Tuesday's column: Bust it like Beckham

I'll repeat what I said at the end of last season on two counts.

I was and am very critical of Beckham's dodging in and out of MLS, arriving late (and injured) and going home early. But his intensity and commitment to the Galaxy in the home stretch and playoffs last year earned my respect. I'm sad that his productive career looks to be over, and I feel for the guy.

But the loss of Eskandarian is more important to the Galaxy and the level of play in the league. So, same comment: I'm sad that his productive career looks to be over,and I feel for the guy.

Now, can somebody please tell Leiweke to pull his head out and sign a contract that allows players to earn free agency? Let's get on with the season.

The article in the Press Telegram today was just bad. I don't get the hate for Beckham. First off he wasn't a Galaxy player until after his contract with Madrid ended. It's not as if he ran off to play for Madrid got hurt and then came back. He was if i remember correctly also in the process of winning a league title at the time. Some have speculated that he was out as long as he was because he tried to come back to early. Whether that's the Galaxy's fault, MLS, or Beckham i don't know but everybody wanted him out there to the detriment of the player and ultimately the Galaxy.

Why is it so wrong that he strive to one last time play in the most important soccer tournament. Can you, or me, or anybody else that may post on here really have any idea of looking in the mirror and realzing that his international career is all but over. Here is a man that technically speaking was not the best player in the world at any given time, but probably has done more for soccer off the field than just about anyone. Asia loves him, Africa loves him, the U.S. loved him. Everybody loved him and he made people talk about soccer.

Beckham's affect on MLS is still being written. I never expected him to come in and score 30 goals a year, that was never why he was brought in here. But you know what i do hear is soccer being talked about on sports radio, that never happened before he got here. When his playing days are over and he owns an MLS team he will have connections and sponsors that will help the league mature and grow. He will still bring awareness to a league that so desperately needs it. That's why he was brought here, not for his playing ability that everybody knew was on the decline, it was to make people talk and to gradually grow the sport. So far so good as far as i'm concerned.

I applaud Beckham, i hope he comes back to play again for the Galaxy and I hope to be there on his final game standing and thanking him for all he's done to the world's game.

Cheap and unnecessary shots all around from you Green. Truly nasty stuff. Frankly, I'll never read you or your paper ever again.
And good post by you Soccer Fan. The jealousy and hate from some of these pundits literally drips from their fingers as they type.

I'm a Chivas USA fan, and if you remember, he ended our 2009 season by playing an unbelievable ball into space for Donovan, with the Galaxy earning a penalty on the play. It was exactly that type of play that is why soccer fans love Beckham. He sees the game on a different level than almost anyone else in the world. Your column was full of low blows and cheap shots, and was totally unnecessary. Sure, Beckham is many things, and his image, products, brand, and all that is important, but he always leaves it all on the field. They guy works hard and gets the job done, no matter how much attention he gets off the field.

It's a shame that Beckham got hurt, and stupid articles like this one just makes worse. Do you even like soccer, Nick?

I'm with the guys here Nick. The David experiment was a bold and gutsy move by the Galaxy and ultimately a positive one. Obviously they were not ready for all the baggage that came with him but it allowed everybody, fans, players and the league to mature at an accelerated pace. In an era where the supposed American soccer fans and media are un-accepting of MLS and critize rather than support a fledgeling league, he made it relevant to talk MLS if nothing else. Very few people in the world can do that.

Even the nay-sayers like yourself did not ignore him but jumped on the publicity bandwagen because it was good business. I dare say your blog owes it's survival to him.

Re his efforts to win a spot on the World Cup squad, I still argue against the relative significance of playing in Europe to improve his chances. I think it was a mis-calculation on his part as well Capello's to insist on that. Beckham's play in MLS was good enough to get him significant paly in the Euro's which is actually tougher than playing in the World Cup. He should have just trained briefly like he did with Arsenal and kept playing in MLS. Honorable intention but wrong tactics given his age.

Asking Tim Leiweke to "pull his head out" is like...

1. Asking the sun to rise in the north

2. Asking the Pope to stop being Catholic

3. Asking bears to hibernate during the summer in Puerto Rico

The Galaxy would make more money if they put an exciting football product on the field. They have always needed a replacement for the times when Beckham is out. Two good players doesn't make a team. They have lots of loan money to spend.

cheapos, I wonder about that, since Beckham still counts against the salary cap even while incapacitated.