The Galaxy and MLS will be Fine Without Beckham

[Rocky Cole]

The MLS Playoffs were exciting and fun to watch… especially the semi-final match between Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls. And the excitement of the 2008 MLS playoffs happened without David Beckham or Landon Donovan on the field. Yes, Beckham brought a lot of people out to watch MLS games that would not have otherwise come out, but the league will continue to develop whether Beckham is on the Galaxy or not. What MLS needs in order to become a top-flight league is solid and exciting overall play... consistently seen, and on almost every team.

If a deal is not reached for Beckham to stay at AC Milan and he returns to the Galaxy, the team and the fans in Los Angeles will mend fences with Beckham. Beckham’s publicity machine will go into high-gear to make sure he ends up smelling like a rose. In fact, this small "location controversy" will probably be framed in a way that somehow makes this a good thing for MLS and the Galaxy -- maybe by proving how good LA was for reinvigorating Beckham's desire to play at a higher level. (Who knows what the spin-masters will come up with, but I guarantee you they will come up with something.) In the end, it would be better if Beckham stays at AC Milan and the Galaxy gets some good-money to spend on some great strikers and maybe even a top-flight defense and keeper. Losing Donovan, however, will be more of a blow -- not because of his ability to get fans in the gate, but his ability to put the ball in the back of the net.