The latest reports are that the Italian powerhouse football club, AC Milan wants to keep the superstar midfielder, David Beckham, further than the ending date, March 8, of the loan. Now Beckham, who is currently on loan to Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, has said he is loving his return to European Football but understands his obligation to his contract with the Galaxy. Despite his statement, it's pretty clear that he wants to stay in Italy, his play on the field has been revived ever since he put on the famed red and black striped uniform. He already has 2 goals and 3 assists to his credit in the five games he started in. More to that though, is his impact on the Italian club's atmosphere. They are on the verge of winning the Serie A League Championship, after struggling to say afloat in the standings. Lack of intensity, questionable amount of passion and interest were all problems AC Milan was facing prior to Beckham's arrival. His superstardom has refreshed the heads of fans in Milan like nourishing shampoo on dry scalps. The play on the pitch from the British footballer is even more benefiting. His great strings of passes, touches, and services have really helped the team's offense. His play is much more useful in Milan than in his signed team, Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS (Major League Soccer). The superstar coupling of him and Landon Donovan has not worked out fully. Even after coming off his highest goal tally in one single season, Donovan still couldn't reach the playoffs with Beckham. At times, the Galaxy had been able to produce some great offensive games but only for it is bound to happen with two players of this caliber against bad MLS teams. The fact is that it's a waste of talent to keep Beckham in the States, his stellar style of play cannot flourish completely in a medicore league such as the MLS. With a team like AC Milan, Beckham's service comes to great usage and it is comfortable for all the players. As friendly and happy the Galaxy players are, they are not really acustomed to playing with great players. Even with Donovan and other stars on the team, the players don't know how to grab all the advantages of playing in the level of play that Beckham is doing. For most of them have never played a single minute of European soccer. The level of play overseas is just so high compared to the league here that it never really grows on the MLS players who do get an opportunity to accompany a European superstar. Most of the time, any 'soccer head' can see that the forwards of the Galaxy are always guessing on what Beckham is going to do next. The finishes after accurate crosses from 'Becks', is just hard to watch.
Others say that Beckham is too old (33) and is a burden to teams now with his hefty contract but this is not true (well except about his salary). His career is nearing an end but he still performs at a very elevated level that other people at his age struggle to maintain. He might look overrated bec
ause he hardly scores goals and doesn't do anything besides executing well on set pieces. To those who say that I say, " Don't be a talker cuz you don't know anything about soccer." He is a freaking midfielder for crying out loud. He is not supposed to dribble around entire teams and score a bunch of goals. His duties lie with his position which is a midfielder. Players on this position are to create open lanes for teammates, move the ball a lot to advance it forward, help forwards up top, retreat toward their own goal to help defenders and a lot of other duties. Midfielders do most of the running of all the positions on the field. David Beckham executes these tasks with a superb ability and accurancy. Very few people in the world can outdo him. Along with doing that, Beckham provides excellent service on set pieces. His trademark free kicks, are famous because he does it with absolute perfection. Almost all of his goals come from 'dead ball' situations. Beckham is a world-class playmaker. He creates fantastic opportunities for others to score and can manipulate key factors in any game.
ause he hardly scores goals and doesn't do anything besides executing well on set pieces. To those who say that I say, " Don't be a talker cuz you don't know anything about soccer." He is a freaking midfielder for crying out loud. He is not supposed to dribble around entire teams and score a bunch of goals. His duties lie with his position which is a midfielder. Players on this position are to create open lanes for teammates, move the ball a lot to advance it forward, help forwards up top, retreat toward their own goal to help defenders and a lot of other duties. Midfielders do most of the running of all the positions on the field. David Beckham executes these tasks with a superb ability and accurancy. Very few people in the world can outdo him. Along with doing that, Beckham provides excellent service on set pieces. His trademark free kicks, are famous because he does it with absolute perfection. Almost all of his goals come from 'dead ball' situations. Beckham is a world-class playmaker. He creates fantastic opportunities for others to score and can manipulate key factors in any game.A superstar to the world he may be but in the States, he is not as appealing for one reason. Americans love offense! The biggest sport in the U.S. is the NFL for it is a high scoring point affair between teams. The NBA is also big for its high dosage of points. Heck, the NHL had to make drastic changes to its gaming rules (entirely to promote more scoring) recently, to keep up with the other popular sports. Not that I dislike these sports, I love every sport but this shows why soccer is such a small thing in America. Soccer does not involve a lot of scoring and to make it worse, the MLS is full of mediocore players (which mostly are recreational compare to the other leagues in the world). The pockets of most of these MLS players have to be filled with a separate part-time job too. The salary of these players are ridiculously low compare to other U.S. sport leagues. Beckham was brought to L.A. in the first place to promote soccer in America and make it successful. His arrival to the Galaxy did have some big buzz but it dried up after a while because of Beckham's lack of play with his injuries. Then next season, he started virtually every game for the Galaxy but the media coverage of it reflected on the team's success. Poor. Teams' front office revenues, sellout stadiums everytime Beckham was in uniform, and Beck's # 23 jersey sales were all things that went up across the States. Passion and permanent fan bases in soccer, are things that did not.
Beckham did all he could do to promote soccer here, but it isn't enough now and probably will never be. The way soccer can strike American sport fans' hearts, is to do so by using strikers literally. A flashy, charismatic, forward (striker) who can score at will and light up the scoreboards across the nation. Now to the soccer fanatics out there, you might be thinking to yourself, "Wait a minute, didn't we have someone like that already back in the day and it didn't work out?" To answer y'all, yes we did have somebody like that. A man by the name of Pele'. Arguebly, the greatest soccer player of all time, did have a stint here in the U.S. back in the 1970's. This though, cannot be taken into account for it was a very different league back then. A amateur, young, league called the North American Soccer League(NASL). The NASL had successfully cop Pele from Brazil and had some great years with him. Despite, having other world-class stars joining the league too, the success was short-lived. The league overspent itself on these players and acts of bad organization skills along with lack of expansion 
led to its folding. We are currently in a different era, with a well knowledged league in the MLS, more responsible league officials and owners, stronger core of players, and a well informed fan base (small but there is something). Americans were not ready to embrace soccer even with the arrival of a superstar in Pele', three and half decades ago because they never experienced such a frenzy and had no clue about what was soccer. When soccer blew up all of sudden in the 70's from out of nowhere, it was like giving bicycles to a toddler who never rode a thing in his life. It is a necessity that fans know what they are cheering for. A kid has got to learn how to ride on a tricycle before joining the 'big boys' on two wheels. In today's world, the American population has its training wheels on with its own legit league present, along with the history of soccer on its soil, and it is ready to jump on the bike again. Only this time around, the success is going to be in for the long run. The problem is though, " How are we going to find another Pele' to play in this league?"
led to its folding. We are currently in a different era, with a well knowledged league in the MLS, more responsible league officials and owners, stronger core of players, and a well informed fan base (small but there is something). Americans were not ready to embrace soccer even with the arrival of a superstar in Pele', three and half decades ago because they never experienced such a frenzy and had no clue about what was soccer. When soccer blew up all of sudden in the 70's from out of nowhere, it was like giving bicycles to a toddler who never rode a thing in his life. It is a necessity that fans know what they are cheering for. A kid has got to learn how to ride on a tricycle before joining the 'big boys' on two wheels. In today's world, the American population has its training wheels on with its own legit league present, along with the history of soccer on its soil, and it is ready to jump on the bike again. Only this time around, the success is going to be in for the long run. The problem is though, " How are we going to find another Pele' to play in this league?"It is so difficult to get a star player to get from playing in the limelight, superior quality of play in Europe (sport fans are all fanatic over soccer there) to play in low-level, invisible atmosphere of the MLS. Not to mention the fact, that quality players are extrordinary expensive. Aquiring soccer stars to play in the States is not as easy as it was before. Releasing Beckham to Milan in exchange for a large amount of money which could be made to build up a contract for a young,overseas, star is clearly the best thing to do. As great as it was watching the former England National Captain play in a Galaxy uniform, it would be just letting the hamster keep running in a circular treadmill to keep him here. The American public have not exploded with soccer fever to really establish the game here and the condition will not improve for the reasons already said. In addition, Beckham in Milan, Italy is a match made for heaven. The world renowed fashion industry there, suits very well to the superstar's lifestyle. Also I'm sure his wife, Victoria (Posh Spice) wouldn't have a hard time adjusting to the new city. The AC Milan squad is full of global stars that will comfortably welcome Beckham's arrival and as well fit perfectly to the tactics used to mesh these icons. This roster of players is no different to other teams Beckham has played with (Manchester United, Real Madrid, England National Team) and so he is used to dealing with all the egos.
More to it is that he is more righfully appreciated for all the right reasons in Milan than he ever was in the U.S. Here at the States, I have seen and heard in person, many disrespecful and hateful remarks about David Be
ckham and it truly frustrates me for it is not for any competitive motive at all, rather it is just to put him down. In the 1998 World Cup, his behavior was uncalled for in recieving a crucial red card for his antics, therefore causing the devasting loss to Argentina. His temper at times are high but he has admitted and learned from his mistakes. He has a sincere passion for the game and always brings quality leadership to every team he plays for. Also, to clarify another thing, yes he is a bit overpaid and takes a lot of care on his wardrobe and hairstyles. But he has accomplish far too many things in his career and it is so naive to even think that his concerns on his looks override his focus on the game. In fact, I admire his fashion, he always dresses fly and as a gentleman. It puts a great reflection on the sport of how he goes about himself. A person only lives once in a lifetime, so why not look stellar while your living it. The Italian public as well as people all around the world love him for his true professionalism on and off the pitch. He brings passion and intensity to every match he plays in, wether he starts or not. Also, he is very active in the community and finds ways to improve lifes of others. His devotion to organizations such as UNICEF and 'Malaria No More' has always been strong. No matter where he goes, he is always a real class act.
ckham and it truly frustrates me for it is not for any competitive motive at all, rather it is just to put him down. In the 1998 World Cup, his behavior was uncalled for in recieving a crucial red card for his antics, therefore causing the devasting loss to Argentina. His temper at times are high but he has admitted and learned from his mistakes. He has a sincere passion for the game and always brings quality leadership to every team he plays for. Also, to clarify another thing, yes he is a bit overpaid and takes a lot of care on his wardrobe and hairstyles. But he has accomplish far too many things in his career and it is so naive to even think that his concerns on his looks override his focus on the game. In fact, I admire his fashion, he always dresses fly and as a gentleman. It puts a great reflection on the sport of how he goes about himself. A person only lives once in a lifetime, so why not look stellar while your living it. The Italian public as well as people all around the world love him for his true professionalism on and off the pitch. He brings passion and intensity to every match he plays in, wether he starts or not. Also, he is very active in the community and finds ways to improve lifes of others. His devotion to organizations such as UNICEF and 'Malaria No More' has always been strong. No matter where he goes, he is always a real class act.So while the pathway for the MLS to level the playing field with other leagues in the world is very long and difficult. It still looks promising to grow its league in America by establishing strong, youth soccer academys across the nation. To attract bigger and younger stars, it must mature more as league and develop better financial and business-like habits. More importantly though, it must continue to grow the permanent soccer fan base here. Not just in one part of a social or demographic group, but of all ages, classes, races and backgrounds. Passion is the foundation of this sport and always will be. 
With every goal scored, there must be a bunch of loyal fans screaming in face paint. Support is an essential for entertainment. The best of luck to one of my very special idols in my life, David Beckham. May he thrive with the rest of his career, hopefully with AC Milan. And to the MLS, I say, " Buena suerte as well." It is very possible they can achieve success, it will just take a lot of work. To everyone out there, " Forever appreciate all sports in life cuz everything has something special in them." Peace.
With every goal scored, there must be a bunch of loyal fans screaming in face paint. Support is an essential for entertainment. The best of luck to one of my very special idols in my life, David Beckham. May he thrive with the rest of his career, hopefully with AC Milan. And to the MLS, I say, " Buena suerte as well." It is very possible they can achieve success, it will just take a lot of work. To everyone out there, " Forever appreciate all sports in life cuz everything has something special in them." Peace.
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