PHOTO: Quakes Epicenter
SAN JOSE, Calif. — It’s odd how life works sometimes. At times, things don’t happen for a reason, while at other times things happen for all the right reasons. Those same powers of fate orchestrated quite the scenario at Avaya Stadium a day before the San Jose Earthquakes friendly against Club Leon.
Landon Donovan, the most emblematic American soccer player ever, was back at his old stomping grounds where his triumphant career — both collectively and personally — really took off. He and Chris Wondolowski, who is set to break his long-standing, goal scoring record and called his return a perfect opportunity for Quakes fans to “reward” what he’s done for the club, shared laughs in one of Avaya’s sizable corridors. A scene that mirrors other sports homecomings.
“Well, it’s nice to be back in the city as a starting point,” Donovan said at his press conference. “I think every time I come back, I forget how much I missed it and how much I enjoy being here.”
“I have a different perspective now [after] spending some time in Mexico,” he added. Then seeing how excited my teammates are also to be here and to be in the states and, in particular, San Jose. It’s been a fun 24 hours so far. I will get to see some old friends tonight.”
The scenario isn’t set to stay this lively, however.
Yes, Avaya provides new scenery for the player that once lifted two MLS Cups with San Jose, but it’s likely it won’t be receptive of him. Boos and cries directed towards “Judas” will be heard time and time again throughout the night. A complex and incomprehensible move (vis-a-vis MLS allocation rules and so forth) to rivals LA Galaxy made it that way.
The same could be said on why a then 23-year-old Donovan, living through his early stages of his prime years, opted to play for the hated LA Galaxy, though. Regardless of what has been said on a surface level, the U.S. Soccer legend knows very well that healing his then internal pain and darkness came first.
“With the invention of Twitter and social media and the way it is now, if you choose to, you can see how a lot of how people think, right,” the Leon striker told Quakes Epicenter. “And a lot of times it’s bluster, because it’s people sitting behind a keyboard or a phone and acting differently than they might in person.
“But I’ve always wanted the opportunity to talk to people about it (decision to sign for the LA Galaxy in 2005) so they could understand,” he added. I’ve not mentioned this publicly before, but I will now.
“At that time of my life, and I’ve spoken openly about my battles with depression, I was in a pretty bad place at that time in my life. It was important to me to be close with my family. So, I think for people who are just seeing it from a pure sporting perspective, I can understand that they were disappointed and upset. I can understand their anger. But, I’ve always had to do and chosen to do what’s important for me, personally. And that’s my health and well-being [which] come before anybody else’s opinion of what decisions I’m making.”
So, on Saturday, in front of the old and new supporters of the Californian’s career, Donovan’s subtle strides will make contact with San Jose’s soil for possibly the last time. Still, from a dedicated Black and Blue’s supporters perspective, it’s hard to argue that jeers towards the 36-year-old are unreasonable.
But for all the right reasons life has placed Donovan in that same position he sought as a 19-year-old: another chance to prove himself in San Jose.
