While not exactly a continuation of my The Beckham Experiment review (which you can read here and which was my immediate reaction to the book), this post is significantly influenced by Grant Wahl's look inside the 2007-2008 LA Galaxy; simply put, I have more to say on the subject of American's soccer savior with his return to MLS imminent.

While many passionate American soccer fans, both those that follow MLS and those that denigrate it, would more than likely prefer to forget about Beckham and move on, he remains a relevant and polarizing figure in our little world. To ignore that fact, or to downplay Beckham's return as some kind of mundane development is to miss the point; while those of us committed to MLS and soccer no matter Beckham's presence may wish for him to just fade away, he's still a part of the equation, and one that bears analysis.

When Beckham arrived in 2007, he was hailed as the man that would take American soccer to a new level. He was the Golden Boy, the man with the magic right foot and the shriek-inducing good looks who would bridge the divide between casual American sports fans and the world's game. While that didn't happen, and poor planning combined with an unfortunately-timed injury ruined the momentum and stole away the good feelings, Beckham did have a reasonable effect. Name recognition of Major League Soccer and the LA Galaxy rose significantly, and plenty of money was made by both entities.

My, how times have changed.

Beckham's strong-arm act that led to a loan stint in Milan and a half-season compromise with MLS has predictably pissed off more than an few people. American soccer fans are by nature overly-defensive creatures, a result of constantly having to stave off attacks and disdain from the majority the US sports community, and Beckham's double-cross has inflamed their anger. Beckham is potentially set to make his 2009 MLS debut in less than two days time, and even if he does not play, he will certainly be in attendance. The reception, which might be called "icy" if it was to take place in a more polite setting, will likely instead boil with intensive heat. Beckham will be booed, jeered, derided, and abused by every verbal volley the New York crowd (and I can think of no better for the job-okay, maybe you people in Philly) can come up with. He will be the most hated man in the stadium by a large margin, an impressive feat considering his short time as an MLS figure.

"Pariah" is the word most often used in these situations, a clichéd term that nonetheless properly conveys the utter disdain with which the subject is held. To say that it applies to the English superstar is to state the obvious.

And yet, I feel it necessary.

David Beckham is the American soccer's newest pariah.

Despite this newly earned status, new fans will come out simply to see him play, anxious to get a glimpse of the man for perhaps the first time. Still, the "Beckham Effect" on attendance will have waned, a reflection of our short attention span and his unfulfilled cultural-transforming potential. Yet, he will still be the center of attention and remain the man that most want to see. For some it will be about the free kicks and good looks; for others, the chance to rain down their displeasue and berate him lustily will be too inviting to pass up. I'm betting that there will be more of the latter, more people whose ire has been raised than whose desire to see "greatness" has been piqued. Beckham turned his back on the very people who were most excited to see him here; all of those that were soccer fans before his arrival, who truly believed that he might lift the sport they loved up the American sports hierarchical ladder a rung or two.

If this was any other country, Beckham's betrayal would simply be a matter for the fans his own club. Anywhere else in the world, and it would only be his team's supporters who would turn on him, disgusted by his lack of loyalty and growing list of broken promises. But this is MLS, a league with a collective soul that remains unique in the footballing world. While rivalry and dislike runs rampant between fans just as is it does everywhere else, MLS fans have a sense of community and kinship built on the nature of the game here and its secondary status that means Beckham's slight against one is a slight against all. American soccer is the victim here, and its defenders across the country are certain to let Beckham know that his behavior is unacceptable.

Cheers to them all.

While this may not be the way that Tim Leiweke, the LA Galaxy, or the MLS leadership wanted it to go, Beckham's heel turn may in fact be a blessing in disguise. Hate is often an easily emotion to evoke in a large group than love, and may in fact be more effective in provoking action. Beckham's impact on ticket sales may actually be stronger now than it would have been had he not sped off to Milan and appeared so hesitant to return. The number one-off ticket buys and family packages purchased during his initial year and a half tour naturally ebbed over time; with a new found reason to head to the stadium (i.e. let's yell at Beckham), perhaps the ebb has been stemmed. Beckham may have missed half of the 2009 MLS season and stolen away dates previous envisioned as blockbuster sellouts; but his return as a hated figure might bring more attention to the league and create a stronger second-half as a result.

Does Beckham as the villain have the same drawing power as Beckham as the savior?

Probably not, but I have to wonder if it just might not be all that bad...

Besides, we Americans just love to hate.