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Canales Daily: Boo Birds On Beckham's Shoulders
Andrea Canales contemplates if the boo buzz against Beckham has any point if the midfielder is actually playing well - and what message might it send to future MLS captures?
Aug 3, 2009 6:35:37 PM
By Andrea Canales
As the press scrambled to get the attention of David Beckham after the FC Barcelona-LA Galaxy match, someone else accomplished that, and the English star pulled away from reporters to speak briefly to France and Barcelona star Thierry Henry.
They shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries, then dropped their voices just enough to stymie the attempts of the press to eavesdrop. Sleek-looking cell phones were pulled out, and the two players exchanged numbers as casually as kids do at club soccer tournaments.
After another short bit of conversation, Beckham said farewell and stepped back to the glare of camera flashes and recording devices thrust into his face.
Henry kept walking, bypassing any press obligations, a slightly bemused expression on his face as his eyes focused on the middle distance that allowed him to pretend as if the people desperately asking him questions weren't actually there.
The player left behind had scored during the contest, but surprisingly, was answering less questions about what he had done and more about how others had behaved.
Specifically, Beckham was taking questions about the boos heard from sections of the crowd. After all, this had become a major issue ever since a specific section of Galaxy fans had razzed him about his AC Milan loan extension during a friendly match against that squad. They had made banners and yelled their complaints and other parts of the stadium had joined in, booing in general disapproval of Beckham. The midfielder had reacted by confronting the fan group.
"I was right there, and Beckham was trying to shake the guy's hand," said Galaxy midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi, who despite his soft-spoken nature reacted quickly when a fan jumped out of the stands. "I just didn't want it to escalate."
Beckham was fined a thousand dollars by the league for the incident, as the commissioner pointed out that players should not encourage fans to enter the field of play.
The next week, at an away game in Kansas City, Beckham was again booed and heckled by fans of that Major League Soccer club.
There were no banners protesting Beckham in the Galaxy fan sections during the Barcelona games, so perhaps those groups had voiced their displeasure and were done with it. The booing could have been as much from Barcelona fans who were reacting to Beckham's ties with arch-rival Real Madrid, as they were his club before his move to the Galaxy.
Still, I got the sense that the booing was turning into a bit of a public stoning, and not necessarily from people who were eager to defend the honor of Major League Soccer in general, or the LA Galaxy in particular. It could just as well be people happy to take the opportunity to boo Beckham for being rich, handsome, blonde, English, for his fashionista wife, for his wife's music, whatever.
While I'm all for die-hard fans expressing their passion for the sport, it's hard to reconcile the boos with one principle that has reigned for a long time in soccer - and that is the reward of recognition meted to those who play well.
Real Madrid fans in 2005 famously cheered a bitter rival, Barcelona's Ronaldinho, when he played sublime soccer against them in a 3-0 Barcelona victory.
Mexico's ardent fans cheered a U.S. draw in Azteca in 1997, the only point the Americans have ever earned there, when the under-manned U.S. players battled El Tri to a standstill, earning respect and "Ole!" chants from the crowd.
The formula is simple - if someone plays the beautiful game well, that deserves some acknowledgment, even above and beyond any partisan pettiness.
Sure, there were 93,000 plus at the Rose Bowl, but while they knew enough to cheer with enthusiasm at Messi's every touch, Beckham wasn't getting the same credit when his passes were accurate and dangerous.
Honestly, I think Beckham was spoiled his first two years in MLS, when almost every touch, poor and quality alike, was wildly cheered. But the other extreme, to boo his every touch, is just as pointless.
I wonder, also, what message it also sends to other players thinking about coming to MLS one day. Henry, for example, has said in the past that he would be open to the possibility.
While it may be good for potential players to realize that playing in MLS and another league in the same year is probably a bad idea, I don't think indiscriminate booing raises anyone's opinion of U.S. soccer fans.
On the other hand, as Beckham himself said, he has faced far worse before. He is also on the right track to turn around the reaction he has faced in various places.
"With free kicks like that, he'll get the fans back on his side soon," predicted Todd Dunivant.
Ostensibly, that's why Beckham was brought in to the league - to play a high brand of soccer that would entice even non-fans to give the game a try. The celebrity was supposed to be a bonus, and if there's one thing that his goal against Barcelona showed, is that beyond that celebrity, he is capable of some great soccer.
"David gives his all every single game, every practice, and he'll win them over," said rookie defender Omar Gonzales about the situation.
If it's going to be about the game, then fans should boo or cheer Beckham based on how he plays on the field. If it's not going to be about the game, then perhaps people shouldn't bother going to the stadium, because that's what happens there.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Keep up on all things MLS with Goal.com
As the press scrambled to get the attention of David Beckham after the FC Barcelona-LA Galaxy match, someone else accomplished that, and the English star pulled away from reporters to speak briefly to France and Barcelona star Thierry Henry.
They shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries, then dropped their voices just enough to stymie the attempts of the press to eavesdrop. Sleek-looking cell phones were pulled out, and the two players exchanged numbers as casually as kids do at club soccer tournaments.
After another short bit of conversation, Beckham said farewell and stepped back to the glare of camera flashes and recording devices thrust into his face.
Henry kept walking, bypassing any press obligations, a slightly bemused expression on his face as his eyes focused on the middle distance that allowed him to pretend as if the people desperately asking him questions weren't actually there.
The player left behind had scored during the contest, but surprisingly, was answering less questions about what he had done and more about how others had behaved.
Specifically, Beckham was taking questions about the boos heard from sections of the crowd. After all, this had become a major issue ever since a specific section of Galaxy fans had razzed him about his AC Milan loan extension during a friendly match against that squad. They had made banners and yelled their complaints and other parts of the stadium had joined in, booing in general disapproval of Beckham. The midfielder had reacted by confronting the fan group.
"I was right there, and Beckham was trying to shake the guy's hand," said Galaxy midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi, who despite his soft-spoken nature reacted quickly when a fan jumped out of the stands. "I just didn't want it to escalate."
Beckham was fined a thousand dollars by the league for the incident, as the commissioner pointed out that players should not encourage fans to enter the field of play.
The next week, at an away game in Kansas City, Beckham was again booed and heckled by fans of that Major League Soccer club.
There were no banners protesting Beckham in the Galaxy fan sections during the Barcelona games, so perhaps those groups had voiced their displeasure and were done with it. The booing could have been as much from Barcelona fans who were reacting to Beckham's ties with arch-rival Real Madrid, as they were his club before his move to the Galaxy.
Still, I got the sense that the booing was turning into a bit of a public stoning, and not necessarily from people who were eager to defend the honor of Major League Soccer in general, or the LA Galaxy in particular. It could just as well be people happy to take the opportunity to boo Beckham for being rich, handsome, blonde, English, for his fashionista wife, for his wife's music, whatever.
While I'm all for die-hard fans expressing their passion for the sport, it's hard to reconcile the boos with one principle that has reigned for a long time in soccer - and that is the reward of recognition meted to those who play well.
Real Madrid fans in 2005 famously cheered a bitter rival, Barcelona's Ronaldinho, when he played sublime soccer against them in a 3-0 Barcelona victory.
Mexico's ardent fans cheered a U.S. draw in Azteca in 1997, the only point the Americans have ever earned there, when the under-manned U.S. players battled El Tri to a standstill, earning respect and "Ole!" chants from the crowd.
The formula is simple - if someone plays the beautiful game well, that deserves some acknowledgment, even above and beyond any partisan pettiness.
Sure, there were 93,000 plus at the Rose Bowl, but while they knew enough to cheer with enthusiasm at Messi's every touch, Beckham wasn't getting the same credit when his passes were accurate and dangerous.
Honestly, I think Beckham was spoiled his first two years in MLS, when almost every touch, poor and quality alike, was wildly cheered. But the other extreme, to boo his every touch, is just as pointless.
I wonder, also, what message it also sends to other players thinking about coming to MLS one day. Henry, for example, has said in the past that he would be open to the possibility.
While it may be good for potential players to realize that playing in MLS and another league in the same year is probably a bad idea, I don't think indiscriminate booing raises anyone's opinion of U.S. soccer fans.
On the other hand, as Beckham himself said, he has faced far worse before. He is also on the right track to turn around the reaction he has faced in various places.
"With free kicks like that, he'll get the fans back on his side soon," predicted Todd Dunivant.
Ostensibly, that's why Beckham was brought in to the league - to play a high brand of soccer that would entice even non-fans to give the game a try. The celebrity was supposed to be a bonus, and if there's one thing that his goal against Barcelona showed, is that beyond that celebrity, he is capable of some great soccer.
"David gives his all every single game, every practice, and he'll win them over," said rookie defender Omar Gonzales about the situation.
If it's going to be about the game, then fans should boo or cheer Beckham based on how he plays on the field. If it's not going to be about the game, then perhaps people shouldn't bother going to the stadium, because that's what happens there.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Keep up on all things MLS with Goal.com
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