LA's Donovan comes up for air at USC journalism class

Landon Donovan has a history of insightful, personal interviews. He just hasn't given very many of them lately.

That seems to have changed on Wednesday night, as the US national team and LA Galaxy legend answered questions in public for the first time since helping lead his team to the 2012 MLS Cup. Donovan appeared at a Q&A session titled "The Competitive Edge" on the campus of the University of Southern California.

One promising young scribe proceded to live tweet the event. We can't vouch for the veracity of his transcription, during which Donovan talks about everything from his relationship with his dad to that time he almost quit soccer in 2006 (which, from memory, was right before kickoff vs. Ghana), but I guarantee you we'll all be talking about this out-of-the-blue appearance by LD for the next 48 hours:

Donovan: "2006 was rly my first big failure. There was 2 weeks when I went into depression..I started wondering if soccer is for me again"

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

Donovan regarding when Beckham came: "I learned a lot of important things...like what to say and what not to say"

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

On marriage sit in 2009: "For some reason, there was smth inside me that was pulling me to get out of it...I became not a great (pause) man"

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

"I hit a point last year, and it's really been a lot...I don't feel an obligation to play soccer, I play it cuz I like it, not bc I need it"

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

"I was so exhausted from the weight of the past 15 years...really the past 28 years"

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

"There have been time in the past where I thought about quitting because I no longer enjoyed it" he's referring to his time at Bayer Leverku

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

Here's the best part, if you're a US fan:

What everyone wanted to hear: "Yes, I do have an interest in playing for the USMNT again, if given the opportunity, I would"

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013

And here's the part that's Landon being Landon to, like, the Nth degree:

He says he asked to speak at USC when he heard of our class, and agent approved it. Example of giving more than just on the field.

— Jesse Xiao (@Xman818) February 21, 2013