Turns Out David Beckham is Mean

By: Daryl | July 13th, 2009

The David Beckham vs Landon Donovan drama got another chapter over the weekend. Beckham responded to criticism from Donovan (and other teammates) about his captaincy of and commitment to LA Galaxy with this cold as ice quote:

“It’s unprofessional in my eyes. In every football player’s eyes throughout the world it would be unprofessional to speak out about a team-mate especially in the press and not to your face.

“But I’m going to turn it on a positive spin because that’s what this needs. But in 17 years, I have played with the biggest teams in the world and the biggest players and not once have I been criticised for my professionalism. It’s important to get this cleared up and I will be speaking to Landon either this evening or over the next couple of days.

“I’m personally very professional when I am on the field. I don’t care what people say about me off the field, once I’m on the field I’m professional and if there is a chance for him to score, I will be giving him the ball. Me and Landon will talk, but that will be a private conversation.”

And here’s what I was thinking as I read some of the above:

“…it would be unprofessional to speak out about a team-mate especially in the press and not to your face…”

You mean like you just did?

“… I’m going to turn it on a positive spin because that’s what this needs…”

Good luck. I doubt even Shane Warne could put a positive spin on this.

…in 17 years, I have played with the biggest teams in the world and the biggest players and not once have I been criticised for my professionalism…

Yes you were. It was last week if I remember correctly.

…It’s important to get this cleared up and I will be speaking to Landon either this evening or over the next couple of days…

Just a thought: Shouldn’t Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena be doing/saying something to sort this mess out?

…once I’m on the field I’m professional and if there is a chance for him to score, I will be giving him the ball…

So.. you will pass to Landon Donovan if necessary? What a pro.

Sorry if that was all a bit snarky, but I’ve pretty much had my worldview shaken. Though I’ve never been the biggest fan of Beckham the player (who needs a wide midfielder with no pace or tricks?) I’ve always had massive respect for Becks the man. I’ve always seen him as dignified, polite and good natured. Never arrogant. An ambassador for the game. That kind of thing.

I fully expected Becks to respond to Donovan and co. by promising “to give 110% and prove my commitment by leading us to the playoffs”, or something equally bland but admirable. Instead he’s just made a bad situation even worse.

Here’s how the comments look and sound in YouTube format:

[vid via 101GG]

Maybe the worst thing is how Beckham repeats the “I’ve played for all these big teams” line. The implication (or maybe it’s too explicit to be an implication) is that the opinion of his teammates has no value, because they haven’t played for big teams like he has. In other words: I’m better than they are.

And here’s the kicker. The very last paragraph of the Guardian article where I found the above quote suggests Beckham is planning to see out MLS 2009 and then make a permanent move back to Milan in the winter transfer window.

Beckham added that he would return to Milan in 2010 if he is given the opportunity, to boost his chances of making one last World Cup appearance with England. “To be involved in the World Cup and to be involved with this England squad, I have to give myself the chance to be at that top level. I’ll do that personally and anything to do that. It’s just saying that for the moment, this is what I need to do. It doesn’t mean I’m running away from a project I believe in. I think the experiences I’ve had can only help this team.”

So, the Beckham experiment (note to self: that would make an excellent book title) could soon be coming to an end. And – unless there are some major changes in the next few months – it doesn’t look like it’s going to end well.