My Galaxy Jersey Just Came in the Mail

Wow, Becks out for all of September and probably most of October. I can't remember how long the MLS season is, but I get the feeling that LA won't be making the playoffs. Does that mean Beckham won't be playing any more in 2007?

David's arrival to play in the US has increased the interest in Major League Soccer in Europe. I'll agree to that, if only from a soap opera angle. It's unfortunate that he's now injured, but for some reason I figured something like this would happen.

(Beckham Photo courtesy AFP: Robyn Beck)

On the other side of things, guys like Keller and McBride continue to impress at Fulham (though McBride is out for the next couple of months himself), DaMarcus Beasley now plays for Rangers and recently scored a goal, and more than a handful of English teams have American players that have earned starting positions. Brad Friedel is by far one of the best keepers in the league; all of the US keepers play starting positions for English teams. It's those players that tend to earn more European respect. At least that's my perception as I have conversations with ex-Pats from around the world.

Elsewhere in Europe, it will be interesting to see what happens to Freddy Adu. He seems destined for the subs bench for the next little while, but assuming he gets an opportunity, he might just impress a few people, too.

Week after week, these players tend to keep a low profile, and quietly go about the task of gaining more experience. I'm just surprised that more players aren't following their lead. True, Fulham FC probably has more American players than any other Premiership club, but I'm certainly not saying that's the reason that they're currently in 2nd to last place. In fact, I'm saying quite the opposite. I think they're getting some excellent experience playing against some really really good players from around the world.

I seem to recall former US National Team Coach Steve Sampson saying something back in '94 or '98 like, "The US will win the world cup in about 12 years," and I'm not seeing that materialize. I'll excuse the loss to Sweden and consider that a bad day out at a friendly, but more US players need to get out and get some experience playing outside of the US. The MLS cannot afford to bring in another Becks to try to raise the level of play. They'll go bankrupt. Besides, one Becks cannot completely change the make up of a team. LA still look like they're going to hold up the Western Conference.

At least I got my jersey before it becomes a collectors' item.

Open Cup

It's kind of amazing how little attention is being paid to the open cup. If a pro-baseball team was beaten in a game by a farm team, it would be all over ESPN. Yet in this tournament where a few MLS teams have been beaten by USL teams, you don't hear a thing.

Seattle is playing F.C. Dallas next Tuesday. Really, F.C. Dallas has nothing to gain from the game. They're expected to win and if they do, they'll play a top-tier MLS team, the New England Revolution.

That they're even having this tournament is awesome. Most MLS players are paid next to nothing (except for the famous Galaxy mid-fielder). USL players must be paid even less. They play for the love of the beautiful game which makes it even more exciting.

What I really don't understand is that they'll probably be more people at 5A high school football games in Dallas than they'll be at the game.

Just doesn't' seem right....

Cue: "Sweet Georgia Brown" for Denilson Juggle

Cue up the Harlem Globetrotters' famous theme song, "Sweet Georgia Brown" while you watch this one. (Actually, click here for an MP3 from the US Patent & Trademark Office). These little player signing photo opps normally have an awkward air to them, but Denilson, to his credit, shows good humor & knows the drill. Hope he plays on Saturday night in Frisco against MLS all-time leading scorer, Jaime Moreno (sorry Jason Kreis) and DC United. Tobias Xavier Lopez has good coverage of the presentation here.

Denilson brings charisma and experience to Dallas

By TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FRISCO -- Brazilian playmaker Denilson achieved international soccer fame for his vibrant smile, his eye-popping step-over move (called "The Denilson"), his Nike commercials and his role in helping Brazil win the 2002 World Cup.

Denilson's charisma and fun-loving attitude came through clearly Monday in his initial news conference as FC Dallas' first designated player.

Denilson jokingly referred to David Beckham as "the blond one" and brushed off concerns about the Texas heat by saying "I might get a little darker."

However, the 30-year-old attacking midfielder/forward spoke candidly about his one-year stints with previous clubs, France's Bordeaux (2005-06) and Saudi Arabia's Al-Nasr (2006-07). He said the "financial package and cultural experience" prompted his move to Saudi Arabia.

"As soccer players, we have the opportunities to be able to learn more about our world," he said. "After nine months, I was able to share these experiences and a new culture with my friends and family back home. It was a difficult situation for me because it was difficult to adapt in some levels, but I would do it again because of the experience."

In the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, Denilson played a prominent role in Nike's worldwide commercial campaigns. When he was sold to Spain's Real Betis in 1998 for about $36 million, it was a record transfer fee.

"With respect to the transfer, I was [20] and it was a lot of money and a lot of responsibility, and the first two years I was there were not so good for me," he said. "But, after that, I was able to adapt and have success. Now, where I'm at, I can accept the responsibilities that are coming to me through my experience."

Denilson worked with teammates Monday but won't officially join the club until his visa is approved, probably in five to 10 business days. Once Denilson is eligible, Dallas will have to clear one of the senior international spots held by forward Carlos Ruiz, midfielders Marcelo Saragosa and Pablo Ricchetti, and defender Adrian Serioux.

Major League Soccer's designated player rule allows clubs to sign players outside the salary cap.

Beckham Ruminations

A couple of feisty columns from the cybersphere on the state of "Beckham Over America 2007".

Steve Davis over at ESPN.com criticizes the LA Galaxy for playing Beckham the day after the England/Germany friendly and other crimes. And he goes on to suggest that the Galaxy front office & coaching staff should lose their positions from the mishandling of the injured Becks. Rumors from Home Depot Center are that Frank Yallop will be replaced by former German national coach, Jurgen Klinsman. If Coach Yallop should have done anything, he should have forbidden David Beckham to play in that friendly against Germany.

Then the Times of London has a column by Martin Samuel sniveling about the lack of interest British viewers have for American Soccer. He has the same complaints that Steve Davis has about exploiting the good sport David Beckham.

It's hard to argue with either of these columnists in terms of playing an injured player...particularly a talent like Beckham. But they're forgetting an obvious factor: Dollars & Pounds. That's what this is all about. If Becks is supposed to be making $25 million this year, shouldn't he play? If he's injured, I suppose he could just give back the money, right?

I'm delighted that Becks helped Real Madrid to the Liga championship. I'm psyched for American spectators that Becks is playing once again on the England squad. This is all positive in terms of proving his flight level in international play at 32 years old. He's good enough to start at any club in the world. But playing in those matches at the end of spring were what aggravated his ankle injury - MLS got an injured spokesman for the league. What's the Galaxy supposed to do? Just bench him for the whole summer? Then he misses an entire season of the 5 he's supposed to play here. What's Becks supposed to do? Sit out the whole season?

That there was a huge expectation from Beckham this year should make AEG, LA Galaxy & the MLS very content. This is what it feels like to shoulder an entire league. Ask Pele what it was like. This is the challenge that Becks wanted.

The bigger picture that both of these columnists are missing out on is the greater interest in the sport at a national level here stateside and the development of its international players here in the MLS and abroad. Then there's the terrific performance of our U-17 & U-20 squads in World Cup play this summer. And did Mr Samuel note the new foreign ownership of Liverpool & Man U? Americans. There's a Ruskie in the mix somewhere there too...over at Chelsea.

Stiff upper lip, chaps. Get ready for the Yanks. They're in Fulham now, yes. But they're going to be all over the world soccer scene soon enough. Anyone notice the lightning fast Maykel Galindo of Chivas USA against the Galaxy last week? The Cuban exile won't be playing for England in South Africa. He'll be playing for his new country. And Jozy Altidore? And Freddy Adu? Might as well start to accept it, lads. The future's ours.

Tune in to the SuperLiga Final tomorrow night: Pachuca vs. Galaxy on TeleFutura.. It's probably the Galaxy's last chance to redeem themselves this season. And yes, Becks will play.

Frick'n Sweeds

I can't believe that the US Men's National team lost to Sweden. After playing so well in the Gold Cup, especially against Mexico, they can't get it back together.

Where is the aggressive play that characterized this team early on?

Where was Donovan?

Where was Clint Dempsey?

Where were the mid-fielders who were supposed to support them.

They could have beat this team.

After four straight losses this team needs to find themselves or Brazil will really take it to them. Bradley needs to make some changes.

They're calling the US vs. Brazil match the "Clash of Champions". The way they've been playing it will be more like "Flash of Champion" as the Brazilians score one goal after another.

Futbol Meets Football

“Sometimes I think you love Arsenal more than your family.” Nonsense, I told her, I love you both the same.

Very clever musings about a life spent as an Arsenal fan. I had no idea that the Queen of England has a favorite football team - seems positively unconstitutional for a figurehead to take sides like that. And Fidel Castro follows soccer? I thought he was exclusively a baseball & boxing guy. Who knew?

Denilson in Big D

The Hunt Sports Group & FC Dallas are going to put Major League Soccer's Designated Player Rule (aka "The Beckham Rule") to use in its signing this week of Brazilian midfielder Denílson de Oliveira Araújo. A little "Jogo Bonito" might be all that's needed to sweep the Hoops into the MLS Cup (November 18th in RFK Stadium) for the first time in the club's 11 year history.

He won't be arriving as a very familiar name here in Texas. Aside from international glory on the 2002 World Cup Champion Brazil team, he played in Spain's La Liga for Real Betis Balompié (Sevilla) from 2001-2005. After Spain, he went to play in Bordeaux. A year later, Bordeaux was unable to match his salary demands. Off he went to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Nasr in Riyadh where he must've found little beyond riyal paradise: a soccer mirage. Come on now, a swinging, young Brazilian soccer star in Saudi Arabia? What was he thinking?!

If the contractual negotiations are any indicator, Denilson, 27, could prove to be inconsistent. The talks are rumored to have gone back and forth: frustratingly fickle, lasting all summer and having ended on a variety of occasions without a contract. On his Wikipedia entry, he's described as:

A player of outstanding close control and dexterity, Denílson is renowned for his 'stand still' stepovers, with many referring to the skill as the "Denílson".

This could be a very sly signing on behalf of Coach Steve Morrow. He & GM Michael Hitchcock have brought in some wonderful talent from south of the border. The Denilson contract won't be for anything in the range of the David Beckham's signing. It will be interesting to find out how much of a financial gamble FC Dallas are taking here.

The Joys of International Program Management and Football Friendlies

Due to a customer visit yesterday in the repair facility where I work, I elected not to wear an England kit. It wasn't so much the idea that all my German colleagues would throw me into an unused office and beat me up, it was more like the fact that I didn't want the company CEO and CFO getting bent out of shape with me not following company dress code...again.

My local was filled with football fans last evening for the big event. Sure, there were a couple of English floating around, but there were mostly German supporters. Not a surprise, being Frankfurt.

Frank Lampard's goal wasn't half bad, but I was more concerned about the keeper; I don't need Arsenal's number one making any more mistakes than he has already this season. I was saying as much to a friend of mine when Germany equalized off some pretty questionable play by England's own keeper.

A festive pub is always cool during a match, particularly with the rivalry like this one.
Things turned up a notch when Pander struck a nice shot past Robinson late in the first half. It was a worthy winning goal.

During the half time break I finished my pint and paid up; I needed to get home and get some rest before my customer arrived the following morning. Of course, this only meant that I left the pub, walked 20 meters to my flat, keyed in, then turned on the telly to see the second half of the match. Not terribly exciting, save for a bit of SWP, but there you go.

I normally support England when it comes to International football, but this was a so called friendly, and I'm not all that big of a fan of these things. Too many times it interferes with club play. In short, I wasn't too concerned about the result, and went to bed dreaming of sugar plums and whatnot.

This morning on the commute to work, I saw lots of smiling faces; something that's unusual with German commuters at 7am. But, their team had one a good victory last night, and they were proud.

Upon my arrival to work, my colleagues excitedly talked to me about the game, then they gave my English colleague a bit of ribbing when he walked in the door. "We just can't seem to lose at Wembley," they said.

Big fun. Hopefully all the Arsenal players got through the evening without too much wear and tear, and I hope Becks has a good flight back to LA.

go gunners
bryan

DOWNLOAD THE NEW FC DALLAS FIGHT SONG!

Adidas and the MLS have teamed up to bring some Rock n Roll to each team. FC Dallas is represented by non other than Dallas' own Polyphonic Spree. Their stadium rocker is called HOOPS YES! and will hopefully be played at every opportunity during play. Its got a lot of drums and chants that is right in any true soccer fans wheelhouse. I can just hear all the drum lines in Pizza Hut Park playing along with this. I must admit my nubile soccer mind was confused by the terminology of HOOPS but I'm told that's what their stripes on their uniforms are called. What's so cool about this is that they make it downloadable for FREE and it's all legal! go here to check it out


http://www.adidas.com/us/campaigns/mls/content/default.asp

England vs. Germany

A storied rivalry, to be sure, will continue tomorrow in Wembley Stadium: England vs. Germany. It's a "friendly". (Yeah, right.) New MLS/"Soccer in America" ambassador David Beckham will likely be playing for England's squad after a glorious defeat in Giants Stadium Saturday night. As an observer of the sport here stateside, these European friendlies have a lot more meaning now that England's most famous athlete plays on our shores. If Beckham plays poorly, his performance will be blamed on the lackluster quality of soccer in America, the distractions of Hollywood and field turf. They're already lining up the sound bites in the English press. Former England coach Sir Bobby Robson had this snide remark about the American game for BBC Sport:

"In the short term he looks OK, but the longer he plays in America, with respect to the football being played there, the less competitive he will become.

"It is not the greatest level of football. He will lose the match sharpness he needs to play at the top level with England."

Steven Goff over at the Washington Post's "Soccer Insider" calls this kind of talk "hogwash". If, on the other hand, Beckham plays splendidly, English fans will credit Beckham for maintaining a high caliber of play against all odds, further contributing to his legend in English football. As Charlie Brown would say, "Good grief".

After the terrific LA Galaxy SuperLiga semifinal victory over DC United and last Saturday night's showdown in Giants Stadium before 66,237 fans, Beckham has really taken to his American adventure. Although hopes for reaching the MLS playoffs remain dim, Beckham could still redeem his inaugural year in American soccer and help allay this summer's AnkleGate troubles by helping the Galaxy beat Pachuca next Wednesday night for the first SuperLiga trophy (Television still TBD).

(Image courtesy of the BBC)

Like any good, patriotic English lad, David Beckham wants to do anything to help his country's football squad re-assert itself in international competition. The Holy Grail for English soccer would be a World Cup victory to set on the mantle along with 1966. England, after all, invented the modern sport. Stateside fans should remember this dream of English football fans. It's maybe not as daunting a task as making soccer safe for consumption in America. But for all the bluster about the supremacy of English Premier League football, international success eludes them. Taking on diplomatic roles like playing soccer in America, is to reach for the pinnacle of soccer statesmanship: Pele, Brazil's gift to the world. His ambition may prove to be more than his bite. But this isn't as much a reach as Michael Jordan (23) playing baseball. Or is it?

For now, let's see how Becks does tomorrow in Wembley. Cheers!

Within Reach: Soccer-Point USA

I'm beside myself that I didn't get to watch the LA Galaxy play the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium Saturday night. Yes it was a regular season Major League Soccer game. And no, it wasn't my hometown favorite: FC Dallas. This is the first time I remember ever being upset about not being able to watch a non-World Cup soccer match. I would have recorded it had it been available.

ESPN didn't pick up this duel in the Meadowlands. The ESPN programming heads must've been really disappointed that they opted out of the game. I don't have the Soccer Package on the Dish Network. That means no Fox Soccer Channel, no Fox Sports Espanol, no Gol TV, no Setanta Sports. (As a result of this, I'm seriously considering adding the Soccer package next season.)

This is a big indicator for me. "Soccer-Point" is the goal, the ultimate objective of Major League Soccer: to take the game to the top level of sports in the US and to be at the forefront of sports fans everywhere. We're talking big network television contracts, more huge sponsorship & naming rights deals and national & local coverage. I'm convinced that soccer has reached the same point that American Football reached in the late 60's in terms of national interest. You can feel it in the air.

Saturday night in the swamps of Jersey, soccer from an American professional league was the focal point. We're not talking about a preseason summer friendly between a visiting Real Madrid & Manchester United. In NYC, the LA Galaxy/New York Red Bulls game was the talk of the town. Beckham & 17-year old phenom Jozy Altidore toured soccer camps in Harlem on a goodwill tour. There was plenty of talk about the match-up before the game.

And then the game! What a shoot-out! Beckham had two beautiful assists. Jozy Altidore countered with 2 goals. Juan Pablo Angel, the Colombian Red Bulls striker scored. I'm so bummed I missed this game.

John Lopez over at the Houston Chronicle wrote a fine column on Friday ("Beckham only part of reason for league's higher profile") that sums up a lot of things that have been on my mind about the state of soccer in this country. In comparison to our big three sports:

"The big stars are not implicated in felonious crimes like dogfighting and triple shootings. It [this country] needs a sport where there is no taint from steroids. There are no puffed-up, record-breaking home run kings with dour moods and surly demeanors. There are no Tim Donaghys fixing games."

Having watched my share of soccer this summer thanks to the staggered ankle-injury delayed arrival of David Beckham, I am really enjoying uninterrupted play and getting into the flow of the game. I have grown to appreciate Abel Xavier's clutch defensive play. I envy Hawaiian Brian Ching's speed and swiftness for Houston (a tough loss tonight for the Hoops because of him!). Landon Donovan finally has someone to pass him the ball. Juan Toja & Juan Pablo Angel are two fine Colombians making their own potent impact on the American game.

I am closely following the rest of this great 2007 MLS season. A year after a disappointing showing for the US in the 2006 World Cup, it is the US pro league that is catching headlines and coming into its own. Well done, indeed!

It's a boy!

As of Thursday, August 16th, 8:43AM, Soccer-Point has a new family member. Congratulations go to Soccer-Point blogger Otto Gol on the birth of his first son, Ben. At a birth weight of 8 lbs., 3 oz., we look forward to the 2018 World Cup & his first international appearance for US Soccer. Welcome to the Beautiful Game, Ben!

Becks scores his first goal for the LA Galaxy

David Beckham finally had his chance to start a game for his new side: The LA Galaxy.

The SuperLiga 2007 semifinal game against DC United was televised here in the DFW area on TeleFutura in Spanish. It’s too bad that ESPN didn’t televise this one as David Beckham’s “first game in the US”. Because last night’s game had all the elements of a hallmark national broadcast.

After the tough East Coast swing that the Galaxy took last week, the team looked primed, loosey-goosey & ready for the Home Depot Center duel. DC United must have not expected a completely different team than the LA Galaxy they dominated against back at RFK last week. But that's what they got. With Becks as the new Galaxy captain, the team showed renewed vigor and organization. The LA defense was well assembled. There were plenty of stabbing attacks into DC United territory. And there was the free kick that everyone's talking about today. Mr. Beckham bent it like, well, Beckham. He also had a really nice assist to Landon Donovan in the second half.

The game was a blast to watch. It really is a shame that this wasn't the way that the LA Galaxy debuted Beckham. There were a lot of empty seats in the stands. But those that did show up and watched on TV, saw a real barn burner. It puts the Galaxy in the finals of the SuperLiga against Pachuca on Augugst 29th. And psychologically, this victory gives them a real boost for the remainder of the MLS season. While they're still an outside chance to get in the playoffs, they are a lot closer today than they were at this time yesterday.

2 Miles High - Cienciano de Cuzco

Up where the llamas roam like taxis on Park Avenue, there brews a potent controversy. And like the famous coca leaf tea (required consumption in the fight against altitude sickness), it packs a strong kick. At almost 11,000 feet above sea level, Cuzco, Peru must make Denver seem swampy in comparison. Cuzco is the home of the great little Peruvian soccer club: Cienciano FC.

Cienciano FC won their fame not in the icy, cannibalistic aftermath of some Andean plane crash, but rather on the field at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (This writer got to see Pearl Jam there back in 1996 under threat of Tropical Storm with Soccer-Point invited blogger Eugene - Euge!) Cienciano FC beat Argentina's powerful Boca Juniors soccer club there in the 2004 Recopa Sudamericana. A similar victory for American sports lovers to better understand the upset would be if Rice University beat UT in football.



The athletes who train at 2 miles high have a clear advantage over their puny-chested lowland counterparts. So FIFA has ruled that no international games can be played over a mile and a half above sea level (2,500 meters). Sepp Blatter (an Alpine Swiss no less!) handed down the decision earlier this year.

From Wikipedia: "In 2007, Blatter decided that no football matches will be played above 2999 metres (9839 feet) above sea level. This arbitrary number was revised to 3000 meters on June 26, 2007. This may have been aimed to split the opposition group formed by Colombia, Ecuador (who play at altitudes below 3000 meters but above 2500) Bolivia and Peru (with stadia above 3000 meters). This has dramatic consequences for the Bolivian national team, whose stadium is located more than 3000 metres above sea level. Blatter commented that football matches at extreme altitudes belong to the past, and that they are risky for player's health. However, no comprehensive medical studies have been shown to prove this. The andean nations retort saying that playing in hot, humid, sea level temperature is in fact more dangerous, citing the death of Marc Vivien Foe as an example."

It's hard to imagine losing the possibility of hosting international matches. But my cousin contracted a mean case of altitude sickness in Cuzco last year. She had a miserable time of it. (Mind you, she wasn't preparing for a soccer game either...) So, given the pressures of participation in international team play, it's easy to understand the sober meaning behind this decision. The Swollen Ones of Cuzco will have to make do in lower lying areas to prove themselves for now. It's just sad to see the passion for soccer in the community of Cuzco be pushed aside so swiftly by FIFA.

Drew Carey on Soccer

Drew Carey has sort of become a celebrity booster for Soccer in America. (The Jack Nicholson of the LA Galaxy.) His brash American personality comes across loud & clear in this little piece from a German mag.

From Drew Carey's MySpace page:

Here's the draft of an article I wrote for a German soccer magazine, "Kicker". I just turned it in tonight and am waiting for their notes.

Hey world, if you think you hate the United States now, just wait. Because little by little, year by year, we're getting better and better at the sport you call your own. And soon, as soon as ten years from now, we're going to own it.
Think about it. There's 298 million people living in the United States right now. How many does your country have, huh? Unless you live in China, the answer is "not as many". And we only need so many of them to grow up playing soccer. Because on the world stage, it's just our best 11 against your best 11. And Im telling you, brother, it's getting to the point where your best 11 just arent going to be enough.
We're already ranked number 4 in the world by FIFA. Yeah, I think it's a mistake too, but considering the pool of athletes that are drawn to soccer in the US, it's something, isn't it? And as that talent pool grows bigger each year, which it does, it's only a matter of time before a kid who would've been a hard-hitting defensive back in the NFL becomes a hard-hitting defensive back in the MLS instead. Can you imagine the international damage some of these guys could do if they could only learn to kick a ball instead of throw it?
Now look, I know that not everyone reading this hates the United States. Some of you only resent the United States. Some of you don't hate or resent us, but are still disappointed in us. How come the Americans are always starting wars? Why are their movies so predictable and bad? Why must they poison our children with all of their burgers and fried chicken?
Well, get this: One day, before your children are grown, the United States is going to win the World Cup, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Go ahead and try. Mobilize some students and take to the streets. Pass a UN resolution or two. It won't matter.
And when we do win the World Cup, we're going to be just as obnoxious about it as we are about everything else that we do well.
May God help you all.

DC United drop kick Galaxy at Sold Out RFK

Big night for the LA Galaxy & Major League Soccer last night at RFK Stadium. A few observations: It played beautifully on the ESPN2 national broadcast (yes, I skipped the Cowboys' first preseason game against the Colts for this). The field looked fine (besides the Washington Nationals' infield clearly visible on one side of the field). The crowd was great. DC's Screaming Eagles had a nice banner welcoming golden boy David Beckham: "We sing better than your wife!"

Dave O'Brien, Eric Wynalda, Tommy Smyth & Allen Hopkins did a bang up job broadcasting the game on ESPN2 (The Deuce!). ESPN brought on the wrath of loyal soccer fans everywhere in America when they hired baseball play-by-play guy Dave O'Brien before the 2006 World Cup. "He doesn't know our game!" It's the 2nd half of the MLS season here stateside. And this ESPN booth has a nice chemistry.

I can now say that I like the move by ESPN to hire an American broadcaster. O'Brien's got a great Mel Torme kind of voice. His timbre gives the broadcast a solid foundation for the American fan. I watched a couple of minutes of his broadcast of the SF Giants game with Barry Bonds home run race the other night. He's a great baseball play-by-play guy. The connection is obvious: he brings respectability to the sport stateside that no English or Irish announcer could do given the cultural differences. Good move, ESPN. (Side note: our very own Brad Sham does a WONDERFUL job of the same on the local FC Dallas games. He's a credit to the field and a real legend in Dallas broadcasting.)

DC United dominated the first half. They're a strong side. It's ironic that Beckham ends up on a bottom rung squad in the LA Galaxy. I can't imagine the Galaxy can make the playoffs this year. I've boon rooting them on if only to see more Beckham this season. But there's no way.

I didn't want Beckham to play last night & risk re-injuring the ankle. But the Galaxy put him in the game in the 2nd half right after Martino got a red card. So it was triple jeopardy for Beckham: rain, Galaxy down a man & a nasty, nagging ankle injury. It was thrilling to watch. He can steer this squad to a dignified finish this season. But this project won't catch enough steam until next year's season. His impact on the field is clear: pinpoint passes that open up new possibilities for the Galaxy's offense. It's immediately obvious when he gets his touches. He has a field of vision that, far and away, goes beyond what anyone in the game can see in play. The rest of the squad just needs time to acclimate to such a precise weapon. And it looks like Beckham is relishing being midfield.English national team coach Steve McClaren was in the box suites at RFK taking this all in. It's a long shot that he'll want Beckham on the England squad after a long, frustrating July & August. But it was really nice to see international figures at a regular season MLS game. The league is coming into its own.

For the skeptics: Michael Wilbon from Pardon The Interruption explains how Beckham being here isn't enough to take this game to the next level. I respect his opinions about the Beckham rule in the MLS. But I don't agree. Here's more.

Opening Weekend for the Premiership!

Yep, domestic league play begins on Saturday, and I'm celebrating by wearing my Arsenal jersey in the office. I've been able to smile all day, even with all the work related crap going on. I love this time of year, with the anticipation of bagging a home win right from the start. It's a long season, and half the Arsenal squad still live at home with their parents. It could be really interesting.

Go Gunners!

Soccer-Point

Welcome to Soccer-Point. This is a team blog. Our bloggers are posting from all over the world. Soccer-Point collaborators offer a uniquely American perspective on The Beautiful Game. Soccer-Point covers the game from all points of the globe: from the midlands of England to the perch of the Andes: Club Cienciano Cuzco to Pizza Hut Park Frisco, Texas, Boca Juniors & River Plate to La Liga & the Bundesliga, covering personalities ranging from Brian McBride, Landon Donovan & David Beckham to Juan Toja & Lionel Messi.

There will be differing perspectives on the game, yes. It is fully expected that bloggers will banter back and forth about which league is better, whose team will be promoted and whether FIFA will introduce the NASL Shootout to international play.

Enjoy!