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Canales Daily: Beckham Is Committed To Find A Way
Creative visualization can only take one so far in the harsh light of reality.
Jul 18, 2009 5:35:41 AM
By Andrea Canales
Of late, David Beckham has said so often that he is "committed", and with such dogged persistence in the magic of that word to overcome all logic, that he is starting to sound like he needs to be committed.
It's unclear how exactly one is committed to a cause and effort when not present. Beckham has missed over half the season of the league he is so committed to - and in the process, handicapped the Galaxy in tough competitive environment where parity rules. Beckham also plans to miss over half of next year's Major League Soccer schedule as well.
American movie director Woody Allen famously said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up."
So, since Beckham is only showing up half the time, he's missing a good forty percent of what he needs to succeed right from the start.
80% - 40% + 20% committment = 60% chance of Galaxy success.
"You don't get it," my friend Monica, the resident Beckham apologist, tells me.
I ask her to explain.
"Think of it this way. Beckham has a contract, i.e., is married to the Galaxy. He's loyal to his contract, he believes in it, but let's say he's also a soldier. And there's a war on. What do soldiers do? They go fight, and yes, that means leaving families and wives, but it doesn't mean they're not still committed to them, even if they go away for a while."
I raise an eyebrow.
"The Galaxy are like a military wife waiting around for Becks to get back from war? Very patriotic metaphor, but Beckham isn't a soldier, he's a soccer player."
Monica presses on.
"You're the one who is always saying that with its worldwide influence, soccer is more than just a game. Beckham has made clear what playing for England means to him - it's huge. That doesn't mean he still doesn't care about the Galaxy and giving MLS an important boost."
I'm skeptical.
"Where does Landon Donovan fit into this dramatic scenario?"
Monica considers for a minute.
"Donovan's got soul, but he's not a soldier. He's avoided going to war."
"Donovan's a draft dodger?" I ask.
Monica shakes her head.
"No, no, he's in the National Guard. Donovan's convinced himself that it helps MLS if he plays there, and he's right that it does in some ways, but really, Andrea, how much more of an impact would it have on the worldwide perception of MLS if Donovan was doing well on a good European team?"
"You don't think Donovan represents MLS well now in international competition?" I query.
"Well, that's like saying the National Guard is actually deployed in foriegn lands sometimes," Monica points out.
"You're getting carried away by your anology," I tell my friend.
She shrugs. "All I'm saying is that it's not impossible for Beckham to care about two teams a lot and juggle in a third to make playing with the one more possible. It's complicated, and it's not easy, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Beckham."
"'Impossible is nothing'? He's going to have to play better than he did against New York if he wants to prove how much he cares about the Galaxy," I state.
Monica nods. "Yeah, but I have faith. Beckham has proven people wrong so often. It's not going to be easy, but I think he'll find a way."
Andra Canales is Chief editor for Goal.com North America
Of late, David Beckham has said so often that he is "committed", and with such dogged persistence in the magic of that word to overcome all logic, that he is starting to sound like he needs to be committed.
It's unclear how exactly one is committed to a cause and effort when not present. Beckham has missed over half the season of the league he is so committed to - and in the process, handicapped the Galaxy in tough competitive environment where parity rules. Beckham also plans to miss over half of next year's Major League Soccer schedule as well.
American movie director Woody Allen famously said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up."
So, since Beckham is only showing up half the time, he's missing a good forty percent of what he needs to succeed right from the start.
80% - 40% + 20% committment = 60% chance of Galaxy success.
"You don't get it," my friend Monica, the resident Beckham apologist, tells me.
I ask her to explain.
"Think of it this way. Beckham has a contract, i.e., is married to the Galaxy. He's loyal to his contract, he believes in it, but let's say he's also a soldier. And there's a war on. What do soldiers do? They go fight, and yes, that means leaving families and wives, but it doesn't mean they're not still committed to them, even if they go away for a while."
I raise an eyebrow.
"The Galaxy are like a military wife waiting around for Becks to get back from war? Very patriotic metaphor, but Beckham isn't a soldier, he's a soccer player."
Monica presses on.
"You're the one who is always saying that with its worldwide influence, soccer is more than just a game. Beckham has made clear what playing for England means to him - it's huge. That doesn't mean he still doesn't care about the Galaxy and giving MLS an important boost."
I'm skeptical.
"Where does Landon Donovan fit into this dramatic scenario?"
Monica considers for a minute.
"Donovan's got soul, but he's not a soldier. He's avoided going to war."
"Donovan's a draft dodger?" I ask.
Monica shakes her head.
"No, no, he's in the National Guard. Donovan's convinced himself that it helps MLS if he plays there, and he's right that it does in some ways, but really, Andrea, how much more of an impact would it have on the worldwide perception of MLS if Donovan was doing well on a good European team?"
"You don't think Donovan represents MLS well now in international competition?" I query.
"Well, that's like saying the National Guard is actually deployed in foriegn lands sometimes," Monica points out.
"You're getting carried away by your anology," I tell my friend.
She shrugs. "All I'm saying is that it's not impossible for Beckham to care about two teams a lot and juggle in a third to make playing with the one more possible. It's complicated, and it's not easy, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Beckham."
"'Impossible is nothing'? He's going to have to play better than he did against New York if he wants to prove how much he cares about the Galaxy," I state.
Monica nods. "Yeah, but I have faith. Beckham has proven people wrong so often. It's not going to be easy, but I think he'll find a way."
Andra Canales is Chief editor for Goal.com North America
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