I Dislike Your Favorite Team

So David Beckham hit the pitch on a rainy Thursday evening in Washington DC, in front of over 45,000 patrons, who hit the right balance of mocking the star, and giving in to their excitement that he was playing.

There were banners mocking Posh ("We Sing Better Than Your Wife". Ouch, DC! Way to go for the jugular! Did Harry Reid come up with that line?); there were mixed boos when Beckham started to warm up with five minutes left in the first half. But when he came onto the pitch with a little more than 20 minutes left in the game, the crowd acknowledged the fact that he was the best man on the pitch with a very respectful and loud ovation. Were they cheering him, or were they cheering the fact that they were there when Becks hit the pitch? Good question.

After watching 60 minutes of some of the inconsistent play that marks the MLS (Luciano Emilio scoring a goal with a strong shot that hit LA keeper Joe Cannon in the hands; DC Legend Jaime Moreno soaring a gift over the crossbar; the physical comedy of Edson Buddle), Beckham came on and went to work.

We will leave for some other apologist for why the Galaxy decided that one of the best crossers of the ball was forced to play the sagging middle of the midfield. Perhaps it is the same braintrust that somehow coaches the Galaxy to play like they didn't have Landon Donovan on their side. (Seriously, though, one of the best attacking players in the USA, and you wouldn't even know he was on the pitch, if the commentators didn't mention that he was).

The fact is, Beckham in his 20 minutes, launched more dangerous attacks than the Galaxy had had in the 70 minutes previous. After one rather optimistic ball from midfield that landed within the 6 yard box, and the United keeper's hands, Beckham played a series of dangerous balls.

Starting with a free kick that Beckham put, from 40 yards out, right on the head of striker Pavon at near post (which Pavon headed safely over the bar), Beckham, to those who know soccer, showed the class he can bring to any pitch. After 70 minutes of looking like the a team who didn't know how to string passes, the Galaxy became a team that simply couldn't Finish. And there's a world of difference there, my friends.

Instead of straight through balls that roll quickly, harmlessly into the goalkeepers arms, Beckham slotted a nasty through ball to a streaking Donovan at the edge of the penalty area. There was a wonderful collision betweeen Donovan and the DC goalkeeper, which left many on the Galaxy looking for the foul on Donovan. I don't think there was a foul, but I do believe there was an uncalled handball outside the box by DC United netminder Troy Perkins. Which should have led to a direct kick at the top of the 18, and let me ask you, who might have taken that kick?

Beckham later lofted a beautiful ball to Pavon, who misplayed it awfully. Edson Buddle had a chance to clean up the mess, but fired a shot so weak that it looked like a pass to the keeper. Cameras cut to Beckham, who was raking both hands through his magnificent scalp in frustration. After 20 minutes.

Dear Becks: Get used to it! Get used to lacing nasty balls that end up, after a shoddy touch from Edson Buddle, Goal Kicks instead of goals. Get used to Donovan being either just a step slower or a bit less brave than Ryan Giggs. Get used to not having a Stamm or Ferdinand to drive home headers. Get used to an entire league counting on you to sell out stadiums even though your game isn't flashy, or even impressive, for those that don't know the game well. Prepare to be mocked by know-nothing American columnists, like Tony Kornheiser and Stupid Fat Fuck Tom Powers and others. At some point, you may think, "I could be playing with DeMarcus Beasley in Scotland." To our credit, here in America, we don't make monkey noises at black people. On that score, we're ahead of parts of Europe.

(oh, and it should be mentioned that Michael Wilbon stopped by and gave a quick 5 minute discourse on everything that the MLS needs to fix. After he left, Wynalda said, "I think I found a new friend. I don't disagree with anything he said." Most of us think Wynalda is a bit of a dick, but we'd be his friend, all the same, because he's a handsome man, and I bet he attracts hot soccer chicks wherever he goes. We aren't proud. Also, we actually do agree with the main points of Wilbon, who absolutely does not pull hot soccer chicks wherever he goes.)