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Donovan Bags the ESPY for Soccer's Best
07-11-02
www.mlsnet.com

San Jose- San Jose Earthquakes forward Landon Donovan won the ESPY award for Best Male Soccer Player Wednesday night at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Presented by ESPN, the ESPY Awards benefit the V-Foundation and celebrated its 10th year in 2002.

Hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, the ESPY Awards featured numerous celebrities from the world of entertainment and sports. Donovan won the award over the Chicago Fire’s Zach Thornton and the New England Revolution’s Alex Pineda Chacon. The winners were chosen by the ESPY Awards Academy, which includes Hall of Fame athletes and coaches as well as nationally recognized print and broadcast sports journalists representing every major outlet.

Donovan finished the 2001 season with seven goals and 10 assists during the regular season, as the Quakes completed their best season ever with 45 points. During the MLS Cup Playoffs, the 20-year old forward continued his strong play, netting five goals and recording two assists to lead the Earthquakes to their first-ever MLS Cup Championship. Donovan was the playoffs leading scorer.

With the U.S. national team, Donovan helped the team to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, the best finish in over 72 years. The young striker started every match of the World Cup and registered two goals for the team. In early 2002, Donovan was twice named Chevrolet Man of the Match in the Football Confederation Gold Cup, as the U.S. won the tournament for the first time since 1991.

Donovan rejoined his teammates in San Jose on Thursday for practice to prepare for Saturday’s away game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX against the Western Conference’s second-place team, the Dallas Burn. The game will be shown live at 5:30 p.m. PT on Action 36 Cable 6 (KICU) on Saturday, July 13.

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