Beckham Timeline Cheat Sheet

2006 - captains England in the World Cup, doesn't do well
2006 - loses captaincy, is told he'll never play for England again
early 2007 - Signs deal with the LA Galaxy, Madrid coach benches him, but not for long
early 2007 - Becks plays key role in turning Madrid around to win La Liga (Spanish league)
Mid 2007 - Is asked to rejoin England
Mid 2007 - Starts playing with LA.
Late 2007, Early 2008 - Becks plays many matches for England
2008 - Plays most matches for L.A. Is told by English manager that he needs to play at a better club to improve chances of making 2010 England World Cup squad.
Late 2008 - Signs loan deal to jump ship from LA
Early 2009 - Requests full move away from LA to Milan, gets denied
Mid 2009 - Comes back to fans in LA who don't like him. In the same week, mentions deals in the works to go on loan to European clubs again.

Fans like me and the LA Riot Squad were honored when Beckham came to our league and our team. Even fans of other teams were honored (and a little jealous.) We had a world famous player who could go anywhere he wants, coming to play in our humble soccer league. Many of those fans, like me, have been around since the first days of the league. Those first few days were nerve-racking because from year to year, we didn't know if the league would last. We had to endure teams folding, teams moving, matches on ESPN with less than 5000 supporters in massive stadiums, Eurosnobs that love the game but wouldn't watch MLS, and a press that continually bashed soccer. These issues were completely unfathomable for fans of the teams and leagues that Beckham could play in. Those fans can take soccer for granted.

Sometime around the building of Crew Stadium in 1999, MLS fans realized the league would survive and we could really start focusing on supporting our own team rather than the league. That felt good, and when Beckham decided to come, we felt even better. Some felt fully validated. As our league has grown and come into it's own, MLS passed a point where marketing gimmickry is necessary. MLS clubs no longer sign players to cater to a local ethnicity (except Chivas, but that's a different story.) Rock music isn't played during matches. The stupid shootout and 10 minutes of overtime during tied games has gone away. We didn't need a world famous player to guarantee survival. Teams just need a suitable environment, and some wins to attract fans. That formula has resulted in the league expanding to 18 teams by 2011, and 11 of those teams will have their own stadium (2 more teams play in NFL stadiums, operated by the same owner.)

The last 3 points on my timeline, combined with Beckham's own comments, make me think that he's been a fraud all along. I completely bought into his lies and took his side for as long as I could.

He came over here when he was supposedly "washed up." He came to America on the guise of promoting the game here, but really he was just here for the huge paycheck to ride out his career. That was fine, because he was ADDING some bonus credibility and value to the league. He was playing well and promoting as much as he could. Now that we know his real intentions, he's actually SUBTRACTING credibility from the league. Fans like me who have worked hard to promote MLS and US Soccer have been kicked between the legs by this con-man.

The incidents on Sunday between the LA Riot Squad and Beckham wasn't just about Beckham duping the Galaxy. He was duping everyone who's had to promote this league as long as they've followed it. We certainly aren't going to eat the B.S. he trying to serve us. His gajillion dollar bubble was popped by our protests and he flipped out. Like my friend Dan Loney said, "Chelsea couldn't do it. Liverpool couldn't do it. Arsenal couldn't do it. Barcelona couldn't do it. Inter couldn't do it. Fans across England, Spain, Germany and Italy couldn't. But MLS fans could. They broke David Beckham."

LA Galaxy fans who booed and protested with signage, those who showered him with monopoly money in New York on Thursday, and future MLS fans who will show their disdain are what give the league extra credibility. Those fans are the ones that reaffirm not only the survival of the league, but more prosperity and respect for the league in the future.