Galaxy hang loose in Hawaii
HONOLULU – Not so many months ago the Los Angeles Galaxy camp was a pretty somber place. Frivolity was in short supply.
However, just two games into the preseason under Ruud Gullit, the Galaxy's spirits have clearly picked up significantly and Yahoo! Sports was on hand to witness the fun.
As David Beckham answered reporters' questions in the interview zone at Aloha Stadium following L.A.'s 2-1 victory over Sydney FC on Saturday night, teammate Landon Donovan grabbed a journalist's tape recorder and joined the media scrum.
After Donovan stayed silent in the early part of the interview session, I decided to get him involved in the action.
"David, I think Landon has got a couple of questions for you," I said to Beckham.
Donovan (in mock-serious reporter's voice): "So David, have you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii?"
Beckham: "It's been really good to stay in Hawaii, have you?"
Donovan: "Yeah. Are you doing anything -- are you going out tonight, maybe?"
Beckham: "No, I am early to bed. I've got to be up early in the morning for a fitness workout."
I quickly realized Donovan's brilliant journalistic style was in danger of making me look bad, so I thought I'd better regain control of the interview.
"So David, do you think the team has been better off without Landon on the pitch this week?"
Cue laughter and pretend-annoyance from Donovan, who is fortunately a decent and intelligent enough guy to be able to poke fun at himself.
Donovan sat out both games in Hawaii due to an injured knee, but he will be in action with Beckham on the Asia leg of the Galaxy's preseason tour. The team returns home the second week of March.
