Anyone who has ever suffered a severely sprained ankle knows that it can take weeks or even months to heal. For David Beckham and the MLS, the timing couldn’t be worse. Understand that the Beckham signing was a gamble from the outset. Amid the hype it was going to be interesting to see if the American sporting public would respond to Beckham’s game.
Soccer is a game of subtleties. Beckham’s game accentuates the subtleties. Don’t get me wrong - Beckham is a superstar. But, he’s not a LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett-type of superstar. He’s more Jason Kidd. The first three can stir a nation, the latter can’t.
What Beckham did have going for him was that America bought into the hype. When he landed in July, America was focused on his arrival like no British import since the Beatles in 1964. Yet, while the Beatles delivered, Beckham’s ankle has limited him to a couple of token appearances in eight games. Worse, think about how the sporting spotlight has shifted since Beckham’s arrival. Craig Biggio notched his 3,000th hit, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken entered the Hall of Fame, Tom Glavine won #300, Alex Rodriguez smashed his 500th career home run, Bonds broke Aaron’s record, Tiger won another major, the Yankees have made up 10 games on the Red Sox, NFL exhibition season is underway, and college football starts in two weeks.
While Beckham’s fame will endure, the MLS has had its 15 minutes in the spotlight. There is still room for professional soccer in this country, and the sport will succeed. However, the booster rocket that was going to launch the sport to unprecedented heights has fizzled. Funny thing about luck.
Beckham could have been the right guy in the right place. Now, in all probability, we’ll never really know.
Soccer? Other than parents who don’t want their kids playing football, does anyone really care? Scores of 1-0 don’t excite Americans…
Comment by Manny — August 15, 2007 @ 11:30 am
“But, he’s not a LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett-type of superstar”.
Why would you place LeBron and Garnett in Kobe’s category? Kobe has 3 championship rings, How many does LeBron and Garnett have?
Will the Kobe hate ever end? Beckham should reach for Kobe status……a true superstar on the floor…..not just in the media.
Comment by P. Ford — August 15, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Tell me, P. Ford, how many “rings” do you think Garnett would have if he played with Shaq?
And, glad to see you state that Kobe is a true superstar “on the floor”, because his life off the floor needs some work. Did you ever think that the “Kobe hate” was brought on by himself?
I’ll take Garnett “on and off” the floor, thank you.
Comment by GZguy — August 15, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
I must agree … 1-0 just doesn’t have the thrill Americans crave.
Comment by Alan Crawford - Tampa, Florida — November 11, 2007 @ 12:52 am