The Donovan Affect

I’m not going to lie, watching ninety minutes of running made me tired. I even called my cable provider because there was an annoying buzzing sound coming form my TV. When the customer service representative told me that my cable connection was fine I started to believe a fly was stuck in my ear.

I’m a huge sports fan, but when it comes to the most popular sport in the world, something is missing in American soccer. I think American fans are too ADD (attention deficit disorder) to watch a ninety minute game with such low scoring. Fans need more instant gratification to keep their eye on the ball and their debit cards in the stadiums. Sports fans have so many choices when it comes to which sports to watch and support. Teams that already have championship banners to confirm success have captured fans for their life time. Besides, Americans are too competitive to invest in a sport that can end in a tie. Seriously, all that running for a tie!!!??

The United States has Americanized the sport football by naming it soccer. Why did we stop there? Maybe we should have Americanized the game more towards corporate entertainment to drive a fan base of consumer spending. A large TV audience and a strong, supporting fan base are the fundamentals for a successful team/league. In a sport with no time outs, there’s no time for commercials- only a fifteen minute break at halftime. Don’t get me wrong; I have satellite radio in my car because I can’t stand commercials so watching a game without interruption is great. The down side is that the sports that have altered rules of their game to become more TV friendly have created a billion dollar industry that is a house hold brand-except soccer.

Deep down, I’m a dork and there are not enough stats for me to tell who on the field is a star and who is a superstar. I know of Clint Dempsey because of story Jeremy Schapp showed on E:60. Until an ESPN commercial with Landon Donovan and a copy machine, I was unaware that he is the all-time leader in scoring and assists for the United States national team. In 2007 the Beckham Effect was Major League Soccer’s plan to be in the same league as the NFL, MLB, NBA and the NHL. Temporally, it created hype and when Beckham actually played, the plan worked. However, the Beckham Effect didn’t pack a local bar at 8:00AM for an afternoon soccer game like a United States World Cup game.

The best moment for the United States during the World Cup was seeing the excitement that the team created among Americans. Maybe it was just the red, white and blue that united sports fans on a field where no one, including the World Cup referees wanted the United States to be successful. But, I have hope that Landon Donovan’s game winning goal against Algeria was the play that years from now we will look back and say that was the goal that created the Donovan Affect on American soccer.

P.S. Vuvuzelas should be banned in the United States.

A Perfect Ending

There have been only 20 official perfect games over the past 135 years of Major League Baseball. Last year, White Sox pitcher-Mark Buehrle became the only pitcher to throw a perfect game in the past five years. This year, both Dallas Braden and Roy Holladay have pitched perfect games. With one out to go last Wednesday, Cooperstown was clearing room to add Armando Galarraga to the perfect game hall of fame.

In only a crowd of 17,738 in Detroit with one out to go, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera moved to field the grounder by Jason Donald and fired to Galarraga covering first-base for out 27. The crowd was cheering for the first perfect game in Tigers history the announcers called Donald out and then umpire Jim Joyce yelled “safe”. The cheers quickly became boo’s, a franchise record quickly became a nightmare and a pitcher just smiled.

As a fan of the game you find yourself rooting for Galarraga even if you’re not a Tigers fan. The caliber and prestige of a perfect game makes you a fan of baseball and everyone watching wanted to pass down the memory of the night they witnessed a perfect game. But what I will remember from the game is the reaction of Galarraga. He just smiled while the world of baseball called Joyce every name in the book. He didn’t go for an ejection, he didn’t throw his hat/glove; he just smiled and finished his game.

Joyce tearfully spoke to the media after he watched the re-play and he admitted that he made a mistake that cost Garlarraga a perfect game. It was the biggest call of his career and he blew it. He spoke to Garlarraga and apologized in person. "You don't see an umpire after the game come out and say, `Hey, let me tell you I'm sorry,'" Galarraga said.

Baseball fans needed more than a night to walk off the fury for the blown call. As Jim Joyce walked on the field for Thursday’s game, his emotions were shown in the bags under his eyes. Death threats didn’t stop him from being a man and facing a crowd of boo’s and the player whose dream he took away. Tigers manager Jim Leyland had Galarraga present the lineup up card as a way to defuse the uproar of the pervious night

When Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga shook hands, Jim Joyce wasn’t the only one with tears. When most fans wanted to punch Joyce, Galarraga shook his hand and kept a smile on his face. It might be one the classiest moment in sports. I give Joyce, Galarraga and Leyland all a standing ovation for handling the situation with such character and class. In the game of sportsmanship- baseball won.