A Dallas Fan Welcomes Becks (Photo)

Hey, I can't help it if I totally rock. Punk rock + soccer = mad luv.

Sam, why does it make me smile that you're in a punk rock band?

My punk rock band plays a song called "Ninety-five bucks a minute". It's about a certain MLS player's contract.

I'm in RBNY neighborhood myself, so this should probably be the last time I say anything in defense of one of your players (he was only a soon to be player during my past defenses ;-)! But it's pretty obvious Beckham didn't strike himself in the ankle with a crowbar to avoid playing. Less obvious is why anyone thinks he would willingly delay his involvement with his new team in any way.

Whatever he has or hasn't done in the rest of his life, he's never failed to step up on the pitch during his whole career, so why on earth would he start now? Maybe Galaxy fans have been reading gossip columns a bit more than the sports pages in brushing up on their new signing.

Here's what he's known for as a player: tireless training (Pele's observations--of what?--notwithstanding), team loyalty, and being miserable when kept off the pitch (hence his agreement to leave Real Madrid, where he wasn't playing regularly at the time, and signing for the Galaxy where he expected he WOULD play regularly).

As for getting paid, the wage disparity in MLS is sinful, but Beckham still would have made significantly more money if he had stayed in Europe, so he clearly didn't come for the big payday. As far as I can see, he came to play, as he's always done.

Here's a column that wraps up various details about the injury/travel from Yallop et al (from Yahoo, obviously our premier sports page :) but handy nonetheless):
http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/
news?slug=ro-beckham073007&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Bench it Like Beckham =Classic.

They bought their tickets and they wanted to see Becks. Remember, these arent Galaxy fans. Anyone would be pissed. I WOULD BE PISSED if he missed the RBNY game!

don't they understand that injured player is a weak link on the field,he can do nothing exept injure himself even more and to be out for months....OK I agree in important matches like CL finals you can have injections...but any mentaly normal coach won't put his player in a danger just to please fans. Oh,God...