Beckham: To MLS or Not to MLS? That is the Question

You can't blame him. Beckham has played for some of the biggest teams in the world on soccer's biggest stages. Getting excited about playing in Columbus on a hot Wednesday in August doesn't quite compare to Milan v Roma.

I am a big fan of Major League Soccer but even I can admit that Beckham is just too big for the league. Going from Real Madrid and winning La Liga and then going to the mess in LA has to be frustrating. In LA, he is on a team that has players that shouldn't be on an MLS team let alone starting. The MLS cap structure just doesn't allow for having 2 big salary guys and still put together a decent team. I hope he sticks around for one more season but if he wants to stay in Milan, who can blame him? Its a team in a rebuilding stage that is doubtful to make the playoffs for the 4th year in a row.

Becks is an easy target and everyone loves to take their shots, but the fact remains he is a starter at AC Milan, left Real Madrid as a starter and the guy can still play. He wants one more World Cup with England and playing with Ely Allen and Dema Kovalenko this summer does not help his chances. Maybe he and MLS should have seen this coming, but at least they tried. It was interesting while it lasted.

The more pressing concern in my opinion is that MLS needs to come up with a mechanism so that players like Kenny Cooper and Sacha Klejstian can stay and play in MLS and get paid favorably to what they can make in Norway or Scotland. That is how MLS will become more popular, increase tv ratings and increase attendance. Keep young, exciting American players playing in America.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan may be destined for bigger leagues, but MLS needs a way to keep the bread and butter American players in America. Or otherwise MLS will always be looking for the next big import.