MLS All-Star Game Conversion

I've never been a big fan of the glorified friendlies that get played here in the US. Years ago, back in 1991 I traveled with some friends to Chicago to watch AC Milan play the US. It was a fun time but that was back in the days before we had a professional league. That was back before we had cable and satellite with GolTV, Setanta and Fox Soccer Channel (let alone games shown on ESPN & Fox). That was back in the days when just catching box scores in the newspaper was a HUGE deal. The soccer landscape in America has changed a lot since then. Heck, it's changed a lot just in the last 5 - 10 years. I don't see the use of paying $40, $80, or even more to go to the world series of soccer to see a pre-season Manchester United take on a pre-season Juventus in a huge football stadium. I can't imagine spending $200 to see Chelsea take on Los Angeles (tonight's game). I had lumped the MLS All-star game in that group. I don't feel the same way about it now. The game Thursday night was fun to watch. The hodge podge of MLS players thrown together with only one practice session were fun to watch. They played good soccer and had it not been for Celtic's Boruc, the score could've been 4 or 5 to 0 (or 1 had it not been for the post on a shot by Celtic's McDonald). Most of all it was fun to have some interaction with other fans from around the country (and even Scotland!). It was a celebration of soccer. US Soccer Snob has a good recap of the game and his experiences at Dicks Sporting Goods Park (better known as The Dick). It's nice to see that even though KSE can't put together a decent team to watch, others agree they did a great job putting together the new stadium and complex. By the way, if you'd like a t-shirt from the game we still have some. You can get them here.

Beckham's Numbers

Curious about the impact that David Beckham's already had on the Los Angeles Galaxy's bottom line? If so, check out the MLS Underground's summary. Would you play those prices for their game against Chelsea?

Step Stool For Landon?

Landon Donovan will be in downtown Denver today at 2pm signing autographs. Should I bring him a step stool to autograph? Would he get it?

A Broken Heart

That is what the Rapids fans have tonight. Jeff Plush, Charlie Wright and Fernando Clavijo weren't satisfied with breaking the fans hearts just once when they traded away Joe Cannon. This year they decided to do it again in and this time pour salt in the wound. They traded Kyle Beckerman to Real Salt Lake. Can you imagine the Green Bay Packers trading Brett Farve to the Chicago Bears, their bitter rivals, just as Farve was coming into his prime? What if the Broncos had traded Elway to the Raiders? There are lines that a team shouldn't cross. The Rapids crossed that line today and did something unthinkable. Can they ever do anything to be forgiven?

Note : Kyle didn't know this was going to happen, didn't see it coming and hopes to be back to play for the Rapids again. Most of all he wants the Rapids fans to know that he appreciates their support through the years.

Beckham is here...

You no doubt have seen the Beckham hysteria on CNN, Yahoo, The New York Times, etc. I'm not going to bore you with a recap of it all. He'll be here in Colorado for the MLS All*Star game on Thursday. Find the most expensive hotel room in Denver and maybe you'll find Becks, Posh and the kids. Or he'll fly in on a jet morning of the game and you'll miss him. I don't think he is going to play against Glasgow Celtic this Thursday, but you never know what zany MLS has up their sleeve.

With all of the madness around Beckham it is good to remember he is human and he isn't the best footballer on earth. Not even close, really. Here is an article that spells out what he is good at and where he is deficient on the field. Think of it as a Beckham primer for the first time you tune in to MLS to catch a glimpse.

His first game with the LA Galaxy is a friendly against English giants Chelsea this Saturday, July 21st (8:30 ET on ESPN...yes real ESPN). Beckham is used to playing against them, although in the 90's when he was running roughshod over the Premier league, Chelsea didn't have the same glamor it did today, unless you're a Gianfranco Zola or Gianluca Vialli disciple.

Enjoy Beckham mania folks. Soccer hasn't been this famous in the US since Pele joined the Cosmos.

Toja > Beckham! Toja > Angel! Toja > Schelletto!

Major League Soccer Talk has a great point in their blog today. As much as we talk about the impact players like David Beckham will have on the MLS, the league still needs to continue to sign played like Juan Toja. If you haven't already seen it, make a point to watch the DCU-FC Dallas game. You'll see Toja's talent on display as Morrow's Hoops claw back from a 3-0 deficit to tie things up at RFK.

The MLS doesn't need players like him just because for his $100,000 salary he's arguably been the best player in the league. They also need talent like Toja because there is a good chance they can be selling him for a pretty sum in a few years. Major League Soccer has been and for quite some time will continue to be a selling league. And, as MLS Talk, they also help enhance the view of the league overseas. You have to wonder if the league had a few more Toja's and few less Kirovski's if teams would've been able to bring in some of those marquee players that got away like Borgetti, Figo or even Zidane.