What We Learned From Beckham's Galaxy Debut

Filed in archive US Soccer on July 23, 2007

Beckham's Galaxy debut was just about the most overhyped game I've ever seen, and the most that one game has revolved around one man who played so very little of the game. I hope this isn't a prelude to the way MLS is going to be for the next 5 years, with everything - including the actual match - coming second to David Beckham.

Here are 10 things we learned from Beckham's Galaxy debut:

1. Commoners and celebrities alike will fill a stadium just to see Beckham play 12 injured minutes.

2. Beckham will be taking the corners and free kicks from now on, and Landon Donovan is going to have to grin and bear it.

3. John Terry can score with his feet as well as his head.

4. The whole evening should have revolved around Abel Xavier, he had an incredible game.

5. Steve Sidwell doesn't care about the whole Beckham thing. He wants a place in that Chelsea team and will kick $250 million ankles is he has to.

6. ESPN will postpone a commercial break to interview David Beckham. That's power.

7. Kevin Garnett loves a long pass.

8. If you have enough money you can drink champagne at football matches.

9. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to have a stadium named after him, but doesn't seem to know that much about the game.

10. Drew Carey is a legend. He kept stopping his interview to watch the game.