Last night's Galaxy game was another example of how far from being a world caliber league the MLS is.  After watching some 50 World Cup games, my neighbor and friend in our Galaxy seats agreed that we were watching the equivalent of a Division III College game.

The good news, I think, is that LD had to fight through two defenders to get his toe on a ball just hard enough to slide it past Tony Meola in net.  It was a decent goal by anyone's standards but certainly no "golaso" on any Mexican broadcaster's lips by ANY stretch of the imagination.

Herein lies my problem.  I want LD to toughen up and play like a STUD on the highest level.  These two RedBull defenders were too pourous.  They weren't strong enough with their upper bodies to slow LD's obvious quickness advantage.  LD did what I want him to do, fight for the ball and win it for a goal.  HOWEVER;  just like my little brother was with me when we were kids, he was a tough sob with me but a wuss when he was with others.  LD is in a comfort zone with the MLS.  He KNOWS that he is a superior player and realizes the referees will protect him.  That can't continue.  Those two defenders should have beat the hell out of him as he earned the ball and goal.   I challenge you, MLS, to turn Donovan into a MAN or chase him away from the game.  I challenge you, MLS referees, to allow men to play a man's game and those less than MAN types to go away for good.  I challenge you on this for the good of American soccer.

Finally, Donovan, man up.  You need to get a mean streak in your game.  You need to PUNISH those guys on the pitch with you if they don't live up to what YOU KNOW to be a higher level.  If you are as good as I think you could be, you (or someone on the team) should be scoring three or four goals a game and be PSSED if you aren't.  Pssed at yourself and at your teammates.  Take the league on your shoulders and FORCE your will upon it.  Elevate it to greater heights.  Between you and Dempsey, who already demands these things, the MLS could become a force in world soccer.  Stop being the nice little guy from Redlands and become a prick who is an A**hole on the field and demanding in the media.  Until then, I'll be content to go watch the University of Redlands play just as much as I do the Galaxy.

DTB