. But for the last 10 years, it has been pretty dramatic in a positive light.
  • ytownfootball
    It all depends on whether the ratings are worth a shit. There's a reason water polo isn't televised, the question remains if those who televise things are willing to take it in the ass while waiting for viewership to increase as those that are interested mature.
  • Hb31187
    SportsAndLady;399622 wrote: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.

    Lol great comparison. Obama is in a new position, a major upgrade in position in fact. Donnovan is in the same position hes been in(+1 big goal, thats about it) The upgrade from Senator to President would be like Donnovan going from nobody to FIFA's player of the year. (In which case id say he would be a superstar)

    Im not bashing soccer or anything, but to the casual sports fan Donnovan is not well known. So hes a star...not a superstar.
  • Laley23
    ytownfootball;400162 wrote:It all depends on whether the ratings are worth a shit. There's a reason water polo isn't televised, the question remains if those who televise things are willing to take it in the ass while waiting for viewership to increase as those that are interested mature.

    Right. But, the TV channels continue to pick up on these events/leagues. If ratings were poor they would not keep buying new packages. They may not be fantastic ratings, but they are good enough it would seem.
  • ytownfootball
    If they are looking long term then they are on the right track. Obviously the ratings won't be there if they don't market it now and take a "hit". I don't think the ratings are "good enough" but they never will be if they don't do it now.
  • Laley23
    ytownfootball;400213 wrote:If they are looking long term then they are on the right track. Obviously the ratings won't be there if they don't market it now and take a "hit". I don't think the ratings are "good enough" but they never will be if they don't do it now.

    The ESPN soccer ratings (EPL and La Liga) were higher than the corresponding shows from the year before at that day and time. Again, not fantastic...but given the times of the matches, ESPN will be smart to keep soccer. It draws more than the 7th sportscenter of the day as well as darts, etc.

    I think EURO drew more viewers than first take does from the summer of 08 as well.
  • Laley23
    We also have to consider that soccer is primarily watched in groups. Not many soccer fans watch it at home.
  • ytownfootball
    Laley23;400235 wrote:We also have to consider that soccer is primarily watched in groups. Not many soccer fans watch it at home.

    Which means those Wednesday 9:30 starts kinda suck for them :D
  • Laley23
    ytownfootball;400241 wrote:Which means those Wednesday 9:30 starts kinda suck for them :D

    They do indeed. At college we used to get up at 8 and walk to the closest bar and they would put on FSC for us. We would watch all matches that day. Sometimes going to class drunk if we needed to. But mostly they were on Saturdays.
  • SportsAndLady
    Hb31187;400171 wrote:Lol great comparison. Obama is in a new position, a major upgrade in position in fact. Donnovan is in the same position hes been in(+1 big goal, thats about it) The upgrade from Senator to President would be like Donnovan going from nobody to FIFA's player of the year. (In which case id say he would be a superstar)

    Im not bashing soccer or anything, but to the casual sports fan Donnovan is not well known. So hes a star...not a superstar.

    Donovan went from a nobody to one of (if not) the best player on Everton, an EPL team who had a great year for their standards. He's rising in position, it'd be unfair to measure his success based on a year ago. I don't think you're understanding just how big that goal was. That was no ordinary game winning goal/point/score/whatever that Americans are used to...the World Cup is the biggest tournament in the world; it is the biggest stage in the world; Donovan's goal was more than most Americans realize.
  • Sage
    US game ratings up 68% from 2006:

    http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/usa-ratings-up-big-in-2010-world-cup/
  • Ytowngirlinfla
    Automatik;399214 wrote:Aren't you also a woman?

    I am a woman and probably know more about sports than most guys. I definitely know who he is. Just like I know all the good boxers, car drivers, golfers, etc...
  • Footwedge
    SportsAndLady;400368 wrote:Donovan went from a nobody to one of (if not) the best player on Everton, an EPL team who had a great year for their standards. He's rising in position, it'd be unfair to measure his success based on a year ago. I don't think you're understanding just how big that goal was. That was no ordinary game winning goal/point/score/whatever that Americans are used to...the World Cup is the biggest tournament in the world; it is the biggest stage in the world; Donovan's goal was more than most Americans realize.

    I could have kicked in that rebound. He was just lucky...right place at the right time. Soccer fuggin blows. Period.