120 Fahrenheit: Cutthroat Donovan
August 1st, 2007 . 9:29 am . By: Buzz CarrickI am all for some taunting of the crowd when a big goal is scored. Heck, I’d go so far as to say I like a little attitude in my star athlete. I am an admitted fan of Kyle Beckerman these days, and in previous years Clint Mathis, two volatile players that attract the wrath of the opposition and their fans. I have such fond memories of Terrell Owens standing on the Cowboy star, for example, well not of him standing on it, but of the reaction from George Teague. Owens incidentally was suspended for a week by his head coach and was fined $24,000 dollars which was equal to a week’s pay, and Teague was ejected from the game. Even in a FC Dallas context we can point to the Colorado Rapids players taunting the Dallas crowd after last year’s playoff elimination. Was it classless? Perhaps, but it’s something that I won’t ever complain about because of the nature of the taunting that had come from the fans behind the goal. Certainly Dario Sala’s reaction was perhaps a foreseeable consequence and the whole incident was not particularly smart, nor admirable. The fines and suspension from that incident were well deserved because the lines of appropriate behavior were eventually crossed. One other place I think we have to draw the line is at the throat slash gesture. It walks too close to the line of heinous acts and certainly goes well into the realm of poor taste. Murder is far too prevalent in our society to be made into a taunt directed to opposition fans. Landon Donovan, who I admire as a player despite any annoyance I have for him taking it easy here in MLS, crossed that line in the SuperLiga game here in Dallas.
The throat slash is not an acceptable form of celebration and the other US professional leagues, most notably the NFL, have taken action. The NFL outlawed the gesture in 1999 after Bret Farve did it, making it a 15-yard penalty and a $2,500 fine. In 2003 the NFL fined Tennessee Titans cornerback Samari Rolle $12,500 for a throat-slash gesture and celebrating an interception against the New York Jets. The NHL doesn’t have a rule for taunting most likely because the players police it themselves with hard checks or fights. Major League Baseball has a rule about taunting but similarly to the NHL, a high tight fastball will keep almost anyone from taunting too much. NBA fines for inappropriate behavior peaked during the 2000-2001 season, totaling over $4 million. Soccer like the NFL, doesn’t have a built in way for the players to police this kind of action themselves. Officials are well aware of the gesture and it’s unsportsmanlike nature. The official in the SuperLiga game in question immediately yellow carded Donovan after the 4th official made him aware of the it.
Professional players are role models for kids, Donovan of all people should know this. What these players do on the field will trickle down to the youth league almost instantly. “We can give you examples of the first headbutt we saw from a student-athlete,” NFHS Executive Director Bob Kanabye said. “We saw it at a professional basketball game, and then almost immediately after that we saw it (at the high school level).” Donovan crossed a line that should not be crossed. The ref knew it, the other major pro sports know it, and Donovan should have known it. 42 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Excellent Article! A tragic day for Donovan that will haunt him for years. His behavior was abhorrent and juvenile. Very Sad!
I just hope one of our players stored it away in their memory bank for the next meeting with LA and hammers him hard with a tackle that comes with a message. Don’t disrespect our house. I hope we rought him next time whether it be elbows in the ribs, kicks to the shin or my personal favorite a mis-step to the big toe with my studs.
Classless, especially in light of a full-house, Becks no show, front-office scramble, horrible first 20 and valient comeback. Considering Dallas could have used the game to break their forward’s leg, as they broke ours last time – a simple goal celebration should have sufficed for Landon “Casper” Donovan. LA should hope we don’t meet again. Well written piece with plenty of compelling examples from other leagues.
Hey someone call the “WAA-Ambulence”
………WAAAAAA…..WAAAAA……WAAAAA
Good artcle though and good examples from the sports. But isn’t it these types of things that just build rivalries and make games more anticipated. Maybe he took a a little too far, granted. But get over it, LA won fair and square…other than the “valiant” comeback…Dallas should be ashamed of their performance in front of their “only regular season, not MLS CUP” sell-out crowd.
I agree. Buzz, I have tried to explain to my friends my thoughts regarding Landon, your statement on taking it easy is dead on. He has already been replaced as the poster boy of the MLS…Maybe this gets him in hot water on the USMNT side of things too. Any word on a fine or suspension?
Is this a bit of payback? Quote from this article:
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_6513295
“Cannon talked as he held an icepack to his groin, the result of a collision with Juan Toja as he poked the ball into the net to bring Dallas within 4-2 in the 78th minute. Four minutes later, Dallas got within 4-3, only to have Donovan break free on a counter attack and put the Galaxy ahead 5-3 in the 84th minute.”
Good call Buzz. I think Landon “cashes it in” on many occasions and not just here, but with the Nats too.
The throat slash was classless. Especially, on the part of the national team captain. It was sophmoric and warrants a fine from MLS.
Eddie j – this type of behavior doesn’t foster a team rivalry. It fosters bad sportsmanship. Celebrate your goal, maybe rub it in a bit, but never cross the line of having fun with the celebration.
Hey eddie j, Buzz isn’t saying LA cheated somehow in the win (to quote you, “…LA won fair and square…”). Buzz articulately states why Donovan performing the throat slash gesture was inappropriate and backs his argument with punishment examples from other professional sports leagues. As far as building rivalries to make games more anticipated…I don’t think LA needs much help in brewing bad blood with teams around the league.
i never said it fosters anything….i meant to say it invokes, provokes, causes….not that its either good or bad…but some of the most storied rivalries come out of hatred (probaly too strong of a word) for their opponent.
Yankees vs. Red Sox- how many fights, brawls, etc have we seen because these two teams and their fans just plain despise each other
Boca Juniors vs. River Plate- how many fights and full blow riots ocurr because they just don’t like each other
CD Chivas vs America (Mexico)- huge rivarly
Laker vs Celtics vs Pistons vs Bulls – now the rivalry isn’t as great but when Magic, MJ, Isaiah, Bird and the rest of each team casts were around…how much do you think on the court those guys just wanted to beat (physically or not) the other team/person
49ers vs. Cowboys – i guarantee some sort of rivarly was set after the example was given before in the article
Sampras vs. Agassi – granted, more of a gentleman-ly sport, but I guarantee there was one heck of a rivalry there
Again not to say fights, gestures are good or bad, just saying somewhere along the lines in all these examples, there was a catalyst in setting off the ill emotions. Perhaps this is the catalyst to provide for ….finally…a true rivalary in the MLS.
Sure there is the Brimstone Cup, now the Houston, FCD trpohy deal, etc etc etc.
But how many of these MLS examples were fabricated by the league in order to attract fans, gain attention etc.
I just see this example of a rivalry evolving over the course of time, which all of the best rivalries have in common. Which is the reason buy the tickets to go to these games, which is why there is so much hype every time these teams play/played each other, and finally what makes sports…sport. The excitement behind sport is solely the sport itself, which makes up the majority of the excitement. But also the stories behind the game and teams themselves and the storied pasts.
Ruth, Williams, Unitas, Magic, Brid, Thomas, Palermo Saviola, Maradona, Sampras, Agassi
How many of these games/matces have we watched.
Landon gets a pass on this one from me. This match was filled with more passion and emotional ups and downs than I have ever witnessed before. I did not particularly like the “throat slash” but I did love the emotion that led him to do it. Just like I did not like that Ruiz was barking at the 12 year old ball boy every time the ball went behind the end line, but I did like his passion and desire to lead the comeback. In the words of the great Cris Rock ” I’m not saying its right, but I understand!’”
“I hope we rought him next time whether it be elbows in the ribs, kicks to the shin or my personal favorite a mis-step to the big toe with my studs.”
I hope our players store it away too…and, maybe bother to show up in big games like this. The best revenge is victory.
Good point eddie j, everyone loves a good rivalry…just keep the fans being crushed in field rushes, stadium riots, and eventual car burnings caused by throat slahing gestures to a minimum.
“A tragic day for Donovan that will haunt him for years.”
Yeah, right.
Days, more likely. If he gets fined, that’s that. You’re not going to be haunted for years by anything you do in some random soccer match on a Wednesday night in this country. Grow up.
[...] said me piece on the Donovan Throat Slash already and don’t need to go into it [...]
I think what is more distrubing is that the 4th judge had to go out a force the ref to card him for it.
although I dont agree with what donovan did, I think it was just his emotions…seeing it live I just thought he was saying its over, good night
Seeing it live, I assumed he was talking about his play in the World Cup…now THAT was a choke!
My only quibble with this article is that I thought Dario’s reaction to the Rapids during the playoffs was very admirable. He ran over there and told those guys not to disrespect his people. He comes from a country where, when idiots like Beckerman do things like that, people die; his reaction was both appropriate and admirable.
As for him decking Hunter Freeman, first, Hunter wasn’t even hit hard, he’s a punk and he took a dive. Second, if you rush a grown man in that manner, you should expect to be decked.
Sure, Dario regretted doing it, and I suppose he should have gotten three games for it . . . but I still admire his actions that night.
it’s already been said but i’ll add to it. I was at the game and as distasteful as it was, I understand why he did it. the point in the game when he did it he thought that would be it. And it was if it were not for the horrorible officials. landons in the back seat now and he’s tring to prove he’s the leader(not anymore)
oh and lastly…..for those of you non-spanish speakers. after carlos was flagged for the offsides bicycle kick goal…which i thought was a gorgeous shot/goal….he started yelling HUGE obscenities at the linesman..check MLSNET.com video highlights. if you read his lips he is yelling P-you-T-A. No offense to anyone.
if you do not know what that means, if is defineatly a cardable offense. I understand the frustration and perhaps cursing to yourself…but not purposely runnning over 10-15 yards in the direction of the linesman and yelling this.
So what if he did it because he thought his goal was the finishing touch? He does not need to taunt the crowd with a throat slash to celebrate a win. It is low class.
Kids watch these guys and there is no doubt across the youth rec leagues this fall there will be kids doing the “Donovan slash” after scoring a goal. If a kid on my team does it, he won’t be playing the next game.
Donovan should be fined and suspended for a few games.
hey buz.,….just curious if i could gain your perception on my last comment…right above on carlos ruiz
Cursing at a referee should be a yellow card… if he knows you are cursing at him. I’ve known referees to yellow curd Spanish curse words. Perhaps he didn’t know or hear him. *shrugs* I can’t speak for the ref, but if Ruiz cursed him he deserved a card.
The card system was invented in the first place to make it clear to a player who didn’t speak the same language as the referee that he was being warned or sent off.
buzz,
do you think the MLS should review the video tape, as evidence as they have in the past to pass some sort of disciplinary action against Carlos. Whether it be a fine or whatever they deem fit?
and lastly….since the competition was a superliga game…outside of the realm of the MLS rules, regulations, etc…..does the MLS have the right to impose any sort of action. If I am not mistaken, (for example), the Premiership cannot impose discplinary action on Ryan Giggs for something he may have committed lets say in the Champions League
Is that correct…any background on that?
Dj, Hunter is a punk and took a dive?? You are soooo full of shit.
eddie j – I have never heard of any league reviewing video to determine if a player cursed at a referee. If the linesman or center had heard it and felt he was being cursed at he would have carded Carlos.
On the other hand we have the throat slash by Donovan that WAS carded and should be reviewed by MLS.
MLS owns the players contracts – correct, certainly their actions are within the domain of MLS.
Yawn. Making something out of nothing. Write about something relevant and thought provoking — like how Bobby Rhine continues to draw a paycheck in MLS.
Eddie J, you need to chill out and stop putting Ruiz on the spot like that, what are you a Galaxy fan or what? Players cuss all the time whether it’s at their own teammates, scoring a goal, or at annoying refs. Eddie J your a newbie if you’ve never seen this before.
MaskedWriter, Why does Bobby continue to draw a paycheck…He was done years ago! And to think he has supporters! The guys is a joke.
hey alejo….i know players curse all the time, not a newbie, but maybe you are…but when a player is seen repeating “son of a b1tch” over and over again on highlight reels, just curious if the MLS had a right. I guess you can deem it “detrimental to the leagues image .” just how the colorado player and coach we fined for publicly criticizing the officiating. or how jimmy stewart was docked points in NASCAR for cursing….i was just curious…and no not a galaxy fan. just in an era where obviously leagues are geting involved in disciplining players, I was looking to Buzz…not you for his outlook. just thought with people saying they saw landon slashing the throat, which I agree was not all too tasteful, if Buzz would think any sort of action would be done.
Honestly, in the annals of goal scoring celebrations, the throat slash is harldly the end of the world.
One of the things I like about soccer is the passion that the players show through goal scoring celebrations. It’s part of what seperates it from the suburbanized big American sports that where mentioned.
Considering how much “hardcore” fans of MLS complain about the pandering of clubs and the league to the soccer mom set, I’m a bit disapointed in all the moral outrage.
Eddie, It’s possible I suppose they could look at some video of Carlos, but it’s not likely unless LA or the refs lodge a complaint. FCD I imagine will send that video clip of the throat slash to the league, and the ref will put it in the game report. There is a lot of cursing in a soccer game on the field, unless it’s right in the refs face I doubt anything will happen, but as I said before it’s not unheard of.
Tony Stewart gut fined for cursing on air in an interview. If Ruiz had cursed in an interview you can bet MLS would do the same.
[...] Landon Donovan not making friends in Dallas (3rd Degree) [...]
TONY STEWART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bobby Rhine draws a paycheck because NO ONE on the roster can beat him out. He has the ability to fill in several positions and is willing to do so. When FCD gets someone better than him to do this, Bobby will quit earning a paycheck.
Rhine was only responsible for 1 of LA’s goals and it wasn’t due to lack of effort. Other players were responsible for the other 5 goals…
Yeah, no single player deserves blame for the goal barrage on Tuesday. The whole backline pretty much let down on the defensive end that night.
…you guys look WAY too much into this. a goal celebration……and your taking it like he kicked you in the nuts, it’s not a big deal, there have been worse celebrations and no one is complaining about them
Landon Donovan to Andrea Canales, “I think I learned my lesson. I probably won’t do it again.”
I’m glad Buzz took the time to point this out as it was such a huge deal in the NFL. On the other had, it is good to finally see some “passion” out of Mr. Donovan.
[...] Slash - In 200, the crazy 5 to 6 SuperLiga loss with the infamous Donovan throat slash I thought he should have been fined for. The game was an insane one even without the [...]