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Canales Daily: The Beckham Break-up
The problem with tearing down Major League Soccer in an attempt to stay at AC Milan is that the relationship was Beckham's choice in the first place.
Feb 5, 2009 9:57:58 PM
By Andrea Canales
I've seen some messy break-ups in my time, as well as other separations that were handled with class and kindness on both sides as the people involved realized that they weren't a good fit, but managed to remain friends even after severing other ties.
In some ways, it's easy to feel that the outcome is deserved between the parties that display either equal venom or equal grace.
The bitter words and actions between those who sling mud and worse, well, they get to muck around in that cesspit. The dignity that characterizes an amicable split takes away some of the sting in parting ways.
However, it's jarring whenever situations arise where one entity is tearing down another for reasons that have nothing to do with defending anything - because the other side isn't attacking.
Would it be too much to ask of David Beckham to stay with AC Milan without trashing Major League Soccer or the team that allowed him to leave for the loan in the first place, the Los Angeles Galaxy?
I suppose so, because the midfielder hasn't been able to help himself, taking potshots at the league and how far it has to go before it can appeal to top players like himself.
Except - that wasn't what Beckham said when he signed the contract with the league in the first place. He came of his own free will. It's not like he needed the money.
Beckham said that he wanted a challenge, and that he was coming to help the U.S. game harness all those American kids who grow up with the sport, but abandon it around the same time they stop playing tag.
Well, Beckham got his challenge. Turns out he didn't really want it to actually be tough, though.
It's a bit bizarre to hear statements from Beckham now on how the league that he decided to sign with two years ago now needs "another ten years to reach an important level".
Really?
I've heard variations on this before.
"He's so quiet, I can't stand it anymore," someone will complain, while I'm wondering how soon she forgot that earlier she'd said she wanted the strong, silent type.
MLS is what it is, a developing, emerging league. Apparently, the biggest mistake that the Galaxy made was to believe Beckham when he said he really wanted to make a difference here. It dared to take him at his word.
Beckam's actions are now completely incompatible with those words. One doesn't make a positive impact on American soccer by taking their money, playing fitfully, then running off to Milan and from there, whining about how much MLS needs to improve.
Bringing in powerful lawyers now to pry Beckham free from the deal he agreed to is the class equivalent of "he told me to tell you he's breaking up with you".
I, for one, can't help but think what I usually do in these kinds of break-up situations. MLS, which has done nothing to disparage Beckham in this entire process, should be treated better, is probably better off without him, and deserves better than him in the future.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com USA
I've seen some messy break-ups in my time, as well as other separations that were handled with class and kindness on both sides as the people involved realized that they weren't a good fit, but managed to remain friends even after severing other ties.
In some ways, it's easy to feel that the outcome is deserved between the parties that display either equal venom or equal grace.
The bitter words and actions between those who sling mud and worse, well, they get to muck around in that cesspit. The dignity that characterizes an amicable split takes away some of the sting in parting ways.
However, it's jarring whenever situations arise where one entity is tearing down another for reasons that have nothing to do with defending anything - because the other side isn't attacking.
Would it be too much to ask of David Beckham to stay with AC Milan without trashing Major League Soccer or the team that allowed him to leave for the loan in the first place, the Los Angeles Galaxy?
I suppose so, because the midfielder hasn't been able to help himself, taking potshots at the league and how far it has to go before it can appeal to top players like himself.
Except - that wasn't what Beckham said when he signed the contract with the league in the first place. He came of his own free will. It's not like he needed the money.
Beckham said that he wanted a challenge, and that he was coming to help the U.S. game harness all those American kids who grow up with the sport, but abandon it around the same time they stop playing tag.
Well, Beckham got his challenge. Turns out he didn't really want it to actually be tough, though.
It's a bit bizarre to hear statements from Beckham now on how the league that he decided to sign with two years ago now needs "another ten years to reach an important level".
Really?
I've heard variations on this before.
"He's so quiet, I can't stand it anymore," someone will complain, while I'm wondering how soon she forgot that earlier she'd said she wanted the strong, silent type.
MLS is what it is, a developing, emerging league. Apparently, the biggest mistake that the Galaxy made was to believe Beckham when he said he really wanted to make a difference here. It dared to take him at his word.
Beckam's actions are now completely incompatible with those words. One doesn't make a positive impact on American soccer by taking their money, playing fitfully, then running off to Milan and from there, whining about how much MLS needs to improve.
Bringing in powerful lawyers now to pry Beckham free from the deal he agreed to is the class equivalent of "he told me to tell you he's breaking up with you".
I, for one, can't help but think what I usually do in these kinds of break-up situations. MLS, which has done nothing to disparage Beckham in this entire process, should be treated better, is probably better off without him, and deserves better than him in the future.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com USA
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