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ReserveLast night at the Home Depot Center, home to Major League Soccer's, Los Angeles Galaxy, vocal portions of the 30,000 sell out crowd gave David Beckham the kind of reception reserved for pantomime villains instead of global superstar and he didn't like it one bit!
One section of the crowd, the LA Riot squad was particularly vociferous with their chants, comments and hand made signs that called into questions Beckham's loyalty and commitment to the club he signed for in 2007. This was the section that Beckham confronted at the end of the 1st half and for a second or two it looked like the England international was going to reprise Eric Cantona's legendary 1995 leap into the crowd - cooler heads prevailed on this occasion as security quickly snuffed out an ugly situation.
One has to wonder what provoked Beckham to such a degree after all this is a man who has suffered legendary abuse at the hands of opposing fans in England's Premier League during his playing days with Manchester United. His effigy has been burned, his wife and children insulted and I for one was appalled this loutish behavior however Beckham always retained his cool on the pitch. Perhaps as he's entering the twilight of his playing career, the skin that was once inches thick is now thinning and the barbs that bounced of him now hit the mark and sting.
The riot squad members I spoke to say that 1). They've paid their money and their entitled to their opinions. 2). Beckham has let them down 3). It's obvious that he doesn't want to be in Major League Soccer.
It's hard to argue against number one however there is a fine line. Good natured banter and booing is part and parcel of being a professional sportsman as Beckham noted..."a lot of people predicted the vicious kind of reaction that would be here (at the HDC) and they were right. But at the end of the day it didn't affect me as a player". What did affect him though were personal insults, "one of the guys was saying things that really weren't very nice. It was stepping over the line".
In my opinion no one should have to go to their place of work and get abused regardless of whether you're making the MLS league minimum (around $24,000) or getting the top whack $5.6 million as Beckham reportedly collects.
Point number two is that Beckham has let them down. I would say 'grow up' - an athletic career is so short that anybody in their right mind is going to do whatever it takes to stay in the limelight. Beckham wants to play for England at the 2010 World Cup and he is going to do whatever it takes to fulfill that wish...end of!
And finally the charge that he doesn't want to play in MLS - well I'm inclined to agree with that statement! But what does it mean in the big picture...in all honesty very little. The 'Beckham Experiment' to borrow the title of Grant Wahl's explosive book has taken the shine and glitz off England's most famous export and no amount of posturing is going to change that perception.
At the end of the day American soccer fans want results - they don't care if you come from Mars, Timbuktu or Real Madrid. They have become savvy and they know a fraud and they also know what the real deal looks like. If David Beckham produces the kind of football he showed for 70 minutes last night from now until the end of the season I will guarantee you that the boos heard last night will soon become cheers. If on the other hand he replicates the form of last season, he'll make life very hard for the next ageing superstar who tries his hand at doing what is seemingly impossible and that is turning the average American into a soccer fan!
Becks is disloyal but the L.A. Riot Squad need to get over themselves.
KoreAmBear"He called out a drunk guy. How stupid was that. He's the professional." Sure, we didn't instigate nothing, we're just stupid drunk fans. Way to acquit yourself, L.A. Riot fan.
Bold and courageous when a guy has his back turned. When confronted, they become innocent victims. I'm sorry but I really hate this kind of fan behavior -- anywhere. This "I paid $20 for this ticket and it gives me the right to yell expletives at athletes as I please" entitlement. Then immediately when the situation goes south, they become rational again and play the "this is a professional sporting event, why is this professional responding in kind" card.
I mean I can see if the taunting is clever and witty - but it got so personal which made it kind of absurd and even dangerous. It's been getting like this in L.A. for Dodger games against the S.F. Giant fans as well. There is this Raider mentality that seems to never have left the L.A. area.
I fault Landy Cakes for much of this. This guy has been the biggest whiner in all of US soccer in the past, finally had one good tournament and then he loses all that goodwill built up for him with his quotes to Grant Wahl. This time bomb never would have blown if he didn't open his whiny trap. How about being loyal to your country and push yourself by playing in Europe Landy (see much of the first team US MNT roster Landon)? No, you want to play in front of the LA Riot Squad - great. Ply your trade in a safe place while living at home in Manhattan Beach.
Landy is still growing up and I'm sure he's going to be a bit more prudent in what he says from now on. Becks is Becks. He's selfish and he's a pro athlete. Welcome to the 21st century, L.A. Riot Squad. He's still your best chance at making a run at the MLS Cup. It's still a business. He didn't steal one of your bacon wrapped hot dogs that they sell outside of Home Depot. He just wants to play in various places and wants to stay relevant in int'l football. This sucks for the Galaxy, but it's not anything personal.
I know I am in the minority in all this. But I just don't see why Becks deserves all this crazy abuse. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Suddenly MLS has gotten exciting.
04:13 PM EST