David Beckham's return to MLS action tonight is "raising questions of a zero-sum relationship" with his Galaxy teammates and the "entire MLS enterprise," according to John Jeansonne of NEWSDAY. Tonight's Galaxy-Red Bulls game marks Beckham's first MLS appearance since the '08 season, and "unlike his red-carpet arrival in the States two years ago," Beckham was asked during a press conference yesterday about his "commitment to his U.S. teammates and fans, and whether his quest to play in the 2010 World Cup inevitably will lead to another European sabbatical next year." Beckham: "It's important people realize I'm here to play for this team" ( NEWSDAY, 7/16 ). Beckham added, "I'm an honest person. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't. ... I'm dedicated to the fans." However, in N.Y., Jeffrey Marcus notes Beckham yesterday dismissed the "idea that he owes Galaxy ticket holders an apology for missing so many of the team's games." He also indicated that his "ambitions still lie overseas." When asked if he would "rather be in preseason training with AC Milan than joining the Galaxy in midseason," Beckham said, "If I was contracted to a European club, yes, I would. ... With the last loan, I think it worked out pretty well" ( N.Y. TIMES, 7/16 ). He also intimated that he needs to join a "top-flight club" in Europe after this MLS season so that he can "remain in contention to play for England during the 2010 World Cup." But in L.A., Grahame Jones wonders, "Will the Galaxy allow Beckham to go out on a six-month loan again and miss the first half of the 2010 MLS season?" ( L.A. TIMES, 7/16 ). A FAILED EXPERIMENT? In N.Y., Jay Greenberg notes Beckham has been "talking for years about how it's going to take years" to boost the level of interest in soccer in the U.S., "which is fair enough." But his two MLS seasons have "yet to convince a single international household name star to join him in the wowing of us heathens" ( N.Y. POST, 7/16 ). MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, "When we look back upon this, it will always be part of the story that at least the first two seasons didn't deliver as much on the field as everyone, I'm sure including David, had hoped. But this story, this book, isn't fully written yet" ( AP, 7/16 ). In N.Y., Filip Bondy writes Beckham's visit to play the Red Bulls "this time is very different from his euphoric pop-in last season, when he was still the darling of MLS." Fans "want to believe the guy," but there is "no commitment, when it comes to actual physical presence." Beckham "only hopes he proves over these next three months that ... he loves the one he's with." Beckham can "afford to stay in MLS, financially," but he "just can't afford it developmentally" ( N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/16 ). In New Jersey, Ian O'Connor writes under the header, "Beckham Is A Clown Of The First Order." Beckham in his two MLS seasons has "run nothing more than a shell game, appointing himself an ambassador for U.S. soccer in one breath, and booking his reservations across the pond in the next." He has "sold a ton of jerseys for the home team," but "right-minded American sports fans think Beckham’s a joke" ( Bergen RECORD, 7/16 ). THE ITALIAN JOB : SI.com's Andrea Canales reported there are "whispers that a preliminary deal has been hammered out to allow Beckham to return to Milan for another extended loan that heads right into the 2010 World Cup, but then return to the Galaxy for a late-season reunion." Milan now knows that it "cannot poach Beckham on the cheap simply because the player is partial to the club," while AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke and Galaxy GM & coach Bruce Arena "no longer will be blindsided by Beckham deciding another organization is a better fit" ( SI.com, 7/14 ). In Newark, Steve Politi writes Beckham "prefers Milan over the Meadowlands, and who can blame him?" However, while he "keeps billing himself as the soccer ambassador of our country," Beckham is "exposing himself as nothing more than a tattoo-covered publicity stunt in the process, one who will have little lasting effect on the sport" ( Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/16 ). LOST IN THE GALAXY : In San Diego, Mark Zeigler noted SI's Grant Wahl in his new book "The Beckham Experiment" chronicles how "Beckham's handlers wrestled the captain's armband from Landon Donovan, then commandeered the Galaxy front office." But "blaming Beckham and his management for the entire mess is too easy," as this is a "recipe for disaster authored by numerous cooks." MLS "wasn't good enough or mature enough to handle a player of Beckham's stature." Beckham played under "four coaches with four distinctly different personalities," and former President & GM Alexi Lalas who "ravaged the Galaxy roster with questionable trades." In addition, Leiweke allowed "all this to happen," and the "result is a Galaxy team that defined dysfunctional" ( SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/15 ). While Donovan in Wahl's book criticized Beckham, both players claim that they have "spoken to each other, cleared up their differences and moved on." SI.com's Wahl wrote that is "impossible to believe," but it is "what they have to say publicly, of course, for the Galaxy not to slip back into the rampant dysfunction they had in 2008." Donovan "may have apologized for the manner in which he delivered those comments, but he has never backed down from their content, and Beckham clearly does not like to be criticized by anyone." When it "comes to Beckham's poor leadership and lack of commitment to the team, Donovan also happened to be 100[%] correct," and the "pressure is now squarely on Beckham to perform." Wahl noted the "conditions are perfect for another Beckham comeback" ( SI.com, 7/15 ). For more from Wahl, please see his interview with SBJ's Tripp Mickle in today's issue.
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