Klinsmenn is correct on criticism on Kobes contract

Prior to the US Men's National Team left to play in the Fifa World Cup in Brazil, USMN coach Jurgen Klinsmenn was assembling a younger roster and a team that was going to be the new identity for the US and its soccer program. Just prior to the start of the World Cup, Landon Donovan was acquired to join the team and cut shortly after making the roster. The USMN
coach had to answer to the media, who was very harsh on his decision to cut Landon and not let him on the roster and represent US in the World Cup. Landon Donovan would has been a staple in international soccer for the U.S. and could have brought leadership, experience and credibility instantly to the roster which lacked an identity and superstars that the other countries currently have.

Klinsmenn, on radio and nation media explained and defended his decision to part ways with U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan saying that he help build the U.S. soccer program, however you can't put people on the team because what their accomplishments in the past, the new identity of the U.S. needs to go forward and should rely and build our soccer team and develop new stars and not have them overshadowed by the giant shadow that is Landon Donovan.  Sticking by this principal Jurgen is finding a new identity for U.S. soccer as well as molding the future soccer teams and trusting that our farm system and player development can deliver world-class caliber players to compete at the highest level.

As the World Cup was progressing through the group stages , Dempsey emerged as the new face and leader of what USMNT soccer will become. Throughout the tournament, U.S. not only upset Ghana, but playing and competing with Portugal to advance itself to the knockout rounds of 16. America finally sees that we can not only excel in this sport and beat the best, we now belong on the biggest stage in the world along side Brazil, Germany and Argentina. As an early exit in the knockout rounds, the U.S. now has now showed the world that it can be a soccer powerhouse and we can compete with the great programs of Europe even without a transcendent start like Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo.

It had all came down to this, the Lakers paid Kobe a deal to stay with the team at a salary of twice his market value that any other franchise would had offer him this year. Kobe is iconic in Los Angeles and the NBA but the Lakers wanted the name recognition and felt that they owe him and has marketing value to the franchise if he remains a Laker. By investing in the future and not relying on the players of the past that are past their prime he forged a new identity and new stars emerged. As Tim Howard showed the world that he is one of the greats and also the surprise role players began to become a big part in the successes of this World Cup. Because we trusted our instincts and the system, eventhough we lost at the same place in the tournament as previous years; the USMNT doesn't have a dimming past, it has a brighter future filled with young stars.