Landon Donovan Could Use a Hug
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Thanks Becks, it's been a rough week.
It's not been a good week for Landon Donovan.
Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Mexico in a World Cup qualifier seemed like it might be the low point.
Not quite.
One day later, Donovan said he was diagnosed with H1N1 virus -- aka, swine flu. The Los Angeles Times reported the story Friday morning.
Donovan told the Times that he began feeling ill earlier this week.
He told the Times:
"Sunday night when I got into Miami I started feeling a little congestion and just not feeling great, but it wasn't terrible. I didn't think too much of it. I thought maybe it was just changing climate, the heat and humidity and all that."Monday, it got a little bit worse. I was coughing a little. Tuesday (when the U.S. team traveled to Mexico City) I was coughing a little, and when I woke up Wednesday I felt a little tired, but I just assumed it was the altitude."
The Times reported that Donovan probably contracted the virus from two team staff members who fell ill after last weekend's game against New England in Foxborough, Mass.
Despite the illness, Donovan played the entire game Wednesday at Azteca Stadium.
Galaxy coach and general manager Bruce Arena told the Times that Donovan is not infectious. He said Donovan has a mild strain of the flu and is at the tail end of it.
The Galaxy are home Saturday night against the Seattle Sounders.
"We're still hoping he'll be available and ready to go," team spokesman Justin Pearson said. "Even Landon said it hasn't hit him as hard as the normal flus have hit him."
