It's funny how quickly fortunes can change in life and in the fun and games of sports.
Sometimes you just have to be patient to be vindicated.
Take, for example, three gentlemen on the Los Angeles Galaxy who had to endure their share of trials and tribulations on and off the field this past season.
And by the time referee Kevin Stott finally blew his final whistle after 120 minutes of MLS Cup soccer at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday, Guillermo Ramirez, Landon Donovan and Steve Sampson had wound up with some intriguing reversal of fortunes.
Let's start with Ramirez, who connected for the game-winning goal in the Galaxy's 1-0 triumph against the New England Revolution.
Pando, as he is nicknamed, began the season as a starting midfielder and slowly, but surely worked his way out of the lineup, developing a rather unwanted reputation as a frequent shooter who could not find the back of the net.
He took 62 shots -- 30 on goal. He finished the regular season with but one goal (and the worst shooting percentage for that many shots) and that was a fortuitous penalty kick conversion against Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon on Sept. 10. Ramirez's attempt hit the post and bounded off Cannon's back into the net in a 4-1 victory.
Ramirez wound up benched and hadn't played in more than a month -- since the 2-1 home win against Dallas on Oct. 1 and of course, he hadn't seen a minute of playoff action.
"He was a very angry individual during the playoffs," Sampson said.
But Sampson played a hunch on Sunday and replaced Ned Grabavoy with the 27-year-old Ramirez in the 66th minute.
"I had a feeling that he would do well tonight," Sampson said.
He was right.
Pando had his opportunity two minutes into stoppage time of the first extra-time period. Donovan sent a corner kick from the right side into the area that Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis punched out of the area. Ramirez gathered in the ball at the top left of the area and fired a shot into the net.
"It was an incredible emotion," Ramirez said. "You can't describe a goal of this magnitude."
Donovan certainly could relate to Ramirez's plight.
"It's been a tough year for him," Donovan said. "It was pretty similar for me, too, at (Bayer) Leverkusen. I made a decision to come back here and see what I can do here. Things weren't going my way for some reason. I didn't know if he had another option. He could have stopped playing and decided his season was over.
"He's a true champion."
But Ramirez even surprised Donovan.
"I would have bet my mortgage in Manhattan Beach -- a little pricey sometimes -- that this guy wouldn't have come in and made the difference," he said. "I'm impressed and extremely happy for him."
Donovan endured his share of criticism.
As a member of the San Jose Earthquakes at this time last year, Donovan was contemplating whether he would return to Leverkusen, from whom he had been loaned to the league.
He did go to Germany.
But after experiencing a nightmare winter in Germany, Donovan returned home amid criticism he could not hack it in Europe.
We all know the rest. Donovan connected for 12 goals and 10 assists in 22 appearances and either scored or wound up in the middle of several key goals for the United States during World Cup qualifying.
But he truly could not put an exclamation point on his year until he took a victory lap around Pizza Hut Park with the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy.
"You get caught up in the professionalism and the business of this game," Donovan said. "For me, it's about having fun. People didn't understand why I came back and people are still going to say it's stupid and the wrong decision. I have been happy this year. Even when things were bad I could go home every day and life was good at home.
"This is my most satisfying, my most gratifying and my most content year. To culminate this way was perfection."
It was for Sampson as well, although he certainly wasn't gloating.
Sampson, you might remember, directed the U.S. to a last-place finish at the 1998 World Cup. Adding fuel to the fire, he replaced the popular Sigi Schmid in a controversial firing in August 2004 with the Galaxy in first place.
"Guys, I really don't want to talk about this," he said at post-game press conference. "Those are questions for Doug Hamilton and Tim Leiweke."
Sampson, who also guided the Galaxy to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup crown in September, was referring to the Galaxy's general manager and the CEO and president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, respectively.
"I was honored to be offered the job," he said. "Who wouldn't want to coach the Los Angeles Galaxy under whatever conditions? I knew it was going to be very, very difficult at the time to maintain expectations of the club, of the press of the fans. But any coach who was at least that competitive would want that opportunity.
"I think I have a bunch of guys who know how to play the game, play as a unit and fight for each other."
OK, we let Hamilton have his say as well.
"I am going to say it plainly. I think he is the most villified guy in all of U.S. soccer," he said. "We're all disappointed that '98 didn't go our way. But to continue on that path I don't see any rationale in it.
"I am very happy for him because he has taken some criticism since '98. This is his first chance for a job in this country at the professional level and he pulls a double in his first full season."
Michael Lewis can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. He has covered all 10 MLS Cups. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
