How old are you?

I’m willing to bet those of you who do not recognize burnt out as a valid performance related issue in the work place are on the younger side.

As an older person I am well aware of the realities of burnt out. I am also aware that people like you will never understand until it happens to you. Then you’ll understand.

Donovavn is 30 but he has been America’s Golden Boy and the face of soccer for about 14 years straight. That’s a long time to be the main man for US soccer.

But I do agree that the LD hate is a little excessive. If he does not want to be a part of things then so be it. He does no owe anybody anything.

As to whether the players would accept him back is kind of a dumb question. These are all professional athletes, they will get along just fine with or without him.

Vehemently disagree on M.J. – he was suspended by David Stern and forced to do outpatient gambling addiction rehab. The baseball thing was part of his rehab, something to keep him out of trouble by occupying his time and obsessive nature. Also he was the greatest player of all time in a sport that is much more popular and accessible in the U.S. No one is saying that about L.D.

Clearly, you’re a professional athlete who has gone approximately 4 years without any off season to speak of. You probably know a lot about what it means to be the face and load bearing element of an entire nation’s interest in your particular sport. You probably then know a lot about the psychology involved since you’ve been there and all. Why don’t you tell us all about it?

BUT….this whole thing about how he’s suffering from burnout is such BS, especially when you hear people justify it because he’s “been playing professional soccer since he was 18!!!” Hell…many people reading this column have been working professionally for a LOT longer than 12 years. We’ve all had time away from family, long road trips, crappy bosses, etc. except that we don’t get to retire when we’re 35…..No…..at 35, we still have 30 years to go.

I’m just not sympathetic to burnout. He’s not working any longer hours than a LOT of us.

He was kidnapped from normal society in 1997 as a national team player. 16 years of constant soccer was enough to make him need some time off. I certainly don’t think that being wired this way makes him “soft” in any way, or indicative of some larger problem with U.S. Soccer.

I think he has a certain level of responsibility to all of us that would still be giving it our all if the roles were reversed, but that is countered by it is his choice. There is a good chance we don’t make it to Brazil without him…he is a game changer and away from Howard no one else is. So rejecting him is just dumb in my opinion.

Landycakes taking the beginning of the season off and the general consensus is “at least he is coming back!!”.

If I was in the USMNT camp and played any kind of leadership role I would be in Klinsi’s office telling him to keep Landon far away from the team.

If I was Klinsi, I’d call Landon and tell him not to worry about form for the international stage, because his career with the USMNT is over.

30yrs old and the guy is burnt out? This is such a joke it is almost embarrassing that it is a story.

Anyone writing the treatise about why the game still hasn’t blown up here should use this episode as exhibit A.