The 91st Minute

By now, most sports fans around the world know the name Landon Donovan. A few days ago, perhaps not.

Yesterday morning, I awoke with a sense of nervousness. The U.S. World Cup soccer team was about to begin a do or die match against Algeria. Win, and the Americans would advance to the Round of 16. Lose and go home. The stakes were high.

In the first half, an American go ahead goal was disallowed due to an offside call that no one with a pair of functioning eyes could possibly agree with. This on the heels of another suspiciously disallowed game winning goal in the previous US match against Slovenia, the reasons for which have still not been explained. Soon news broke that England was up 1-0 over Slovenia, which further cemented the necessity for a US win against Algeria.

As the match wore on, the US team had chance after chance after chance to score. One scoring chance that I recall involved a wide open net. The Americans were dominating the flow of the game, but kept missing after coming so close so many times on a potential go ahead goal. And of course, the disallowed goal from the phantom offside call grew in importance. After 90 minutes, the score was USA 0 Algeria 0.

As some of you may know, soccer is played in two 45 minute halves. After the 90th minute, when the actual game time has elapsed, the referee will typically add a few minutes of “stoppage time” in allowance for substitutions, time wasting, injuries, etc. Stoppage time became do or die time.

With the hopes of a nation a hemisphere away pinned squarely on its back, the US team again came with relentless effort to begin stoppage time. At this point, I admit, my faith was faltering. But fortunately for me, faith still burned in the hearts of the 11 Americans on the field. In the 91st minute of the game, American midfielder Landon Donovan set up a scoring opportunity after streaking down the field. When the shot was deflected, he was perfectly positioned for the rebound. In arguably the most dramatic moment in the history of American soccer, Donovan kicked the ball into the back of the net. Reactions all across America can be summarized by this YouTube video I saw today which shows the reaction to Donovan’s goal in a bar in Lincoln, Nebraska. (goal at the 55 second point):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfS9kbyfiMM&feature=related

When most of the world had lost hope in the American team, they kept it. Through adversity, trial and error, and gut wrenching near misses, they kept their belief. And in the 91st minute, they made history. Regardless of what happens to this American team now, they have made a nation proud and etched their place into World Cup lore.

Do you ever feel like you are in the “91st minute”? Remember to keep the faith. Let the Landon Donovan in you shine through.

Success,

Clint McKinlay
President & CMO