Where's the hero?
Landon Donovan will be a near no show in the MLS All-Star Game — despite hisprotests
Landon Donovan, the man of the World Cup, will be the missing man at ReliantStadium.
Reliant Stadium is completely sold out.
Don't expect to see much of World Cup hero Landon Donovan if you go to the MLS All-Star Game tonight. Unless you keep a pair of binoculars trained on the sideline.
For much of this highly-anticipated game — and the sellout that was first reported on CultureMap was just officially announced — Donovan will be anchored to the sideline. The most known U.S. soccer player in the world — arguably the most important U.S. soccer player ever — is not expected to start the game against Manchester United and will likely spend most of the 90 minutes anchored to the All-Stars' sideline as many in the crowd of 70,000 wait to see him play.
When Donovan does get in, you'll probably be able to count the minutes he plays on one hand, two max.
It's all due to what MLS commissioner Don Garber calls "one of those quirks of soccer."
Donovan played the entire 90 minutes of the LA Galaxy's CONCACAF Champions' League loss to the Puerto Rico on Tuesday night. The face of U.S. soccer didn't arrive in Houston till early Wednesday afternoon and MLS All-Star coach Bruce Arena is concerned that a tired Donovan could injure himself.
So how is a CONCACAF game scheduled the night before arguably the biggest game ever (and certainly, one of the most hyped) in the still-building U.S. league's history?
"Soccer is different than most sports in that the schedule is not controlled by one central league office," Garber tells CultureMap. "Individual clubs around the world have to set their own schedule, factoring in a number of things.
The CONCACAF is an international tournament that doesn't have to take the MLS' needs into consideration. But none of that makes the situation any less ridiculous.
In an game that's being touted as the one All-Star Game in professional sports that counts, the one MLS All-Star player that every casual sports fan wants to see (including those watching on ESPN2) will see the amount of action usually reserved for a scrub.
Donovan himself doesn't even seem to be down with the plan (at least publicly).
"All-Star games are always special," he told Manchester United’s official website. "I’m excited to play against Manchester United, even though I won’t get to play too much. The minute I found out about this game, I was ecstatic. When I found out we were playing in the Champions League the night before I was a little bummed out."
He won't be as disappointed as the fans.
