So What Are My Thoughts On Beckham As A Player?

By: Laurie | January 24th, 2007

I had the opportunity last year to see David Beckham play, live, when Real Madrid came to Seattle to play DC United. And from that (actually pretty exciting) game, one Beckham act stands out.

The ball was heading out, just to the outside of Real Madrid’s goal, and Beckham literally hurled himself through the air, horizontally, in a completely futile, vain attempt to keep the ball in play and prevent a corner kick.

Now, think back for a minute. This was a month after World Cup. And David had been, until recently, the captain of the England team. And since I’m a France fan, I didn’t follow England all that closely. And I’m, y’know, an American, so I wasn’t thinking, “England only made it to the quarter-finals.” I was thinking, “Wow. England made it to the quarter finals! And they only lost on penalties! And this was their captain!” Plus there was all that Beckham hype before the game. And so I was kind of joining the rest of the crowd in Beckham awe. And then he hurled himself through the air.

It was such a dramatic act, such a futile act (since he wasn’t really anywhere near the ball), that I suddenly realized, for the first time, “Oh. He’s fighting for a starter’s position here. It’s not guaranteed.”

And he was so slow getting up that I thought, “Wow. That’s right. He’s over thirty.”

And those two thoughts pretty much summed up his part in the game (in which he played only the first half.) And then they summed up David’s year at Real Madrid. He was fighting desperately (and vainly) for his starter’s position. And he was over thirty.

And now he’s signed with MLS, to play for the LA Galaxy. What does this mean?

I have no clue. I think it’s marketing genius for MLS, and I think they actually structured it in a way that is financially workable. But as far as Beckham the player?

I do know that he takes soccer seriously. And that he has worked his butt off over the course of his career to compensate in areas where he is not naturally talented. And that he’s played better in the past than he has recently. And that there is (probably) more to him than Brand Beckham. And that fresh starts can be a good thing. And that LA Galaxy is not Real Madrid. And that, yes, he is over thirty. But in LA, my guess would be that, because of his marquee value, a starter’s position is pretty much guaranteed. (Although I could be wrong.)

So what does this mean?

I have no idea. But I am dying to see how it all plays out.