Landon Donovan raising son as well as hopes for LA2024 Olympic bid
LOS ANGELES – As the father of a six-week-old newborn, Landon Donovan is finding out just how challenging it can be to get some honest-to-goodness shuteye.
"A little," Donovan replied when asked if he's getting any sleep since the arrival of his son Talon. "What it does is that it makes you have a lot more respect for all women that go through this. Because they get no break."
"He takes up most of my time now," Donovan added.
But when he isn't helping with diaper changes and 3 a.m. feedings, Donovan will volunteer whatever little time he has to another challenging yet fulfilling endeavor: raising the hopes of another Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The retired United States men's national team and Los Angeles Galaxy legend has joined the athletes' advisory committee for the 2024 L.A. Olympic bid. At the Team USA Media Summit on Tuesday, Donovan stood shoulder to shoulder with his fellow committee members – 53 former Olympians and Paralympians – during the LA2024 press conference to show his full support.
Donovan got involved after former Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans, co-vice chair of the LA2024 athletes' advisory committee, asked him if he'd help the cause. "It was a pretty easy decision" he said.
"People who don't know, I grew up here. This is home for me," said Donovan, who grew up in Redlands, 70 miles east of L.A., and spent 10 seasons with the L.A. Galaxy. "To me, it's a no-brainer and it's something that I would love to see. I was only 2 years old when [the] '84 [Olympics] was here so I have no real recollection. But I would love to make this happen."
Donovan said he will offer his expertise any way he can, especially with the L.A. bid's soccer plans. He agreed that there are probably enough venues to hold both the men's and women's tournaments in Southern California.
"Coliseum, Rose Bowl … I don't now if StubHub Center fits the qualifications but there's plenty of venues," Donovan said. "If they needed to, they could go to San Diego. They could go to Palo Alto."
Donovan said he's excited for the summer of soccer that's coming to America, namely the Copa America Centenario in June. But he's also looking forward to the U.S. men's Olympic qualifying playoff against Colombia later this month. "Qualifying is never easy," he said.
If the Americans qualify, don't expect Donovan to come out of retirement as one of the U.S.'s three overage players. "If you saw me walk nowadays, you'd already rule me out," he said.
Donovan, however, will hit the road if necessary to campaign for the LA2024 bid.
"Listen, Janet's the boss right now," he said. "If she says I need you to do something, then I'm happy to help out."
As long as fatherhood duties don't interfere.
