4/08 News

[AreliusII]

Donovan to make Galaxy debut against RSL

By James Edward
Deseret Morning News

For those who think Landon Donovan gave up on a soccer career in Germany, his old coach takes issue with that.



Landon Donovan missed the Los Angeles Galaxy's opener at Columbus last week because of the flu.

Jack Dempsey, Associated Pressjack Dempsey, Associated Press
"That's crap. Landon never gave up on anything in his life," said Real Salt Lake coach John Ellinger. "Knowing Landon, he's OK with being in this country and playing in our top league."


Very few people truly understand Donovan, arguably the best soccer player in the United States right now, and Ellinger counts himself among those people. After all, he was Donovan's father-figure for more than a year while Donovan was a member of the under-17 U.S. National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., in 1998 and 1999.


Now, five years after Donovan's graduation from the residency program, the coach and prodigy are about to be reunited.


Last week, Donovan officially signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS, ending a brief three-month stint with Bayern Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. During that stretch, he appeared in nine of 11 games, but only started two.


Donovan missed last week's Galaxy opener at Columbus because of the flu, which makes Saturday's home-opener against Real Salt Lake even more special knowing Ellinger is on the other bench.


"It's good for Landon, he's happy. It's a good piece of mind for him," said Ellinger. "And it's good for the league to have Landon back. It's a much more exciting league with him in it, than with him out of it."


Many soccer critics believed Donovan was ready to make a name for himself overseas upon leaving Major League Soccer following the 2004 season. He had spent four seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes on loan from Bayern Leverkusen, which he signed with as a 16-year-old. But beginning Jan. 1, Leverkusen exercised its rights and re-called Donovan to Germany.


Upon first signing with Leverkusen, Donovan spent nearly three years with the club but never saw any playing above the reserve. This time around, it was supposed to be different, and it was for a while.


Back in late February, coming off a 90-minute performance in a win over Mainz, Donovan was used as a second-half substitute in a UEFA Champions League game against Liverpool. Ellinger happened to be on hand for the game, and he said Donovan seemed happy.


"But he was playing," said Ellinger. "Landon has always been about his state of mind. If he's happy, he's focused and he plays well."


During the month following his Champions League appearance, Donovan's playing time decreased, and he sensed his future in Germany was coming to an end. That's when both sides agreed to release Donovan from his contract, enabling him to return to MLS.


"It's good for the league, but bad for the other 11 teams who have to play him," said Ellinger. "He's a total player. Anywhere on the field, in the midfielder or up front, he's dangerous. You can guard him for 89 minutes, but if you leave him open for a minute, he'll make you pay."


Real Salt Lake's Chris Brown knows all about Donovan.


Early last year, Brown was traded from New England to San Jose, and one of the first things he noticed about Donovan was how humble he was.


"Before I got there, I was expecting maybe a bit of an ego, but he's the best teammate you could have," said Brown, who said he thinks Donovan's return to MLS is great.

[AreliusII]

Mission: Implausible

Viewmont's Christensen has a call to serve — and to score

By Jody Genessy
Deseret Morning News


BOUNTIFUL — Mike Christensen sure appears to be playing soccer this season like he's a man on a mission.



Layton's Jared Steed, left, tries to catch up to speedy Mike Christensen, 5A's leading scorer from Viewmont.

Ravell Call, Deseret Morning News
Go to the MTC in Provo this summer, and that statement will ring even more true.


Though he's still a senior in high school, the Viewmont High student-athlete has already received his LDS mission call. Christensen has been called to serve his two years in Merida, Mexico, on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, beginning June 29.


Opposing teams can't get him on his mission quick enough. Christensen is leading the state's largest classification in goals produced with nine — three more than the next closest in Class 5A entering this week's action. He's scoring so many so fast, Real Salt Lake might try to persuade him to play pro instead of proselytize.


OK, that last part might be stretching the truth a bit, but, believe it or not, this isn't: Christensen has already notched at least two goals in three matches, including one Pele-like five-goal outburst against Layton a couple of weeks ago.


After three games into the season without a goal, Christensen's teammates were asking him when he was going to finally score. Now, opponents are wondering if he'll ever stop.


Before the Layton game, Christensen jokingly told his buddies he'd score twice for them. Five minutes hadn't even elapsed into the match, and he'd already made good on his word. Just for fun, he gave them a bonus hat trick to boot.


He's still "totally amazed" at the game his grandkids will certainly hear all about multiple times.


"They just kept piling up," he said. "It's probably the coolest game I've ever had. I just kept getting beautiful passes from the midfield. It was a very neat game."


What makes Christensen, a striker, so effective isn't his fancy footwork or talented moves. He even knows his limitations, admitting, "I don't have an amazing touch on the ball." Rather, he credits three things for his success: his teammates, his speed and his work ethic.



Mike Christenen, left, and his pre-mission-haircut shaggy 'do go airborne against Bountiful's Anthony Hewlett. Christensen has nine goals.

Tom Smart, Deseret Morning News
His coach, Casey Layton, agrees with that assessment.


"He's not big, he's 5-foot-8 tall, but he's in good shape and he's got a motor on him. He just goes constantly," Layton said. "He does not have the ball skills, but he's got heart, desire and speed to play up front and play physical."


Added the coach: "Everything doesn't go through Mike. He's just one of those hard-working guys who seems to be at the right spot. That's why he scores so many goals."


He outhustles players, too. One of Christensen's most spectacular plays came on an assist, his coach said. Against Brighton, the ball was going out of bounds, but Christensen zipped over, did an athletic bicycle kick to send the ball in front of the goal box where Mike Nelson headed it in for a score with some razzle-dazzle.


Layton is thrilled with Christensen's success. He had to cut him as a sophomore after an ankle injury sidelined him during tryouts. And then last year, Christensen's playing time was limited because he was behind two all-state forwards, Jaden Evans and Andy Bell.


All that, the coach believes, "made him hungry" and inspired him to work harder.


Christensen and Layton say it certainly helps to have players like Jake Matern, Scott Richens, Travis Richens and Rigby Elliott with him on the midfield.


"They give me the perfect ball, and I just do the easy job of finishing it up," Christensen said. "Give them the credit. They do all the hard work, and I just get all the credit."


"His teammates complement him well," Layton said. "He doesn't have some of the moves some known forwards have. But he adjusts and outsprints somebody. The (forwards) set him up for a lot of goals he's scoring. His teammates are working as hard as he is."


Christensen turns 19 on June 4, so he decided to turn in his mission papers during his senior year in order to return and enroll in college as early as possible. It's a good plan but not one without challenges. He admits it isn't exactly easy to concentrate on preparing for a mission, dealing with the nerves as the date gets closer, playing soccer, finishing up school (he's an honor roll student), holding down a part-time job and having teenage fun.


It might have gotten really crazy had he joined the Viewmont track team as coaches had suggested. And, with his speed (4.4 in the 40), who's to blame them?


"Ever since I got the mission call, it's been a lot different. It is kind of hard," he said. "Soccer and mission are my two main goals right now."


The good news is that he won't have to spend an inordinate amount of time (or money) at Mr. Mac's. His Mexican mission requires only one suit.


Christensen already has overcome one of the parts of the mission preparation that some guys find the most difficult: getting the short haircut. He had some shaggy hair going on, but he recently went under the scissors so he could send in a photo with his application papers of him looking like a missionary instead of one of the Beatles.


"I didn't make a big deal of it," he said. "I knew I had to get it done sooner or later."


Getting the hair cut might have accomplished several missions — pleasing mom and dad (Stephen and Marilyn Christensen) and making him more aerodynamic and even faster on the soccer field.

[AreliusII]

Rookie midfielder content with spot
RSL Notes
By Peter Richins
The Salt Lake Tribune



Real Salt Lake's Luke Kreamalmeyer is in a great situation and he seems to be making the most of it.
The 22-year-old midfielder, fresh out of college and playing in his first Major League Soccer season, was the only RSL player that went in as a substitute in last Saturday's season opener against the MetroStars in New Jersey. Kreamalmeyer replaced Marlon Rojas in the 72nd minute of the game that ended 0-0.
"I was really excited," Kreamalmeyer said. "The weather conditions were horrible, but I was happy to get in."
Rojas was tiring, having played three days earlier in a World Cup qualifying match with Trinidad and Tobago. Getting into the game gave Kreamalmeyer the distinction of being the first player ever substituted into a game for RSL. He also has the distinction of being the first player to score an exhibition goal for RSL, having tallied the team's first goal of the preseason.
With the gale-force winds at The Meadowlands during the game, Kreamalmeyer hardly touched the ball in his 18 minutes on the field. But just getting into the game is a sign that he is making a place for himself.

Positive signs

After the inaugural game broadcast of RSL's season opener against the MetroStars earned a 3.0 rating and a 6 share on Saturday, general manager Steve Pastorino could not be happier.
"It's just a positive sign that people are carving out the time to watch us," Pastorino said. The tape-delayed broadcast of the 0-0 draw went up against the NCAA Tournament.

Roster report

Defender


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Jeff Stewart still is out of action after having knee surgery during the offseason and likely will not play this season. Also, midfielder Evan Whitfield is out with an ankle sprain, and third-string goalkeeper Noah Palmer is out with a shoulder sprain. Also, the team last week released defender/midfielder Senad Halilovic. The Bosnian trained with the team in the preseason but was cut before the regular season began so the team would comply with the league's 28-player roster limit.

Briefly

RSL's weekly Spanish-language show debuted last Sunday on Telemundo, and will air every Sunday evening at 10:30 p.m. . . . Coach John Ellinger can be heard every Tuesday morning during the season on 1280 AM beginning at 8:30 a.m. . . . RSL's reserve team will play its first match against the L.A. Galaxy's reserve team at the Home Depot Center. . . . Nikolas Besagno has been named to the U-17 national team's 18-man roster for the upcoming CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

[Hiddnfox]

Donovan in hospital

by Steve Fox
Salt Lake Herald

Landon Donovan was checked into the Los Angeles County Hospital early
thursday morning after he was attacked by a Real Salt Lake fan.

"I didn't want my glorious team to lose' said Steve Fox, 27, who was booked into Los Angeles City jail thursday night.

After LA Galaxy's practice, the enraged fan, drunk and tired after an all night drive to the city of angels beat Donovan in the knees with a lead pipe, ala Tonya Harding style, and told him it was for the best of the RSL team.

"I'm not even sorry" Steve said, "After our tie last week, I want to see our team win without any chance of failure".

Los Angeles County police Chief Bratton said "We would press charges, but I dont think much is gonna come of it. After Donovan played like complete crap against Mexico for the USMNT world cup qualifying game a few weeks ago, we know he's a punk, and needs to be taught a lesson anyway".

RSL plays against the LA Galaxy this saturday and fans from both Salt Lake and Los Angeles expect RSL to win by a landslide now, thanks to Steve, RSL's newest hero.

[clarette]

Megarep to Hiddnfox on aisle 1...

[SoccerPrime]

LOL good Steve, good.

Give this man a round of applause.
🙂

[Deuce]

This is a good article that was on, of all places, the Metros website
http://metrostars.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050408&content_id=25988&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

RSL seems to be getting some respect from other teams!

[Remus]

Originally Posted by Deuce

This is a good article that was on, of all places, the Metros website

Did you notice who wrote it? David Hale is a contributor to MLSnet.com. Although a good and truthful article none the less.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Remus

Did you notice who wrote it? David Hale is a contributor to MLSnet.com. Although a good and truthful article none the less.

Good catch! uhhh!!! I didn't even look at who wrote it!

Good stuff Dave