No Escape from LA
By now there have been dozens of articles written about Real Madrid winning its 30th championship. Dozens of articles about David Beckham ending his time with a Hollywood ending. So, I know that I am not exactly breaking new ground by reflecting on the events that unfolded in Madrid yesterday. But I am going to pile on your plate another Real/Becks/LA Galaxy story because I'll do just about anything to keep from focusing on the Gold Cup.
The match against Mallorca was exciting. Football fans can only wish for every league to end in such fashion. A Mallorca side with nothing to play and Real Madrid with everything to lose went up and down the pitch for the good part of 90 minutes like either one could come away with the trophy. Raul, Roberto Carlos, Fabio Cannavaro and Beckham played their hearts out. Ruud van Nistlerooy was a force until a hamstring injury ended his night way too early. It was unfortunate the most prolific scorer in Spain this season didn't have the chance to finish the match.
I was getting chills watching a World Player award winner like Cannavaro giving up his body every time a Mallorca player attacked. Cannavaro was a one-man defensive machine for Real Madrid. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas was a lion between the posts and it was quite the sight to see him wiping tears away after Diarra threw himself at a ball to put Real Madrid in front. The great Brazilian Roberto Carlos played his final game for The Whites as well. His surging runs were breathtaking as he looked like his younger self. Captain Raul, Michel Salgado and Sergio Ramos all fought like champions every second they were out there.
Which brings me to The Substitution. Beckham made way for Jose Antonio Reyes in the 2nd half, and it only further illuminated the brilliant managing job Fabio Capello has done this season as Reyes would go on to score two goals. Beckham left the pitch of a footballing cathedral with tens of thousands of Real Madrid fans cheering him off. Fans who love their club more than any LA Galaxy fan could ever understand. Remaining were a collection of world class athletes that were willing to run themselves to exhaustion and beyond for the chance to snatch the title away from Barcelona and be able to hoist it above a bus traveling through Madrid late into the night.
I don't mean this to be a shot at MLS fans or the league itself. I just find it sad that a player like Beckham who so obviously could have given another season to Real Madrid will be suffering through close to capacity crowds in places like Kansas City, Columbus and even New York. It will seem like a long way from the Santiago Bernabeau quite fast. When Beckham is sending crosses that will more times than not be mishandled I wonder while he's scowling on the outside, he isn't thinking on the inside of celebrating on the bus with his Madrid teammates. Running around the Bernabeau with his three sons. A champion of La Liga.
Beckham is a class act. He'll give everything he has on the pitch for the Galaxy and he will do all he can to lift the profile of the sport in America. He'll endure countless articles ripping his fashion sense, his sport, his accent and his haircuts. He'll have to read about how this is America he's in now. And soccer isn't an American sport. Our style of football is physical and dangerous - players are risking death, and so on.
In most cities he will sell lots of tickets and jerseys. He may even convince some other European stars to come to MLS in the next few years. Hell, he well may even be in an England jersey coming Euro 2008! Just think: Fabio Capello now refers to the handling of The Beckham Situation as one of the worst decisions of his career. Mind you this was a man just a couple season ago at the helm of Juventus. So, just consider what bad decisions he could have been a part of.
The reality is that the only time Beckham may see the stands full to capacity and celebrating him madly is if the Dodgers make the World Series and he gets to throw out the first pitch.
The match against Mallorca was exciting. Football fans can only wish for every league to end in such fashion. A Mallorca side with nothing to play and Real Madrid with everything to lose went up and down the pitch for the good part of 90 minutes like either one could come away with the trophy. Raul, Roberto Carlos, Fabio Cannavaro and Beckham played their hearts out. Ruud van Nistlerooy was a force until a hamstring injury ended his night way too early. It was unfortunate the most prolific scorer in Spain this season didn't have the chance to finish the match.
I was getting chills watching a World Player award winner like Cannavaro giving up his body every time a Mallorca player attacked. Cannavaro was a one-man defensive machine for Real Madrid. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas was a lion between the posts and it was quite the sight to see him wiping tears away after Diarra threw himself at a ball to put Real Madrid in front. The great Brazilian Roberto Carlos played his final game for The Whites as well. His surging runs were breathtaking as he looked like his younger self. Captain Raul, Michel Salgado and Sergio Ramos all fought like champions every second they were out there.
Which brings me to The Substitution. Beckham made way for Jose Antonio Reyes in the 2nd half, and it only further illuminated the brilliant managing job Fabio Capello has done this season as Reyes would go on to score two goals. Beckham left the pitch of a footballing cathedral with tens of thousands of Real Madrid fans cheering him off. Fans who love their club more than any LA Galaxy fan could ever understand. Remaining were a collection of world class athletes that were willing to run themselves to exhaustion and beyond for the chance to snatch the title away from Barcelona and be able to hoist it above a bus traveling through Madrid late into the night.
I don't mean this to be a shot at MLS fans or the league itself. I just find it sad that a player like Beckham who so obviously could have given another season to Real Madrid will be suffering through close to capacity crowds in places like Kansas City, Columbus and even New York. It will seem like a long way from the Santiago Bernabeau quite fast. When Beckham is sending crosses that will more times than not be mishandled I wonder while he's scowling on the outside, he isn't thinking on the inside of celebrating on the bus with his Madrid teammates. Running around the Bernabeau with his three sons. A champion of La Liga.
Beckham is a class act. He'll give everything he has on the pitch for the Galaxy and he will do all he can to lift the profile of the sport in America. He'll endure countless articles ripping his fashion sense, his sport, his accent and his haircuts. He'll have to read about how this is America he's in now. And soccer isn't an American sport. Our style of football is physical and dangerous - players are risking death, and so on.
In most cities he will sell lots of tickets and jerseys. He may even convince some other European stars to come to MLS in the next few years. Hell, he well may even be in an England jersey coming Euro 2008! Just think: Fabio Capello now refers to the handling of The Beckham Situation as one of the worst decisions of his career. Mind you this was a man just a couple season ago at the helm of Juventus. So, just consider what bad decisions he could have been a part of.
The reality is that the only time Beckham may see the stands full to capacity and celebrating him madly is if the Dodgers make the World Series and he gets to throw out the first pitch.
posted by Anonymous at 7:50 PM
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