Although it's been a subject of discussion for a few weeks already among American soccer fans, the Beckham-to-Milan saga has suddenly become big internationl news (or gossip, depending on your viewpoint).
The Mail Online reports on the saga then goes on to say Becks is playing with fire. Aside from representing another example of disrespect towards MLS (Beckham's deal is called a "shirt-selling contract"), the writer opines that Beckham risks angering Milan if he makes noise about a permanent move and then returns to L.A. No concern is shown for what the Galaxy may think about the situation, or whether or not the move would be good for them and the league.
The gossip machine has kicked in on the situation, declaring Posh unwilling to uproot the children from L.A., and reported that she has returned to Cali with bags in tow.
With all of this European media attention, and the celebrity gossip nonsense to boot, how could anyone argue that this isn't good for MLS? Even if the Galaxy and the league are secondary players in the minds of anyone interested in Beckham's potential transfer, they are still major players in one of the world's biggest football stories. The old saying states that any publicity is good publicity; even if that is not always the case, the negative opinions, slight, and perjorative language being thrown in MLS and the Galaxy's direction is nothing new and nothing substantial. The benefits of being on the tongue of every football fan, in the headlines of every media outlet, and even on the radar of the American mainstream media cannot be overstated for a young league like MLS.
From this end, Beckham staying in Milan probably benefits both the Galaxy and MLS in the long run, even if both are subjected to a barrage of articles and opinions on the "Beckham Experiment". Galaxy needs the potentially freed up the funds to rebuild their team, and MLS needs to move on with the business of building quality and depth throughout the league. I don't blame Bruce Arena for the comments he's made; whether or not he actually feels that way or if he's simply putting on a show is a moot point. He (and the Galaxy) have the right to feel hard done in the whole situation. Even if the interests of the team are better served by waving bye-bye to Becks, the Galaxy can't be seen as patsies, rolling over for the big boys from Italy.
If he goes, if the MLS is "forced" to sell Beckham because the man is holding out hope of playing for England in the 2010 World Cup and Fabio Capello is letting him know that Milan is better than L.A. if he wants a spot on the team, then the obvious question arises: Was the Beckham Experiment a success or a failure for MLS (and the greated cause of soccer in the U.S.)?
I have no doubts that the majority of articles on Beckham's stint in the States will be negative ones; from an on-the-field standpoint it certainly wasn't postive. But I will argue with anyone who says that Beckham's American adventure was not a success from a marketing and exposure standpoint. Singlehandedly, Beckham filled stadiums much too large for the current American soccer market with thousands of potential fans the league would more than likely never have reached. The long term effect of Beckham's time in America are impossible to know right now; but in a country where soccer struggles to get any attention, Beckham's presence drew more focus to the sport than it has had at any time in the last 30 years.
I know that I won't be upset if Beckham leaves for Milan. I know that MLS will go on, hopefully recommitting itself to its long term future by focusing on the overall product it puts on the field, and that I will be watching. There is not doubt, though, that Beckham raised the profile of MLS in the United States and abroad massively, the exact effect he was intended to have. The ability to sell him while he still has something to offer a world-class team is a feather in the cap of MLS, a bonus that was not foreseen at the outset of the experiment, and a win for the league that even the anti-soccer establishment and the anti-MLS soccer community cannot deny. Beckham is only player in the world capable of creating the kind of buzz that follows him; a buzz from which MLS is still benefiting. Now, Beckham has served his purpose. It's time to let him go, recoup some of the money used to bring him here, and move on to the next stage in the growth of professional soccer in America. But Beckham in America was an unqualified success, and you'll never convince this fan otherwise.
