Is the Honeymoon Over?

Apparently TJ Simers has a problem with David Beckham's performance, or lack thereof, since arriving on our shores. Interestingly, if you look at DB's goal-scoring record (admittedly not the only metric to appraise a player, especially one of his position and limited ability) it doesn't differ that much from his time at Real Madrid, where he averaged a goal in nearly every 8 games.

Bitter and pissed off at being denied an interview request? This is the LA Times, man!!! I'm the California Sports Writer of the Year (2000) goddammit!!!

But seriously, did it take you this long to realize the limited impact Goldenballs would have on the MLS and everything remotely connected to soccer? I bet TJ was lauding DB's praises when the deal was first announced.

So much for Beckham being a voice for MLS [LA Times]

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The Long Wait is Over

Hey Becks!!! We gotta new coach!!!! Ever heard of Chris Coleman????

It's a beautiful day for soccer fans here in North America, or at least those fans who enjoy watching lower league reserves play the Australian third division. Because that's what they'll get, with CONCACAF's decision to roll out their own 24-team competition echoing UEFA's Champions League, doubtlessly influenced by the financial opportunity that's so common in today's professional soccer world. Starting in August, this competition will replace the current CONCACAF Champion's Cup, which was made up of 8 teams, typically dominated by Mexican clubs.

What does this mean for us footy fans here in North America? Nothing really, unless the matches interfere with the airing of legitimate competitions from around the world. Okay, I know I'm cruising for a bruising from you MLS, Mexican Liga and er, Caribbean soccer fans out there, but do I really need to watch any more sub-par soccer? I already catch a glimpse of Championship and Scottish Premier League on Setanta, not to mention some really shit Bundesliga, Eredivisie and Ligue 1 action.

Call me a snob; I'll readily admit so, but with so many games going on, a normal fan of the sport already seems to have his hands full with domestic leagues, cup competitions, international tournaments and the European Champions League.

It's like sitcoms. Who doesn't like to laugh? But realistically, we've only time to watch one or two good ones here. Sure, some people think Ray Romano is funny and that Joey from Friends deserved his own show, but to actually waste away minutes of your life watching it? You never get that time back, son. You just remember that when you watch Pachuca destroy the LA Galaxy. Then again, you can always reminisce about that awesome free kick Becks took in the dying minutes of a meaningless game.

MLS clubs get a Champions League [Soccer America]

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The Seattle Muffin Tops

David Schmader over at the Stranger's blog, SLOG, gets the "Name our new MLS franchise" ball rolling. For the record, Schmader likes Rat Town Rushers, Emerald City Kick Squad, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Goal-Makers. These are the best from the comments section:

• Muffin Tops
• Seattle Portable Meth Labs
• Seattle Passive Agressives
• The Green River Killers
• Paul Allen Agonistes
• Phallic Geoduck Warblers
• Empty STANDERS
• The Hipsters

I can't wait to see what the Seattle Muffin Tops badge looks like.

Name That Major League Soccer Club [The Stranger]

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Becks Feeling The Love

Not content with being on a terrorist hit list (allegedly), David Beckham is now one of the most Googled items in Britain, Venezuela, and Mexico. I get the UK, but Venezuela and Mexico?

For these three countries in particular, he joins these top searches:

• Nazi
• Hangover
• Britney Spears
• Homosexual
• Botox
• Viagra
• Kate Moss

Quite the company you keep Becks. And that's with hardly sniffing the pitch in the last couple of months.

Sex, Nazi, burrito and Viagra: Who Googles what? [Reuters]

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Well If The Brits Sitting In Front Of You Say So, Then By Golly, It Must Be True

Look, I wasn't at RFK last night, heck, I didn't even watch it on TV. But if you go by this account by Michael Yessis, the atmosphere at David Beckham's MLS debut was really something. And if you don't believe him, you can't refute the blokes he sat next to:

The three Brits sitting in front of us said it exceeded the atmosphere at most Premiership matches in England, where Beckham first made his name and gave birth to his global cult.

Well, that seals it for me, No. 23 has officially saved soccer in this country. I'm eternally grateful. I guess we've seen the last of all those "Beckham's a waste of money" stories in the press.

‘Egypt Hearts Becks’: Notes from David Beckham’s MLS Debut [World Hum]

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Beckswatch: 07.12

It's been awhile since I've really sung the praises of Goldenballs and his regal damsel. For those of you who love the new Galaxy midfielder, you'll be happy to see him gracing not only Sports Illustrated (with a more-than-complimentary expose by Grant Wahl) but also the cover of Mrs. BL's favorite too-fucking-big-to-stuff-in-the-mailbox fashion mag W, where Becks and Posh look blissfully unaware of just how stupid their contrived pose looks.

I've gotta give Becks some man-love at this point though. First, for managing to stay married to his walnut leather covered praying mantis of a wife, while avoiding Lampardesque embarassing moments. Second, the guy's a good-looking cat, which makes the ladies' love of him much more bearable, than say, elfin Thetan Tom Cruise. Third, there was a time, long before he became as famous as he is now, where he was one of the best midfielders in an incredibly good Manchester United side. And finally, I've realized that DB is what A-Rod (NY Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for those of you across the pond) wants to be. Since I think A-Rod is a sniveling shit who needs love like a deaf and blind orphan (although he may be the greatest baseball player of our time), this places Sir David in a higher category on my hierarchy of athletes. Congrats, Davy, you're not a schumck, at least not yet (living in LA will most likely change this) [The Sun]

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AZ Craps Pants, Hands Title To PSV

PSV Eindhoven did enough today to win the Dutch Eredivisie for the third season in a row. Ronald Koeman's side put five past Vitesse Arnhem keeper Vladimir Stojkovic to pip Ajax to the title. Ajax had started the day level on points but with an superior goal difference. But they could only score twice in beating Willem II Tilburg, thus conceding the title to the defending champs by one goal.

The leaders going into the day, AZ Alkmaar, couldn't take the pressure and crashed to an unlikely defeat to bottom dweller Excelsior. AZ keeper Boy Waterman (great first name) was judged to have committed a professional foul 20 minutes into the game and was sent off. It only got worse from there on, with Louis van Gaal's side having to play catch up throughout the game. Daniel Guijo-Velasco killed off any hope AZ had of winning it's second league title when he scored the winner with just seconds left to play.

Today's results leaves Ajax and AZ consigned to a four-team playoff for the last Champions League spot. They will join Twente Enschede and Heerenveen in an end-of-season competition that, last season, saw the Amsterdam club win out.

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Also of note, PSV captain Phillip Cocu has declared that he will not play for the Dutch champions next season. He is quoted as saying that he's still interested in playing abroad, setting off speculation that he might come to play here in the U.S. or in Australia.

PSV win league in thrilling finish [DutchNews.nl]
Cocu Path Clear For MLS Move [Soccer365]
Cocu Hints At Australian Adventure [Four Four Two]

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Last 16 Of The Libertadores

Martin Palermo celebrates after scoring from the spot tonight, contributing to the ass-kicking that Boca Juniors gave to Bolivian side Bolivar in the Copa Libertadores. Boca pulled a Man U and put seven past the "hapless" side from the Andes. The win sends last season's Argentine runners-up into the last 16 of the tournament.

The two-leg ties will be played on May 2nd and 9th. The match-ups are as follows:

A: Caracas (Venezuela) v. Santos (Brazil)
B: Defensor Sporting (Uruguay) v. Flamengo (Brazil)
C: Parana (Brazil) v. Libertad (Paraguay)
D: Cucuta (Colombia) v. Toluca (Mexico)
E: Necaxa (Mexico) v. Nacional (Uruguay)
F: Velez Sarsfield (Argentina) v. Boca (Argentina)
G: Gremio (Brazil) v. Sao Paulo (Brazil)
H: Colo Colo (Chile) v. America (Mexico)

The quarter-finals are set up so that the winner of game A plays the winner of game H, B versus G, C versus F, and D versus E. As you might of noticed, the round of 16 will pit Boca against Velez, and thus, both Miguel Angel Russo and Ricardo La Volpe against their former teams. Funny how that happens.

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Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be honored before Boca's game on Sunday against Racing. The tribute, as well as the match, can be seen on FSC, Sunday at 5pm ET. It'll be shown live, at 3pm ET, on Fox Sports Espanol. Schelotto is expected to return to the U.S. on Monday and train with the Columbus Crew next week.

Seven-goal Boca storm into last 16 of Libertadores [Reuters]

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The Beckham Factor

We all know about the ticket sales, big TV contracts, and the hopeful enticement of fair-weather fans, but it seems that the Spice Boy has brought something else over with him: higher salary demands. And really, who could blame Dwayne De Rosario? He's arguably the best player in the league, so why shouldn't he be paid like it?

De Rosario frustrated his wallet's not feeling love [Houston Chronicle]

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The Columbus Crew Go Fishing In Argentina

All of Argentina is alight this week with talk of the upcoming Superclasico between Boca Juniors and River Plate. Argentina's biggest game of the calendar has been a little overshadowed by two off field issues, one affecting each team. At Boca, fan favorite, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, is contemplating a move to the Columbus Crew. Since he hasn't seen any real playing time since Alfio Basile was in charge, a move seems likely.

My guess as to why he'd choose the MLS over another club in Argentina is the same reason why David Beckham wouldn't play for any other English club. Schelotto is inextricably linked to Boca, thus it's probably easier for him to go abroad than play against Boca for another club. According to MLS rules, the U.S. transfer window closes on Sunday.

At River, el Burrito has again gone of the reservation. If you recall, Ariel Ortega decided to walk out on River right before their match against Boca last October. It has since come out that he was having alcohol addiction issues that were finally making their way to the surface. He seems to have fought through it after a rehab stint, but failing to show up for training last week has put Ortega on boss Daniel Passarella's shit list and off of the team sheet for Sunday. Keep on eye on this one.

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Sunday's match will be shown live on on both FSC and Fox Sports en Espanol, starting at noon ET. Even if you don't understand a lick of Spanish, tune into the excellent pre-game show on Fox Sports en Espanol, Minuto Cero. It'll show some great images from in and around the Bombonera and give you a real taste of what this match means to the supporters. It starts at 10am ET.

Columbus Crew reportedly eyeing Boca Juniors hero Guillermo Barros Schelotto [International Herald Tribune]
"I'd pay to play" (in Spanish) [Ole]

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How Does One Keep The MLS Alive?

You allow NFL owners to buy in, that's how. According to Parnesh Sharma, one of the main reasons the NASL folded was because pro football owners were barred from owning soccer teams way back when. Money quote:

The second obstacle – the NFL effort against MLS's predecessor, the North American Soccer League (NASL) – is not widely known. In its heyday in the late 1970s, the NASL was a serious presence on the US sports scene. The New York Cosmos, the league's flagship franchise, had little trouble filling Giants Stadium, especially when soccer legend Pele joined the team. The NFL, then not quite the juggernaut it is today, watched this development warily. Aided by a willing media, it began to vilify US soccer.

In addition to applying pressure to newspapers, radio and television stations, and advertisers, the NFL also prohibited its owners from owning teams in other sports (an action directed chiefly against the NASL). The NASL sued, but the NFL won in court in 1982. The NASL folded in 1984.

I don't have the current NFL bylaws in front of me, but obviously, we're living in different times. As far as I can tell, NFL owners own four of our domestic league's thirteen teams.

US soccer: Commend it like Beckham [Christian Science Monitor]

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Can Becks save MLS?

Oh, where to start with this whole Beckham + LA = Galaxicos. Well, you have to admit it's a bit out of character for the MLS, but can Becks bring droves into footie grounds, or even the Home Depot Center, in a town where they can't even sustain a pro American football team (USC, contrary to popular belief, does not count)? Today's Fiver said it best:

It's no big surprise that Becks opted to take the Yankee dollar - after all, the deal in question is worth a wallet-busting, jaw-dropping £128m (over £492,000 a week! £70,285 a day! £2,928 an hour!) to the washed-up 31-year-old who, even in his sari-wearing, Brylcreemed, petulant pomp, was one of the most over-rated players ever to kick a football.

In dollars, Becks will be making nearly $249M for his five year deal. Apparently, less than 20% of the deal are his actual wages, so the cost of having a one-dimensional, aging and slow midfielder (besides Cobi Jones) for the LA Galaxy comes just under $10M a year. Despite appreciating the Beckhams for providing SMiA with countless (and meaningless) fodder with which to ridicule them, it's unfortunate that MLS thinks this is what they need to grow this league.

Couple that with the fact that Becks is 32, had little impact in La Liga, and nothing to offer internationally, it's a crime in my book that he's going to make this much bank. There are countless other players that could invigorate MLS with their quality of play, rather then their marketable face and mummified ex-Spice Girl missus. Zinedine Zidane? Luis Figo? Even Ronaldo would have more of an impact, in my opinion. You'd be surprised how many middle-aged players at the decline of their career that could collectively boost the popularity of the league with technique and skill, if not pace.

I would like to see myself eat my words, and I would like to see MLS take it to the next level, of say, at least the Scandinavian leagues. I would like to turn on an MLS game and see a higher level of play. Sadly, I don't see that happening, but we'll keep you posted on the royal couple's arrival, right down to their first trip to Wal-Mart.

Global icon David Beckham signs with the Los Angeles Galaxy in landmark deal [Galaxy Press Release]

An older Beckham still has plenty to offer MLS [ESPN Soccernet]

FACTBOX - The life and career of David Beckham [Reuters India]

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