More perspectives

A sampling of emails for me today.

Don't know if you watched the Galaxy on espn2 last nite, but Eric Wynalda is absolutely painful to listen to. Critical Critical Critical. and will not let up.

I'm a fledgling soccer fan, never played it, and watched it every 4 years for the world cup. however, with the arrival of Beckham, I am one of those who are now trying to watch it more, and i'm actually enjoying it (MLS) more than I thought. But having to listen to Wynalda is awful. I like the play by play guy, but Tommie Smith would be much better than Wynalda. ESPN should do something about it.


Another letter:

I just wanted to comment on your conclusions about Beckham being overused. I understand that it is your job to write what people will read, and at this you obviously have succeeded. However, I can't stomach how unsupported conclusions are arrived at so frivolously.

"Ultimately, such a grave miscalculation could make MLS seem like more of a joke than the play on the field ever has."

To think that the Galaxy making the playoffs (or not making the playoffs) is somehow going to "make or break" the MLS is simply pathetic. David Beckham has already done 90% of the job he was hired to do. Would it really help if the Galaxy were able to profile the MLS playoffs? Absolutely. But the fact that they probably won't be there is no different than the likely scenario that they lose the first game. In fact, this latter scenario may even be worse, given that it will show everyone the real picture that the success of this league and this sport in the US cannot be based on the television ratings of one summer. There is much more involved, and already in motion, to making the MLS a successful league.

"Ultimately, it doesn't seem that Beckham's heart is in question. Instead, the brains of the league and the Galaxy administration -- for not protecting their players by failing to protest such a top-heavy late-season travel schedule -- are the ones who appear suspect."

I would hate to see your comments if they would have sat Beckham, especially after Beckham actually stated he felt OK to play, and the Galaxy lost by a closer margin. In the future, do the sport and all of us a favor--reward your readers with intelligent insight about the play of the league and quit making the MLS nothing more than a Hollywood studio.

I just read the article about beckham not performing well and I belive its all excuses the is given for his inadequacy.The truth be told there is no way beckham can single handedly resurrect the La galaxy team to a championship team.That is the sad fact and people are hoping it will turn out to be a fairy tale.Beckham during his whole carrier has never been the Man of the team.H e has been a Good team player but you cannot build your team around beckham it wont just work.

Now the mistake LA galaxy did is they invested too much on beckham forgetting that apart from the off field attraction he brings he cannot peform magic on the field.O ne free kick here and there but consistent performance from him I don’t think so

Now if La galxy were wise and had not spend all that amount of Beckham.They might have been able to use somepart of that money to get some quality players to La.Now in LA we have beckham with 6.5million YEAR SALARY TO 900,000 for Donovan to a mere 17,000 for a player .Do you think it makes sense are people gonna die for the team well beckham might after all he is been paid but if I werea soccer player getting that small money and I see that big descripancy I aint gonna give my all

Its better LA COME out of their dream other wise they will be like real Madrid which after beckham came it took 4 years before achieving one title And even that came after Barcelona basically handed them the trophy.