Photo by ISIphotos.com
We are three days removed from David Beckham's home season debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy, as well as the fan backlash that accompanied it, and it's still a bit mind-boggling that Beckham is really going to get away with his actions without so much as a slap on the wrist.
For those of you who missed it, Beckham approached Galaxy fans at halftime of the LA-AC Milan friendly on Sunday and clearly calls out a fan in the stands and invites him to come out of the stands. Beckham did so with anger on his face and little interest in actually having a chat with the fan. In fact, it isn't until after the fan is subdued by a gang of security guards that Beckham even puts the extended arm out (Has it ever taken more security guards to subdue someone wearing flip-flops? Just a thought). There was no, "Let him go guys", but more a "You fell for that one you clown" look on Beckham's face.
Now the fan is banned for life and Beckham didn't face so much as a disapproving sentence in the bland statement issued by Galaxy coach Bruce Arena about the incident. I suppose we should expect more from a club that still schedules its practices around Beckham's media appearances.
I was going to write about how Beckham should face punishment for his actions, but Ben Knight of Onward Soccer beat me to it, making a very good case for punishment for the Spice Boy. Let's be serious though, Beckham isn't going to be punished. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be.
Here are some more observations and notes on a laid-back soccer Wednesday:
Onyewu ready to give U.S. fans reason to celebrate
When Oguchi Onyewu takes the field for AC Milan tonight in its friendly against Club America, he will become the first second U.S. national team field player to suit up for one of the top clubs in one of Europe's top three leagues (Jonathan Spector being the first with Manchester United in 04/05). The symbolism won't be lost on U.S. fans who will finally have someone they can call their own among the world's elite.
Yes, Tim Howard paved the way during his tenure as a starting goalkeeper for Manchester United, but Onyewu's move to Milan signals something else. It shows an American player other than a goalkeeper playing with the world's best.
There is plenty of pressure on Onyewu, not only from the club that just signed him, but also from the fans who are counting on him to represent this country well and blaze a trail for American players to follow. Something tells me he's up to the challenge.
Long road back for Busch
Pop quiz: Who was the back-up goalkeeper to Kasey Keller in the U.S. national team's 2-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Easter of 2005? The answer? Jon Busch.
More than four years ago Busch was enjoying a stellar MLS career with the Columbus Crew and was starting to get national team looks. A torn knee ligament cost him most of the 2005 and 2006 MLS seasons before he spent 2007 as a back-up with the Chicago Fire. In 2008, Busch enjoyed a stellar comeback year, being named MLS goalkeeper of the year and earning his first national team call-up in almost four years last January.
Busch will be back on the U.S. squad for Thursday's Gold Cup semifinal and while he isn't likely to start, the fact that he's worked his way back onto the national team radar screen speaks volumes about the scrappy 33-year old.
Arnoux to go pro
A year after losing potential draftees Marcus Tracy and Mike Grella to Europe, MLS looks set to lose out on another top prospect.
Sources tell SBI that Wake Forest forward Cody Arnoux is preparing to bypass his final year of eligibility to pursue a professional career in Europe. An All-American who led Wake Forest in goals last season with 17, Arnoux is said to also be working on securing an Italian passport through family, which would make a move abroad easier. Everton has been mentioned as one of the clubs interested.
Arnoux has spent the summer playing for the PDL's Carolina Dynamo.
By all accounts, Beckham is a doushe bag..
A couple of misinformed things keep coming up here. 1. It was not an MLS game so MLS has no jurisdiction over possible punishment on Beckahm (remember when Cuauhtemoc Blanco went crazy at a US Open Cup game? Yeah, MLS couldn’t do anything about that either because they have no jurisdiction. 2. Ticket Policy (and rules) also come from the venue, in this case, HDC. And even if you buy the absurdly childish argument that Beckham, as an employee of the Galaxy was inviting the fan down to the field and thus it was ok, it would be completely unreasonable for anyone of sound mind to think that Beckham was also an employee of HDC and had the authority do to this.
Really all this vitrol spilled towards Beckham is just an excuse for the “fans” that hate him for going to AC Milan to get a little angrier than they already are. But from a legal perspective, the idea that the fan was anything but 100% in the wrong is what is legally called a “loser.”
And in Europe, if something similar happened, that fan would definitely be banned for life.
“suppose we should expect more from a club that still schedules its practices around Beckham’s media appearances.” – way to go for the jugular Ives.
whatever…why should he be punished? the fan is the one who crossed the line. pffft get over it. If the MLS actually had noteworthy performances on the field then this would be a non-issue.
Beckham may be good at corner kicks and free kicks, but he needs to take more throw-ins because he is a right tosser.
Tim F, thanks for pointing out Spector, who I thought of but didn’t realize he had a cap that far back. To be fair, I’m not sure he could be called a U.S. national team player back when he made that handful of appearances for Manchester United in 04/05. He had exactly one national team cap during that year with Manchester United. That’s why I specifically wrote “U.S. national team field player” as opposed to American field player.
Crazy to think back to Spector getting games for Man U at such a young age.
The Galaxy are interesting, controversy-laden, crowded with oversized personalities, winning games and have two of the top five talents in the league playing for them. I love it all. I wouldn’t cross the street to see the vast majority of MLS games, but I will set my DVR to see what happens next in Carson.
All moral arguments aside, anyone who has read Grant Wahl’s Beckham book knows why the d-bag is not going to be punished. Call it “diplomatic immunity” for the self-anointed Ambassador for MLS.
Beckham only has a few years left whereas Gooch’s star is rising, Would much rather talk about the latter.
“When Oguchi Onyewu takes the field for AC Milan tonight in its friendly against Club America, he will become the first U.S. national team field player to suit up for one of the top clubs in one of Europe’s top three leagues”
Come on Ives, like someone said before: Spector played a bunch of games at left back for Man Utd and would have stayed if he wasn’t so injury prone.
There is only one way to settle this Beckham issue. Let them finish what Beckham tried to start – Cage Fight! Think of the Pay Per View revenue.
Vin, I never knew Spector made appearances for Man U, what season?
-I don’t care about any of the Riot Squad/Beckham drama because I’m more excited for ONYEWU!
-Wondering where all the talk of a Dempsey transfer has gone/any news of Dempsey at all (don’t think he played in any of Fulham’s preseason games).
Beckham should have been suspended for at least a game…
Come on, everyone knows that Garber is fining Beckham by making him actually play for the Galaxy and not allowing him to go back to AC Milan just yet. If Garber really wants to punish Beckham, he should add games to the Galaxy schedule.
I’ve heard “Amerton” thrown around. Not bad.
Here’s a British columnist who is impressed by the Riot Squad:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mikenorrish/100000729/booing-david-beckham-means-us-soccer-is-finally-credible/
I can’t wait to see Onyewu play tonight
Whether or not Beckham should be punished, the thoughts being thrown around about the fan are ridiculous.
A lot of beckham hate is going around, and its understandable. But in any other major sport in America, rushing the field with bad intent will get a fan arrested and banned for life as well. Imagine the beating the guy would receive rushing the field in an NFL game.
If any other player had gotten frustrated and done this, no one would be defending the fan. This is just some sour grapes because Becks went and played for Milan longer than we all hoped he would.
If the fan is getting a lifetime ban, Becks should be fined. He called out the fan after all. He probably thought the fan wasn’t going to take him up on his “offer” and he was. If you’re gonna call someone out, be prepared to accept the consequences.
The hyperbole on both sides of this is silly…
Just last month, Schellas Hyndman was suspended by MLS for arguing with a fan in the stands after a Chicago supporter threw a bottle at him. Beckham deserves a one-game suspension for similar behavior.
The “lifetime” ban of the fan should just be called what it is – a PR stunt and completely unenforceable. The fan deserved to be arrested for trespassing. Spend the night in jail while sobering up, appear in court the next morning, pay a small fine, serve an afternoon of community service, and 1-year of probation.
“You fell for that one you clown”
Yes the clown sure did. And got what he deserved. Bravo for Beckham.
Always portrayed as not too bright, but I guess brighter than the Riot Squad clown.
BlueWhiteLion, we have this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CkWU1xOs0&feature=related
Although this is much much more severe of course, action on Becks should still be handed out.
Posted by: dena
Right, I thought of that one, and your point is on target: this is much more severe. I seem to recall, whether it is NBA or NFL that players have shouted back at “fans” etc. What were those occasions and what happened?
Beckham has a temper problem, but he is also a human. Sure, reprimand him, call him on it, but he is not vermin for cracking here and there. I hate what he did to try and weasel out of LA, but I sure do love watching him play here.
Stars and Stripes Foreverton
a bit selfish, but i wish that top us players played one or two seasons with the mls before going to europe, like jozy. we are not quite there yet where the mls is a good stepping stone into the major european leagues but that should be a good short term goal that would bring in revenue to the league.
On this Everton talk: how come there hasn’t been ANYTHING reported on Dempsey transferring there since the initial rumors at the beginning of the month? Is it still gonna happen?
“…[Onyewu] will become the first U.S. national team field player to suit up for one of the top clubs in one of Europe’s top three leagues.”
Actually, Ives, Jonathan Spector had made a few appearances with Manchester United’s first eleven during his short time with them, albeit with less fanfare — probably because Spector had been relatively unknown at the time, whereas Onyewu as an already established player was traded to one of Europe’s biggest teams.
(SBI-the sentence read “The first U.S. national team field player” NOT “First American.” As it turns out, Spector had exactly one national team cap during that year with Manchester United so you’ve got me on a technicality. I didn’t realize Spector had a cap that year.)
I don’t understand the people who say this league is better off without Beckham.
Beckham’s character is really showing through. It is all a show and that is why Sir Alex got rid of him. It is all about “image.” Beckham wanted us to believe that he was just extending his hand to the fan which he did when 5 security guards were on this guy. Beckham didn’t mention cussing this guy out and telling him to come down on the field.
The Galaxy lockeroom and games will be a good place to sit and watch. In fact, if someone could get a reality show on this one with inside the locker room footage and insight from the players, it would be the one of the most popular reality shows on TV.
It is not mutually exclusive to take the position that both the fan and Beckham deserve to be disciplined.
Aside from that, I have even less reason to respect Beckham. He challenged fans who were mocking him to come down and say what they were saying to his face. If no one did, he would say, at least to himself, that the fans don’t have the guts to say that stuff to his face.
Beckham then pretends like he is going to go up to the stands and confront them himself (if only he could get over this sign, no wonder he takes corner kicks instead of playing in the box and using his three inch vertical to try to win a ball in the air)and only if all these security people weren’t in his way holding him back.
The fan was wrong, wrong, wrong to come down to the field. But the fan was calling Beckham’s bluff. He was willing to say to Beckham’s face what he had been chanting in the stands. If Beckham was really intending to come up to the stands to confront fans, this fan would meet him half way. I do not condone violence and did not want to see Beckham get punched in the face, but it was a little disappointing to see stadium security play defense better than last year’s Galaxy.
`Further it was a friendly. It wasn’t even an MLS game. I would doubt MLS even has the right to discipline for the issue.`
KungFuSoccer – MLS can indeed fine him for bringing the game into disrepute. They did this to Blanco after he went medieval on a DC official in the MLS Cup last year.
They should lift the ban, it is Beckham’s fault for repeatedly calling him to come on the field. He represents the team and its stadium, at some level. If a player is telling a fan to break the rules, four or five times, then you can’t put all the blame on the fan for breaking it. The way they have treated this fan is disgusting. So is Becks. And the Riot Squad ought to be supporting this guy, not banning him, what cowardice.
personally, I’m not sad about another college star bypassing the MLS to go abroad- the more the merrier. This will actually end up benefitting soccer in America. We need a critical mass of Americans playing abroad and playing in top leagues for top clubs for our national team to continue to improve-which is the best way to raise soccer’s profile in this country…
My contribution – Am-everton.
Lifetime ban from attending Galaxy matches at the HDC?
Believe me, they did him a favor.
I think the most telling thing about the Beckham situation is that NONE of his Galaxy teammates or coaches are stepping up to say “Hey Galaxy fans, you may have been hurt with David’s AC Milan loan, but he’s part of our squad right now, so you should support him while he’s wearing a Galaxy shirt.” I have not read one quote from the Galaxy players or anyone associated with the Galaxy administration saying that. If you look at the video of him calling the fan out, you can see several members of the Galaxy look his way and just walk off into the locker room instead of rushing over there to defend him or pull him away. It’s funny that you see more AC Milan players over there trying to calm him down and pull him away.
I can only imagine all the cold shoulders he must be getting in the Galaxy locker room right now.
I was there and am a season ticket holder in the Riot Squad section. The riot squad was heckling and booing Beckham the whole first half (as he deserved). I joined in the booing as he has disrespected the team, and uses double speak about his “commitment.” There were many in the section who chose not to boo and voiced their displeasure at booing such a talented player.
So Beckham displayed his skills and gave gestures that the section should be quiet. Many continued to boo him.
So Beckham got pissed off. Big deal. Beckham didn’t jump into the stands. He goaded a drunk (I presume) guy into entering the field (or actually it was the field seats area). There was no harm and no threat of harm. Becks outsmarted the guy, and I think he knew what he was doing. Is a player not allowed to respond to taunting? Frankly, it was great entertainment.
Further it was a friendly. It wasn’t even an MLS game. I would doubt MLS even has the right to discipline for the issue.
No harm no foul.
Beckman deserves at least a warning. Also, I agree that a lifetime ban is too harsh. Beckman invited the guy onto the field, c’mon.
Free Josh Paige!
I think Ives point is that in any other league, Beckham would have been fined for his actions. How is it this guy is banned for life and LAG or MLS don`t take any action against Beckham?
Of course in some circles, not having to watch the Galaxy would hardly be considered punishment.
A man asks a women if she will go to sleep with him for $1 million. She says, “Sure!” So, the man asks her if she will sleep with him for $50. She says, “What do you think I am?” Man says, “we already established that; now we’re haggling over price.”
Point is, MLS has already established itself as a whore for aging, attitudinal, decrepit and overly compensated foreign stars — Rent Boy Beckham being only the latest, and most egregious example.
So, it should come as no surprise that MLS is once again Bending Over For Beckham …
Actually, the fan was invited onto the field by an employee of the L.A. Galaxy, David Beckham. There is video evidence which shows that he, specifically, was invited to field level. Beckham singles him out by pointing at him multiple times, then gestures several times to beckon him forward to extend that invitation to come to field level. After accepting that invitation, he was unjustly mobbed and beaten by security.
The fan had every right to feel that he was invited down to field level by a Galaxy employee, who, he had to assume, was authorized to make such an invitation.
The fan should be able to win a pretty good law suit against Galaxy, Home Depot Center stadium security, Beckham, and L.A. Galaxy for wrongful arrest and for the brutal beating he received. Beckham himself admits that he invited the fan down to field level for a handshake. And the fan accepted that peaceful and well-intentioned invitation when he was brutally restrained by misguided security men. At this point, all that remains to be litigated is monetary damages to the fan.
Beckham – can’t wait for that ________ clown to go the ________ back to Milan where I don’t have to be distracted by the _________ circus that surrounds him. And the head of the MLS “discipline” committee or whoever hads out fines in the league, should be shown the door for not having the ________ ________ to handle this situation properly.
While don’t condone fans jumping on the field, I do enjoy playing devil’s advocate. It seems to me that the fan can make a color-able argument that he was invited down to the field by a representative of the team. Furthermore, the fan had the reasonable belief that the Galaxy representative had the de facto authority to invite him on the field. Therefore, the fan was not in violation of his ticketholder’s agreement nor was he trespassing.
LA Galaxy is all kinds of messed up now … They’re lucky they have a winning record or they might as well call themselves the LA RedBulls.
BlueWhiteLion, we have this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CkWU1xOs0&feature=related
Although this is much much more severe of course, action on Becks should still be handed out.
MLS was quick to suspend Petke after an incident with a ref. But are ok with this? hmmm… I’m sure they will say it was a friendly so he cannot be suspended but at least give him a fine. The fan deserved a punishment but a ban for live seems a little much considering all he did is jump down.
should say “Foreverton”
A lifetime ban seems harsh, but there is some type of punishment deserved for the fan. He did try to rush the field and attack a player. No doubt about that.
But on the other hand, Beckham did incite it. Only the biggest dope and/or Posh herself cannot see that. He went over there and called a fan out, he challenged them. He’s (supposed) to be a professional. Pros rise above the rants and screams of drunken fans.
Everton is loving Americans lately – Peterlin, Howard, a potential interest in Altidore and Dempsey… We need a new nickname if they get a few more on their squad – like Fulhamerica a few years back.
Posted by: Limo
How about “Stars and Stripes for Everton…”
jones, you’re right, the fan crossed a line and was stupid, but you can’t go around flipping off the fans (even your own) or goading them into a fight.
AND, if you want to read it another way, by all accounts, the fan was invited onto the field by a representative of the home side. who says he actually violated any agreement?
I agree the fan was stupid (and apparently drunk), but a life time ban is too harsh.
LIFETIME. That is just crazy. What if he matures, has kids, and then “nope, you can’t come to our stadium because you were dumb and jumped over the railing when provoked”. Banned for 1 year, 5 years, but not for life.
So, Ives, what examples in the US sports scene do we have of athletes being punished for similar incidents?
Everton is loving Americans lately – Peterlin, Howard, a potential interest in Altidore and Dempsey… We need a new nickname if they get a few more on their squad – like Fulhamerica a few years back.
Ives, you run the top American soccer site on the web, but you and Ben Knight are out of your minds on this one. A fan coming down to the field, or trying to, is a blatant violation of the terms of any ticket for any team or stadium in the known universe. You simply cannot do it no matter what. This “incident” is really about immense immaturity/stupidity on the part of the “fan” in question.