Luis' latest piece for SI, of which I have translated the title for non-Spanish speakers. It wasn't until reading his column that I remembered that plenty of Mexican fans were pissed at Landon Donovan for the hand-waving gesture, which was interpreted by some as mocking the chasing defenders.
Well, except for the part where he looked right over at Eddie Johnson and then did the gesture.
It's actually a common US tactic. They point to their feet, to the space where they want the ball played to, they indicate "come back" or "push up" to their teammates all the time.
It's just that some Mexican fans want to think the worst of Donovan all the time. Come to think of it, so do some U.S. ones.
2 comments:
Maybe the misinterpretation of the Donovan hand gesture is the perfect microcosm of the Mexican side's mindset...style over substance.
As I watched the game and saw the gesture, I (and surely most viewers, right?) knew what he was doing...simply telling EJ to keep going so he could pass the ball off. Anyway who's watched him knows that's a normal thing for him to make a run and look for someone to get themselves an easy goal. He's like a true point guard - he seems to like the assist better than getting the goal himself.
Mexican apologists would have us believe that as Landon's running down the pitch in a tight 1-0 game, he's thinking about showing up the opponent with some silly gesture.
No, actually, he's thinking about burying the opponent and putting the game away. I'm surprised that anyone could have the idea that he'd risk scoring a goal to get a jab in, but that's obviously a mindset that I just don't get.
You're probably right. There's a good chance that Mexican fans believe Landon is really that arrogant, and that good, perhaps because that's what one of their players would do if they got the chance.
Actually, though, I'd blame the TV commentators. The ones on the Spanish channel got it into their heads that that's what Donovan means, and that's what they told all the viewers.
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