Los Angeles Galaxy

Landon Donovan will return to play in Major League Soccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy in late March, according to a statement made by Galaxy coach Bruce Arena via the L.A. Galaxy on Twitter:

.@LAGalaxy forward @LandonDonovan sets date for return to the club - http://t.co/XFdDtf42

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 17, 2013

The 30-year-old's playing future was thought to be unclear after the Galaxy gave him some time off at the start of the year—especially when he started talking about retirement as well—but he will return to his former club for the 2013 season in L.A.  

Arena said in a statement on the club's official website:

After a series of collaborative discussions between Landon [Donovan], his representative and our key club leaders, we have agreed to allow Landon to remain on an extended leave of absence and return to training with the team during the final week of March.

We understand this arrangement is not ideal, but we are confident it will allow Landon the time he needs to be both mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming season.

The statement comes as great news for Galaxy fans, who will no doubt welcome the American international star back into their midst for the upcoming season.

The midfielder and forward holds the record for the most team goals (92) during his eight seasons at the club, and also has three titles for the club in that time. His international record is also prolific, with Donovan netting 49 goals in 144 outings for the United States men's national team.

But more importantly, Donovan brings experience and leadership every time he takes the field, and is a huge retention for the club going forward this year.

The Washington Times reports that Donovan appears likely to miss the first few Galaxy games of the season, and may actually not end up playing for his old club until the end of March, or even later than that. The veteran will likely miss L.A.'s season-opener against Chicago on March 3 as well as Chivas USA (March 17) and Colorado (March 23) before he lines up once more in L.A. 

Yet having said that, you won't find too many Galaxy fans complaining about the exact date Donovan actually does take the field again and do what he does best.

They're just glad that he is coming back once more.

So too are the Los Angeles Galaxy.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy may have lost the face of Major League Soccer with David Beckham's departure, but they will not be losing the face of their franchise. According to the Los Angeles Times' Jim Peltz, longtime Galaxy and Team USA star Landon Donovan will return for his ninth season with the outfit.

Donovan had been considering retirement following a fantastic season that culminated in Los Angeles' second straight MLS Cup. It's unclear when Donovan will report to Galaxy camp, according to coach Bruce Arena, as he's still recovering from a grueling 2012 season. 

"He just needs a little bit more time off," Arena said (per the Los Angeles Times). "He's had a couple of years that have taken their toll."

Obviously, this is a huge development for the Galaxy. Though most assumed that Donovan would ultimately return, his flirtation with retirement put the team's three-peat in big-time jeopardy. By returning, Donovan should help keep the worries about a post-championship nosedive to a minimum. 

But returning to the Galaxy will likely prove to be a great move for Donovan as well. 

First of all, Donovan still has a ton left in his 30-year-old tank. Even though he played through just about the entire 2012 calendar year, Donovan scored 11 goals and dished out an MLS-high 16 assists.

He won't be nearly as exhausted this season. Unlike 2012, Donovan did not go on loan to the English Premier League, meaning he should have fresh legs by the time the MLS season starts. And with Beckham departing, Donovan will likely get the chance to be the unquestioned face of a championship contender again.

Beckham's departure may keep the Galaxy from getting as many headlines, but they should survive his loss just fine on the pitch. The 37-year-old Englishman was mostly a secondary player in Los Angeles, serving more as a token of the MLS' relevance than the player who was once (arguably) the best in the world.

The Galaxy are also working on adding a notable replacement. Frank Lampard reportedly has a deal "all but done" to head to Southern California, and he would provide no less than Beckham did last season, without the fuss. 

That would put Los Angeles squarely in three-peat territory—something that has to be intriguing for Donovan.  

The only (relatively) logical reason for Donovan to retire would be if he no longer felt challenged by the MLS. He has spent multiple stints with Everton of the Premier League in the past, and it's wholly possible that playing stateside is no longer satiating his legendary competitiveness.

"I've struggled with motivation at many points in my career," Donovan told ESPN last October. "I've had times where it all came easily but there have been stretches where I have questioned it." 

Even if that's true, retiring wouldn't suddenly make Donovan a regular in the Premiership. Transfer rules still apply, and the Galaxy have made it very clear they want their star to honor his commitment through 2013. Meanwhile, Premier League teams haven't exactly lined up to make Los Angeles an offer it couldn't refuse.

Donovan is a solid-enough player over in England, but the Premier League will go on just fine without him. Even when his contract ends after the 2013 season, Donovan will be 31, and any possible deal would likely be a short one. 

The MLS provides an opportunity for Donovan to be a superstar well into his mid-30s if he chooses—even if it's in a second-tier league.

If Donovan still loves lining up at the pitch, he's better off staying in the MLS where he's revered. He will likely go down as the best player in league history and has established himself as arguably the most decorated star in United States soccer history as well.

The Premier League is the best in the world and retirement may be relaxing, but Los Angeles (and MLS) is where Donovan belongs. 

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Landon Donovan looks increasingly likely to spend 2013 with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Whether or not you agree with Donovan's decision, he's earned the right to do what he wants.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena on Monday said Donovan will "definitely" play for Los Angeles this season, seemingly ending months of speculation about the 30-year-old's future.

"We’ve given him a little more time off,” Arena said (via LAGalaxy.com). “He’s definitely playing this year, but we’re just working out a return date that makes sense for all of us—we’re working that out soon.”

Donovan spoke about retirement in a May 2012 interview with Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl. At the time he spoke of being "excited to pass the torch" to the younger generation of American soccer players.

In October, he told ESPN FC that he has "struggled with motivation" at times. In August, he spoke with Goal.com about his MLS contract expiring after the 2013 season. He spoke about his options after that, including retirement or a move abroad.

"Why wouldn't I (consider retirement)?" he said.

To answer Donovan's question, he shouldn't consider retirement because he can still perform on the pitch. In 2012 he led the Galaxy as captain to their second straight MLS Cup title and earned a spot in the MLS Best XI.

That being said, Donovan has already done enough to warrant an early retirement—if he chose to do so.

During a sparkling MLS career, Donovan has won five MLS Cups (three with the Galaxy and two more with the San Jose Earthquakes) and one U.S. Open Cup.

He also impressed with English Premier League side Everton in two loan spells, first in 2010 and again in 2012.

At the international level, Donovan is a veteran of three World Cups with the United States and a seven-time winner of the Honda Player of the Year award given to the national team's best player.

At age 20, he played a starring role in the Americans' run to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup (a team coached by Arena). Eight years later he led the U.S. comeback against Slovenia and scored the famous game-winning goal against Algeria in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup.

In other words, he has built a glittering resume in a long professional career that began with Bayer Leverkusen way back in 1999. He has also earned the respect of those who would replace him.

“He is arguably the greatest national team player we’ve ever had," American international midfielder Graham Zusi said last October (via New York Times).

At this point in his career, Donovan has earned the right to do whatever he wants, whether that means retirement, another season in MLS or a move abroad. The U.S. national team is now the domain of Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey. But Donovan—and this will make any of us feel old—is its living, playing legend, an elder statesman who deservedly draws immense respect.

For those of us who would like to watch him play a full season against English Premier League competition, seeing Donovan spend another year in Southern California is at least better than the alternative.

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Landon Donovan will be back in the MLS fold next season as his Los Angeles Galaxy look to defend their MLS Cup trophy and add more hardware. According to Goal.com, Donovan will not retire and will re-join his Galaxy teammates following an extended break.

With Donovan returning to the club, the Galaxy will be favorites to win the MLS Cup once again this season. 

Bruce Arena confirmed the news in the report from Goal.com: "We've given him a little bit more time off. He's definitely playing this year, just working out a return date that makes sense for all of us.” 

The extended break will give Donovan time to get healthy and mentally prepare himself for another MLS season. 

The loss of David Beckham will be hard for the club to deal with both on and off the pitch. Adding a Donovan retirement announcement to that mix would have been a big blow. Instead, the club will look to re-load using Beckham's designated player slot either now or in the summer transfer window. 

Without Donovan, the team would still be considered one of the top clubs in the league heading into next season. With Donovan returning, they are clearly the favorite to win the MLS Cup for the third straight year.

Last year's emergence of Robbie Keane revitalized the franchise, as he was the main contributor in the Galaxy's postseason run. He plays extremely well with Donovan as the partnership makes for one of the best in the league. 

Donovan's ability to do whatever the club needs to win sets him and the team apart from the rest of the league. 

In 2010, Donovan played the role of facilitator and took advantage of opportunities in front of goal as they came to him. He finished that season with seven goals and 16 assists. In 2011, he was more of a marksmen and goal-scoring threat for the club. He scored 12 goals and finished with three assists.

Last season, he was back to playing facilitator and providing Keane with numerous opportunities to score. He finished the year with nine goals and 14 assists. 

With Keane as the primary goal scorer, Donovan will once again be asked to control the attacking midfield and navigate his way through defenders. Without Beckham, Donovan may need to do more scoring, but he has proved in the past to be capable of the task.

Not only does Donovan make the Galaxy a better team on the pitch, but he also makes them more marketable and attractive as a club. 

Rumors are circulating that the Galaxy are set to bring in Chelsea's Frank Lampard upon the expiration of his contract in the summer. A player of Lampard's status would be more likely inclined to join the squad with Donovan as part of it. 

Donovan's return isn't just big for the Galaxy, but for the league as a whole. As a respected player around the country and parts of the world, Donovan's presence in MLS brings more credibility and familiarity to the league. 

With their talented roster and the re-addition of Donovan, the Galaxy will be favorites this MLS season, and it's hard to imagine any team in the league knocking them off. 

American soccer star Landon Donovan will return to the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS in 2013 according to team insider Adam Serrano (via Twitter) on Monday: 

Bruce Arena on @lagalaxy capt. @landondonovan : "He's definitely playing this year...We're just working out the return date." #LAGalaxy #MLS

— Adam Serrano (@LAGalaxyInsider) January 21, 2013

The 30-year-old Donovan had openly discussed the possibility of retiring from soccer altogether recently, but it seems he isn't quite finished with the game just yet.

This was Donovan on the subject of his goals moving forward back in May 2012 (via Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl):

From a career standpoint, ideally, I'd like to play a couple more years and hopefully get to the World Cup, assuming I'm still enjoying it and passionate about it, and then sort of reevaluate from there and see where I want to go.

He, along with David Beckham, helped lead the Galaxy to another MLS Cup championship last November, the third during Donovan's time with the club.

Donovan scored 11 goals and tallied 16 assists in 31 MLS appearances for L.A. in 2012.

A California native, Donovan has been playing at a high level for a decade-plus now, excelling for various clubs as well as the United States men's national team—leading the squad to multiple World Cup appearances and impressive victories around the globe.

Donovan is both the United States' all-time leading goal scorer with 49, as well as the UNMNT's all-time assist leader with 48 over the course of his lengthy international career. 

The Galaxy's 2013 season will begin on March 4 at home against the Chicago Fire.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter. 

The Frank Lampard transfer saga seems to be over as the Chelsea midfielder is reported to have a done deal in place to move to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer.

Goal.com reported on Thursday night that the 34-year-old midfielder has a tentative agreement in place to join the Galaxy this summer. 

Lampard has been the topic of transfer speculation over the past month with Chelsea willing to let the club legend leave this summer. 

The England international would replace David Beckham as a big-name England international playing in the Galaxy midfield.

Lampard would be the latest club legend to leave Stamford Bridge with Didier Drogba leaving for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua this past summer. 

The Blues have installed a transfer policy focused on bringing in young players over the past few transfer windows, a policy that has seen Lampard being placed on the bench more often than he is used to this season. 

With young talent that includes Ramires, Oscar, Eden Hazard and others in the Chelsea midfield, the Blues have sought midfielders that will be roaming the pitch at Stamford Bridge for years to come as replacements for Lampard. 

For Major League Soccer, this is a huge capture for a league that was looking to replace Beckham with a star that was not only a big name, but a player that could thrive in Los Angeles under manager Bruce Arena.

The two-time defending MLS Cup champions add Lampard to a roster that is full of international superstars like Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.

Lampard has seen a boost in his form of late with five goals in his last six EPL matches, two of those goals came against Everton on December 30. 

When Lampard enters the league this summer, he will take the place of Beckham not only as the club's third designated player, but as the club's midfield ace. 

For more transfer updates throughout January, stay tuned to Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90.

MLS defender Omar Gonzalez, the American-born talent with a championship pedigree, defines what the MLS has become in 2012.

Gonzalez does not boast the marketable name of a Thierry Henry, the stupefying statistics of a Chris Wondolowski or even the standing of a Landon Donovan, but his inspiring play in 2012 did more than propel the Los Angeles Galaxy to its fourth MLS title—it encapsulated MLS’s upward trend.

The center back spits in the face of everything MLS is perceived to be amongst the iconoclastic, football elitists of the world.

The be-all and end-all to those unfamiliar with MLS is the designated player. Currently, two of the more prominent designated players are Henry and Robbie Keane. 

The two have been stellar since joining MLS, combining for 49 goals and 29 assists since their departure from the Premier League. Nonetheless, they no longer define what the league has evolved from. 

MLS is beyond the imported, aging star.

Wondolowski was named the 2012 MLS MVP. His 27-goal performance tied the league record set by Roy Lassiter in 1996—but America celebrates champions, and that is what Wondo failed to deliver in 2012.

The same does not hold true for the 24-year-old defender. It is that championship pedigree that separates Gonzalez from the other candidates worthy of being named the defining player of 2012.

Having said that, 2012 did not exactly start well for Gonzalez.

His season took a near-devastating hit on Jan. 6. Gonzalez's offseason loan to Bundesliga club FC Nürnberg was shorter than an episode of MLS 36. After tearing his ACL during his first training session with the club, Gonzalez was expected to miss nine months. 

Medical evaluators could not have been more wrong.

Gonzalez returned to light training in May, resumed full training in mid-June and was taken off the Galaxy’s disabled list on July 3. His absence was calamitous early on for the defending champions. With Gonzalez unavailable for the starting XI, the Galaxy’s shaky defense of their crown started with a 6-9-2 record. 

His return altered LA’s fortunes.

Gonzalez’s bruising defense shored up LA’s back four and allowed the team to mount a 10-3-4 run that launched the Galaxy into the playoffs. His presence culminated in another MLS Cup title for LA.

True, that successful run can be attributed to Keane’s return from the 2012 Euro Cup. But Gonzalez’s contributions are undeniable. The Galaxy gave up an average of 1.94 goals a game while Gonzalez recovered from his ACL tear. That average quickly subsided after his return: LA gave up an average of 1.00 goals in the final 12 games of the regular season, including six shutouts.

That’s three more than it had all season.

His performance in the 2012 MLS Cup made him the youngest player to be named MVP since Alecko Eskandarian (DC United) in 2004. 

This is the new direction of MLS: Young, home-grown talent capable of playing overseas, elevating the level of play for MLS.

Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler re-signed with the team that drafted him in 2009. But the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year had ample opportunities to play in the Premier League (per soccerbyives.net)

Besler decided it was better to stay stateside than play for a QPR club fighting off relegation. 

Teams are even beginning to invest toward the future, domestically. Since the MLS Cup, there have been a slew of home-grown signings:

#RBNY signs Academy players Castano and Moreno to #MLS homegrown contracts. More info here: newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/12/n…

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) December 11, 2012

.@lagalaxy sign 21-year-old forward Gyasi Zardes as a Homegrown Player. More on the Hawthorne, CA native here --> lagalaxy.com/news/2012/12/l…

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) December 20, 2012

BREAKING NEWS: #Crew96 signs @wil_trapp as the fourth Homegrown in club history: ow.ly/g4CkT

— Columbus Crew (@ColumbusCrew) December 13, 2012

Rumors have recently surfaced, linking MLS with the USL Pro in order to procure professional playing time for these young players collecting splinters on the bench.

MLS’s long-term sustainability and success is dependent upon the young talent it develops. Gonzalez’s 2012 performance gives prominence to that investment in young talent coming to fruition.

Repeat performances like the one Gonzalez had in 2012 will elevate the standing of MLS in the world of soccer and define the league in a new light—one that highlights MLS’s ability to develop young talent.

So forget the staggering statistics, the garish contracts and extravagant highlights.

There are elements of Gonzalez’s game that cannot be appreciated under those circumstances. (Drawing a player offside doesn’t exactly captivate the casual soccer fan.)

He may have only played in 14 games in 2012, but no player in MLS had a greater impact on his team—and an entire league, for that matter—than Omar Gonzalez. 

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

Todd Dunivant's goal from a header in the 61st minute of the Los Angeles Galaxy's June 17 match with the Portland Timbers was a defining moment for the MLS in 2012.

You're probably wondering why I would pick a goal that wasn't in a playoff game or that wasn't a long-distance bomb (which I'm a big fan of).

Coming into the match, the Galaxy were 3-8-2 and in ninth place in the Western Conference. They hadn't won a match since April 14th, a seven-match span in which they went 0-5-2.

How hot did the Galaxy get after this match? Including this match, they went 13-4-4 the rest of the season, 43 of their 54 points coming during that stretch.

It's not a stretch to say the Galaxy needed something to kick-start their season. They had already gotten knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup and wouldn't start in the CONCACAF Champions League until late August.

Now, Scott French wrote on MLSsoccer.com that the Galaxy's "best moment of the year" was probably Omar Gonzalez's equalizer in the MLS Cup. The thing is, not that I'm totally disagreeing with Scott, but if Dunivant's goal doesn't happen, it's that much harder for the Galaxy to make the playoffs, much less repeat as MLS Cup winners.

You might think I'm wrong and you might not. Would I have picked this goal had the Galaxy not ended up winning the MLS Cup? Probably not. I'm not a fan of the Galaxy and have no reason to say anything nice about them.

Let me know in the comments below what your league-defining goal was. Who knows, I might even change my mind and agree with you.

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Landon Donovan's indefinite hiatus from soccer has been well documented. For the sake of MLS and its potential growth, it had better not overlap the 2013 regular season.

With four titles and an opportunity to be the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League, the Los Angeles Galaxy are on the verge of becoming a “super club”—a distinguished entity in the world of soccer.

But without the most decorated player in recent memory, the Galaxy lack the talent and notoriety to become the team MLS so desperately needs.

MLB has the New York Yankees. The NBA has the Los Angeles Lakers. The NFL has the Dallas Cowboys.

MLS needs the LA Galaxy.

Fans maintain dynasties are to the detriment of sports. The television ratings state otherwise. 

The 2012 NCAA Championship—which pitted basketball powerhouses Kentucky and Kansas against one another—earned a five-percent increase from the 2011 championship that saw Duke defeat an underdog Butler team.

The last time the Yankees were in the World Series, the fall classic averaged 19.4 million viewers. 

Compare that to the 12.7 million that watched the San Francisco Giants sweep the Detroit Tigers this year.

An average of 18.1 million viewers watched the Lakers win its 16th NBA title in 2010. That’s 2.3 million more than this year’s final between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It is a hackneyed cliché in the world of sports: Everybody roots for the underdog. 

That may or may not be true.

Everybody may root for the underdog. But everyone watches greatness.

That is what the Galaxy are on the verge of becoming.

Even without Donovan’s hiatus, the 2013 version of the Galaxy remain a huge question mark. 

David Beckham’s rumored replacements are yet to sign.

Kaká, Frank Lampard and a slew of others have been linked to replace the free-kick specialist, but none have come to fruition.

Last week, LA traded forward Edson Buddle to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a draft pick and allocation money.

2012 MLS Cup MVP Omar Gonzalez is in the final year of his contract with the Galaxy, and his future with the team is not yet known. 

Per MLS transfers, multiple teams have reportedly shown interest in trading for midfielder Mike Magee.

Rumor: Multiple teams interested in LA Galaxy's Mike Magee.

— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) December 18, 2012

The Galaxy are a team in flux—one that needs the talent, stability and leadership Donovan has provided since he arrived in 2005.

True, the Galaxy tout one of the more prolific goal scorers in MLS, but it will take more than just Robbie Keane’s 16 goals and nine assists for LA to repeat as champions.

No Donovan means no titles for the Galaxy in 2013. No title run for LA means no television ratings for MLS in 2013.

Much to the chagrin of small-market MLS fans, the league is more relevant when the Galaxy are in contention for a title. 

Viewership may have been down for the 2012 MLS Cup. But since the first MLS Cup in 1996, the Galaxy have been a part of six of the eight highest-rated MLS Cups in league history.

That is no coincidence. 

MLS is trending upward in attendance records. Even so, without a lucrative television contract, MLS will be unable to leave a dent in a crowded American sports market.

The NFL generates more revenue than any other sport in America. That $3.1 billion television contract it signed in 2011 may have something to do with it.

As the other leagues have already shown us, without the Galaxy in contention, MLS will be unable to draw in the audience necessary to obtain a deal of that caliber.

For the sake of the Galaxy, for the sake of MLS, Donovan’s services are essential once more.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

With David Beckham’s time in Major League Soccer now done and dusted, the perennial offseason chatter about who will be the next big MLS designated player is in full swing.

But Landon Donovan, the most accomplished player in MLS, may not be leaving the league to join another club overseas like Beckham.

He may just decide to leave the game altogether.

Even though he is still only 30 years old and in a good run of form, MLS and USMNT legend Landon Donovan has talked repeatedly about retiring this offseason.

The fact of the matter is, no matter what high-profile designated players MLS may or may not bring in this offseason, Donovan is still arguably the most important player in the league.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD4MrFWUsXc

The current list of MLS DP’s is as follows: Julian de Guzman, Landon Donovan, Thierry Henry, Alvaro Fernandez, Rafael Marquez, Fredy Montero, David Ferreira, Alvaro Saborio, Eric Hassli, Fabian Castillo, Diega Chara, Torsten Frings, Danny Koevermans, Robbie Keane, Mauro Rosales, Hamdi Salihi, Kris Boyd, Freddy Adu, Shalrie Joseph, Javier Morales, Osvaldo Minda, Marco Di Vaio, Jerry Bengsten, Oscar Boniek Garcia, Barry Robson, Kenny Miller, Tim Cahill, Federico Higuain and Christian Tiffert.

Other than Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and possily Thierry Henry or Tim Cahill, who else are casual MLS fans going to pay to go watch?

The answer is no one.

Landon Donovan, as much or more than any other player in the league, puts butts in the seats.

And what are other teams getting for their DP money? The answer is not much.

The New York Red Bulls and Rafa Marquez seem ready to part ways after Marquez’s noted criticism of his teammates and playoff implosions in two consecutive years (in which he was red-carded).

The Seattle Sounders have gotten exactly zero goals in ten playoff appearances from Fredy Montero.

Toronto FC had the worst record in the league with Torsten Frings.

DC United had a horrific finish in the playoffs thanks to Hamdi Salihi and a whopping six goals on the season.

The Portland Timbers got seven goals from Scottish international Kris Boyd.

And the Philadelphia Union got one assist out of playmaker Freddy Adu.

Donovan, on the other hand, has delivered five MLS championships to the teams he has played for and a total of 124 goals in MLS career.

And let’s put aside the, “Donovan takes all his team’s PKs argument” too.

First off, it isn’t true and secondly, Donovan’s 108 career assists prove that he is a difference maker for whatever team he plays for.

Lastly, Donovan is still the face of American soccer. Like it or not, he is the most recognizable American player in the game.

Players like Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley may have passed him up in ability, or even importance to the USMNT, but the casual American soccer fan still identifies the game with Donovan more than any other American.

Donovan may not be as explosive as he once was. He may not exude the desire he once did (although he looked plenty hungry in the MLS playoffs this year). And, he may not be a guaranteed starter for the USMNT anymore.

But the fact is, MLS still needs him.

Donovan has the rare trifecta of what is important in an MLS DP. He is a recognizable face, a talented player and a draw at the ticket office. That’s more than you can say for most of the DPs out there. 

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