Either way, as a soccer fan and as an American, my hopes are supposed to rest upon a certain well dressed Brit to makes the world's most popular sport digestible to a very picky American sporting public. While billions across the world have latched on to a mid 19th century British creation, American sporting culture has preferred to keep to it's own creations. Football (the version with pads and helmets), baseball, basketball and hockey were all created and established in the USA or not too far from it. (Thanks Canada, you've been a real pal.) Football (the version without pads and helmets) has always seemed like some rudimentary foreign sport all to simple for the true American sports fan. The common complaint is that "all they do is run around the field trying to kick a ball into a net." (Side note... How come I've never heard any sports commentators refer to basketball as running around the court bouncing an orange ball and trying to throw it into a hanging basket? Just a thought...)
I digress.
Simply put, David Beckham is here. Once known on this side of the pond as Mr. Posh Spice, he has made waves since February when he signed his record contract. There have been many detractors and a myriad of opinions, mine notwithstanding. I, for one, like the guy. Maybe it's just an act, I don't know. If so, he has me fooled. He comes off as a genuine guy whose true loves are his family and his game. Humble, soft spoken, exemplary work ethic... Say what you will about Real Madrid, but if it wasn't for the mystique that surrounded Beckham when he arrived to join a team already full of international superstars, I probably wouldn't have given the sport a chance, nor would I have grown to love the game as I do now.
It is with this mystique that he arrives to Los Angeles (in addition to his injured ankle...). It is my hope that people who have never set aside 90 minutes to attempt to learn a beautiful game will now do so, that a new culture be born and will produce a competative league that makes waves on an international level. I figure we're far away from it, but one day I'd like to see a little star above the USA's soccer federation logo and a World Cup on display in the trophy case.
You've a tall order, Mr. Spice. Hope you can come through.
