It was World Cup 2010 in South Africa and the US Men's Soccer team
was in a particularly ambiguous position. While the team had improved
since its previous years and the team was optimistic and poised for success,
its resolve would be tested in its first match against England. The two
teams had not played each other in a World Cup match since 1950. It ended
in a 1-1 tie, granting neither team the inspiration of a victory or the
frustration and motivation of a loss. Slovenia was the next opponent and
again that match ended in a tie. Lastly it was Algeria and the relentless
play continued into the eightieth minute, then into the ninetieth with
still no score. Would this match end in yet another tie, eliminating the
US from the tournament? In those moments, the only thing in the stadium
keeping its composure was the steadily ticking game clock.
As the final minutes counted down, a shot on the US goal is saved, and
the ball is tossed down the field. With his world-class speed, American
Landon Donovan sprints after it, ahead of an opponent by only a single
stride. Advancing down the field, he passes. A shot is taken. Deflected!
The ball lingers in front of the goal as an American and an Algerian tumble
into the net after a struggle. The ball is just sitting there! Like lightning,
Donovan comes from behind! The net is open. He shoots! GOOOAAAL! The US
Men's Soccer Team won the game, 1-0, won the group and preserved their
integrity.
While they weren't able to progress much further in the tournament
(they were later eliminated by Ghana), that victory remains a key moment
in last-minute soccer history as they maintained this stoicism throughout
the match. In its final moments, instead of focusing on the ninety grueling,
disheartening, scoreless minutes that they had already played, the team
focused on the time that they still had. The stories of Landon Donovan's
optimism, arguably our greatest American soccer player, don't end there.
In the run-up to World Cup 2014 in Brazil, the difficult dynamics between
Donovan and the new head coach of the US National team Jurgen Klinsmann
reached a crescendo as Donovan was unexpectedly cut three weeks before
the World Cup. All of the US soccer faithful, including aficionados, the
media, and of course Donovan, were crushed. Rejection from any team qualifies
as adversity, but this was his national team, his red, white, and blue,
and his World Cup. Nevertheless, Donovan returned to the LA Galaxy immediately,
with his game face on, to play against Philadelphia on May 25, 2014.
Here, once again, we all witnessed his "ninety-first-minute optimism."
Surrounded by his team and mentors, he prepared physically, mentally,
and emotionally. He employed the Big 5, which I've written a lot about in
The Win Within. He was going to get up, suit up, and play on - no matter what. When the
whistle blew, he was back to the process, the journey, and the game. The
crowd was tense but came with signs and cheered Donovan on at every possible
moment. Then with a burst of speed, his patented full-field sprint, the
pass, the give-and-go to Robbie Keane, the sprint and then, GOOOOAAAALLLL!
He scored not one, but two historic goals and concurrently broke the all-time
Major League Soccer (MLS) record of 135!
Donovan got another opportunity to display his signature optimism with
the MLS All-star game vs. Bayern Munich - a match played in Portland,
OR and filled with World Cup and global soccer stars. Once again from
my sideline perch, I watched him enter the game in the second half, the
score was tied 1-1. Play was tight. Then in the 69th minute as Donovan
makes a vintage run towards the goal, Diego Valerie delivers a long ball
to his chest. The volley and the outcome ...GOOOOOAL!
The winning goal and the MVP...once again the
Mission,
Vision and
Plan as Donovan became his most valuable player. It was historic and a pattern
that this athlete has conditioned us to expect.
He never lost focus but instead redirected his passion, positivism and
hope. As one door closed, he immediately opened another. It was so fluid
and transparent for me to see once again, from the sideline and in full
view of the world, that we were witnessing the Victorious Spirit and the
Win Within in action!
This is survival at its highest form of thriving. Congratulations Landon!
Congratulations for showing us that the life of sport and the sport of
life are beautifully linked.
~ Bert