Beckham and Landon Jetting Back for SuperClasico

By: Laurie | August 19th, 2007

I’m sure you’ve heard this already, but it turns out that David Beckham is jetting back to the US immediately after Wednesday’s England friendly against Germany and may play in the Thursday game against Chivas USA. And not only that, Landon Donovan, one of only three MLS-based players called up for the friendly against Sweden, will be doing the same thing.

Because inducing massive jet lag is by far the best way to prep for an important game.

There was a good article this week by Martin Rogers on Yahoo! Sports about how stupid it is for MLS to put its players in this position, and how we’re hindering our own ability to bring in the world’s best players by not working our schedule around international dates the way other leagues from around the world do.

Sadly, it is not a glitch in the MLS scheduling computer that has created a conflict of interest and put a crucial league match in a slot little more than 24 hours after an international match day. Blame MLS’ lack of provision in its scheduling for even World Cups and continental championships, let alone friendlies such as the England-Germany game at London’s Wembley Stadium.

For a league trying to be taken seriously on the world stage, it is a grave mistake and one that needs to be rectified as soon as possible…

MLS commissioner Don Garber needs to take action to save the league from losing face over the matter. His chances of continuing MLS’s momentum by adding more star players in their prime will certainly be hindered if he fails to do so.

The product has made positive steps in recent years, but it is light years removed from being strong enough to stand alone and disregard the international calendar.

Amen, Martin. Amen.

Mr. Garber? Let’s see a calendar next year that will allow the best of the best of the best to actually play in this country without putting their health at risk with an insane travel schedule.

What a novel idea.