LONDON (AFP) - Footballer David Beckham hit out at claims that his Los Angeles Galaxy side was "a pub team" and that the Major League Soccer was "a Mickey Mouse league," in an interview published Sunday. Beckham also dismissed suggestions that the burden of travelling between the United States and England's international games would be too much for him. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said he had felt when around LA Galaxy's bosses, manager and coach "how much it hurt them when people who don't know anything were turning round and calling the Galaxy a pub team and calling the MLS a Mickey Mouse league." Many sportswriters in Britain have criticised the former England captain's decision to join the club and criticised the standard of the game in the US. "I don't know whether it's ignorance or snobbery or whether it's that the people saying these things have never played the game or watched it being played here, but they should be sitting here now, watching us beat a team that's won the Mexican league two years running," he added. "The standard is nowhere near as low as people have been saying it is. "For a start, you have to be incredibly fit and physically strong to play here: America's a country, after all, that produces some of the best athletes in the world." Beckham joined LA Galaxy at the start of this season in a deal reportedly worth 250 million dollars (183 million euros). The interview in the Observer newspaper was apparently conducted before he suffered a knee sprain last week which will sideline him for six weeks, meaning he will miss England's two September Euro 2008 qualifying matches. He admitted that the workload in recent weeks had been "starting to wear me out, to be honest". But Beckham insisted playing for his country was still important to him, regardless of how much travelling it would entail. "The Galaxy have made it clear that they'll do anything they can to help me play for my country. They know how passionate I am about it. "Everyone's working together." He also spoke of how happy his family, including his wife Victoria, a member of pop group the Spice Girls, was in Los Angeles. "I can't think of many better places: for me, for the kids, for Victoria. I haven't seen Victoria happier than this in the 10 years we've been together," he said. "That on its own makes having come here worthwhile. "The house is lovely, the schools are sorted, the boys are excited." http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_y...amlsgalaxyengbeckhampeople&prov=afp&type=lgns
MLS is what it is, but it's ours; the direction in which it is moving seems fine to me...excepting a lack of a team in such a huge market as Philly, but that, I think will come. MLS' only glaring flaw is in thinking often like the NFL, but you took an NFL Europe exec in Garber and gave him the reins, what do you expect? Beckham has it right on; it DOES require a physical presence to play here...look at Adu (who found a league for his size and style, IMO).
Nice Becks.... Fair comeback to these kind of comments. Although at times, the Gals do look a little like a pub team.
Actually, what struck me as I watched my Galaxy gag the Saturday game with RSL away was how WELL the "worst" two teams in MLS were playing. That was a very good thing to see.
I hope that LA is able to sort out their problems before next season and that they're able to keep Becks and LD together. At this point, a strong LA would be great for MLS. It's too bad it couldn't happen this season.
It's also a testament to MLS that IMO the worst team in MLS made the SuperLiga final. We're just not that bad, and talent on the field will only improve.
It's unfortunate that a lot of the European leagues look down upon MLS but it certainly doesn't make any difference to me. However, I can easily see why it would bother Beckham. Your countrymen are continually bashing MLS and in effect, you. When it comes to international sport, the English are grasping at straws. Someone else said it best in another post: pretty soon cricket will be all they have. First and foremost, I'm a diehard Toronto FC and MLS supporter. I also support Everton in the BPL, Roma in Serie A and Boca Juniors in Argentina. I'm really not sure why Europeans have such a difficult time reciprocating that support. Perhaps they fear the potential. Anyway, I leave you with these heartfelt words: MLS has given Toronto a beautiful gift and we simply won't let irrelevant Eurosnobs take that away from us. It's our league and our own brand of soccer. We'll improve and they'll continue to make petty commentaries. That's fine; I like it that way. Long live MLS!
Maybe once and for all that Gino dude will shut up about Beckham... I personally am not a big fan of Beckham but I respect him... When were the Glaxy beating the Mexican champs for two years running? I know they came close but they were only winning in pks at one point. Anyway, props to Becks and the MLS.
I have to credit Beckham for speaking out in the face of the spiteful, vitriolic British press. The culture of the British media does not understand the American sports landscape and where soccer fits in. England does not have the issue or understanding of soccer being lower on the totem pole than five other major American sports interests - pro football, baseball, basketball, hockey, college football and college basketball. Beckham's presence has done good things so far and with any luck, he'll start next season with a reconfigured and refreshed Galaxy team ready to take on the league. The backloaded schedule will be gone, restoring some kind of parity to the Galaxy. Once the initial hype has died down, they can get down to the on-pitch business.
Curious as to what the problem would be with "thinking like the NFL." It's the most successful sports business in the world. Why would it be a problem?
LAG won't have to sort out their problems. MLS will sort out their problems. I wouldn't worry about LAG. I only hope the league doesn't make them too good that it's obvious.
They did beat Pachuca when they opened group play in the Superliga, 2-1. I believe he was referring to that.
a Pachuca without their stars, Galaxy is a good team they just need to find chemistry im sure once that's found they'll be on top. but i have to admit the best team in the MLS is Houston Dynamo..they're awesome
DC, New England, Chivas, and Dallas may take issue with that statement. *** This year is shot for the Galaxy. Beckham should take the rest of the year off, play in Euro qualies ONLY if he's fully fit, and get ready for next year. Like we've all been reminded numerous times, he's here for five years.
Most of the criticism I have seen along these lines has been coming out of England, it might behoove such critics to focus on the problems with English Football. England is not producing the best footballers in the world. While the top 4 all have good English born players, they also have a large number of foreign players. While the teams that are likely to get relegated are chock-full of native players And the odds of England making Euro 2008 . . . . England's Critics need to get England to fix its house before bashing other leagues and countries.
Heck my Pub team can likely win 8 MLS games. That is if we all stopped the boozing and smoking.. I mean whats so bad about Pub teams!?
People have said similar things to this about the NY franchise throughout the history of MLS and in general that team has always stunk. So I hope we're not expecting to be good because MLS will make it so...
We beat a Pachuca without their stars 2-1. They beat a LAG team without our stars (IE Beckham, a unlimping Donovan, Albright, Jazic) 1-1 4-3 in penalties. The point is, we're not as bad as people think. Mexican fans cried after we beat Pachuca (OH OH OH BUT IT WASNT OUR BEST TEAM) But when LAG fans mentioned they played against a banged up team without our superstars at 100% or even on the field? -Mexican fans- (EXCUSES EXCUSES JUST ADMIT WE'RE BETTER) My point (I'm sure the point of this thread) is to explain just how clearly we're not inferior on the pitch as most would think. No matter how you label it. Argueably the best Mexican Club -Pachuca- lost to the worst MLS club -Galaxy- in the beginning of the tournament. Argueably the best Mexcian Club -Pachuca- Beat the worst MLS club -Galaxy- In quad OT (Double PK's) Assume what ya want. We humiliated that team in the second half of that game. and had their been a team on that pitch against Pachuca with someone who could finish the ball? (Gordon sucks) Pachuca would have lost by 2 goals EASILY.
Mexican fans will NEVER admit the MLS is better... Even smart MLS fans realize their league is not as good ours but we all know that there's not as great a distance between the two anymore.
This is true, and to those who are constantly fishing for validation from fans of Mexican soccer, I'll say this is probably the closest you'll hear to a compliment from them...
I'm blown away by how compassionate Beckham seems to be. Maybe it's all show, but I doubt anyone could fabricate some of the genuine empathy and dedication he exudes. Nice rebuttle David.
Wow... this is the first time I've heard a Mexican fan on big soccer say something like this. I happen to agree! As a league the FMF is more established, better paid, and better quality on the field. I can't argue that. Does that mean MLS is a horrible league? Of course not. And I don't think it will be long before you see MLS teams beating FMF teams on a more regular basis.
Didn't LA beat Pachuca in the first game of the group stage? I think that's what he was talking about since the interview was before the final.
You gotta admire beckham for sticking up for us, when he really doesn't have to... a real model professional. Now if only he could stay healthy for us. As far as the mexican league vs MLS goes, its really about aesthetics. I believe the mexican league is stronger, with a longer history, but that doesn't mean i enjoy it more than MLS. Some people like coke, some like pepsi