A Quick MLS Reminder: It’s Not All About Goldenballs

(Or at least it doesn’t have to be)

It’s exactly one week until MLS kicks off its 14th season. Above is a little look back at the best MLS goals from 2008. Proof that there’s life in the league beyond Beckham.

Maybe.

Beckham will be back for 2009 of course, but only once he’s done in Milan and only because he has to.

Goldenballs isn’t coming to save MLS anymore, he’s coming to see out his contract before exercising the buy out clause at the end of the year.

The story of this season will probably be how Beckham says goodbye. After two miserable seasons – football wise – can he at least guide Galaxy back into the playoffs?

But 2009 also needs to be the year that MLS grows some balls.

Having a star player in your league makes you more legitimate. Definitely. But only if you don’t act like it’s a big deal. And it can do that by treating Beckham like any other footballer, instead of the PR messiah. The way the league has bent over for Beckham in the last two years – re-arranging fixtures around his schedule and the like – has made MLS look a little silly.

So if MLS is to succeed – and I’m sure most of our American readers will agree that a successful MLS is a good thing – then it needs 2009 to be the first year since 2005 where it isn’t overshadowed by one aging Englishman.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: North America

Tags: 2008, 2009, best goals, David Beckham, MLS, North America

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