Galaxy Fan Fest

More than 4,000 people attended the Galaxy’s annual fan fest Saturday at the Home Depot Center.

The free event included a 3-1 Galaxy win over PDL outfit the San Fernando Quakes, with Carlos Ruiz, Michael Gavin and Landon Donovan scoring.

Donovan headed to LAX before the event had even finished to catch an airplane for the U.S. game Wednesday against Poland, while David Beckham was similarly scheduled to fly out to join up with the England squad.

I missed the “fan with biggest Galaxy tattoo” contest unfortunately, but heard Alexi Lalas’ address to season ticket holders in the Stadium Club.

Last season was a “hell of a year” Lalas told the crowd , while acknowledging that in their “zeal’ to promote the brand with Beckham the Galaxy had overlooked “the product on the field.”

He pledged that would be different this year although he again acknowledged the “calculated risk” in tying up much of the salary cap in just three players; Becks, Ruiz and Donovan.

Lalas expanded on the reason for releasing former Newcastle United defender Celestine Babayaro, conceding that his was a “perfect example” of a playing style that didn’t fit the team.

“It’s difficult, but I’d much rather make that decision now than four or five months down the road,” Lalas said.

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