If you happen to watch ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” (PTI) last Friday you may have heard Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe and Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald rail on the failure of soccer in the United States and the “Beckham experiment.”

“But Bob it’s failed. Can’t we just say the thing has failed,” ranted Le Batard.

Ryan reiterated the point, “Pretty conclusive proof right now that it has failed and yes, it’s not working at all.”

The reporters were harping on the “dwindling” 22,238 in attendance during Beckham’s first game back (ignoring the fact this road game attendance figure was still higher than the average attendance for the NBA and NHL).

However if you watched ESPN 2 the next day it was a different story. 65,289 fans came to see expansion team Sounders FC play third place English side Chelsea in a friendly. The broadcast was followed by NASCAR qualifying and empty stands.

A sea change in the American sports landscape?

A day later 27,000 filled Home Depot Center past capacity to watch the LA Galaxy play AC Milan (and that failing “Beckham experiment”). The grass hillside above the stadium was filled and even the standing room only tickets were snatched up.  Those who want to point fingers at the controversy following the end of the first half, well you lose too because when it’s all said and done you’re still talking about soccer.

The following Wednesday 81,224 filled the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to watch Inter Milan and Chelsea play an exhibition and today 79,156 watched Mexico beat the US Mens “B-Team” at Giants Stadium for a cup nobody really cares about.

With the near success of the US national team at the Confederations Cup, stadiums selling out for MLS vs. European exhibitions and more sold out games to come in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles and even Salt Lake; 2009 is looking to be the summer of soccer and with the World Cup next year there’s no slowing down.

But you wont hear anything from Ryan and Le Batard who are only a microcosm of the bias in American media towards soccer. A dated bias born out of ignorance, embodied by Bob Ryan’s rant at the end of “PTI” about dangerous “adventure sports” like skateboarding and sailing. Whoa old-timer settle down. Those rickety sailboats on the high seas going a little fast for your horse and buggy?

It’s time sports media in the United States literally gets with the program and realizes that soccer in the US isn’t some long off eventuality. It’s here.

Oh, and Bob Ryan... welcome to the future.

In case you missed the part where he tried to fight a supporter, then assisted on the tying goal, then taunted the same rowdy section by blowing kisses at them… Beckham is back in LA.

If you don’t know the sub-text already read here, here and here.

Receiving a chorus of boos after his first touch, Beckham played one of his best games in recent memory, lofting some beautiful passes down field and helping the Galaxy stay in the game with star-studded AC Milan. In reality he was playing like he had something to prove… which he did after spurning the Galaxy and attempting to stay in Serie A.

However at halftime, heading to the locker room Beckham came face to face with LA Galaxy supporters group known as the “Riot Squad” who waved anti-Beckham signs and were the epicenter of the jeers directed at him. Something pissed Beckham off and he taunted the Riot Squad back driving one fan out of the bleachers and on to the field.

Beckham, was livid for a brief moment and had to be held back by security, then quickly changed face and attempted to shake hands with the fan as he was tackled and taken away.

Now I totally agree with the Galaxy fans who are a little pissed off at Beckham and side with them here, but the retard who jumped out of the stands… seriously. First of all he’s lucky Beckham didn’t get to him because honestly Beckham would have beat the shit out of him. As lame as his underwear ads, wiffy voice and cheesey smile are Beckham is from a blue collar family from Leytonstone, England and probably knows how to throw down.

So how did Beckham answer? Well with his foot. Midway through the second-half, the Galaxy were given a corner kick right in front of the stands filled by the Riot Squad. Beckham kicked a beautiful corner kick that met the head of teammate Bryan Jordan who scored the game-tying goal. Then turned around and blew kisses at fans who 5 seconds earlier were booing him… See the grainy cell phone video I took below:

10 minutes later Beckham was subbed out and greeted by mostly cheers. Even though they were in the right, the proverbial pie was on the face of the Riot Squad.

Oh and to the people who doubted Beckham would return, I hate to say I told you so but… 

“Beckham’s loan to AC Milan will have little effect on Galaxy fans. Hell, you could probably sell the red and black Rossoneri jerseys at the Home Depot Center next season.” – Me eight months ago

Everybody and their mother seem to be speculating about David Robert Joseph Beckham’s loan to AC Milan in January. Is he betraying Galaxy fans? Is he leaving Major League Soccer for good? Is Posh Spice pulling strings behind the scenes?

There are plenty of assumptions about what the midfielder’s motives are without looking at the big picture: This move is great for the MLS.

When he leaves in January, the team, the league and Beckham are going to get a healthy dose of needed exposure during the MLS off-season, and the best part is that the Galaxy are getting paid for it.

Throwing Becks in the middle of the AC Milan roster will make him relevant again, suiting up next to the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho and Maldini. Instead of falling into obscurity for the next six months he’ll be back in the papers, on the screen and, maybe if he’s lucky, on the pitch.

The worry among many commentators is that Beckham’s would betray Galaxy fans by playing for a different team. However fans here in the United States see it differently.

A few years ago I was on the set of what was Fox Football Friday talking to Keith Costigan and he was perplexed at how I could be a fan of Liverpool and wear a Thierry Henry Arsenal jersey. He commented that in England I couldn’t get away with that. 

That’s fundamental difference between sports fans in the United States and fans in abroad. As much as we love our favorite team and as passionate as we might be, it’s perfectly normal for us back other players and other clubs on the side.

Beckham’s loan to AC Milan will have little effect on Galaxy fans. Hell, you could probably sell the red and black Rossoneri jerseys at the Home Depot Center next season.

The other fear, that he's going leave the MLS and never comeback, is unfounded. Beckham has played-out every contract he’s signed and it’s highly unlikely that he would decide to spurn his gigantic performance-based contract with the Galaxy.

In fact "performance" is probably the main force that will drive Beckham back to the MLS next spring; in his career he has won the league title with every team he has been under contract with and, last-time I checked, he still has some work to do with the Galaxy.

Soccer commentators seem to have short memories. It was a little over year ago that, after being told he wouldn’t be re-signed at Real Madrid and then subsequently benched. Beckham refused to stop training. Eventually he worked his way back on the field and helped push Real to the La Liga title. That doesn’t sound like someone who would cash-out after an unsuccessful season and a half in LA.

I’m no Beckham fan, but the relentless bashing he takes in the press is pretty ridiculous. His track record, passion and contract all point to him returning to the Galaxy, but all you hear are the arguments about him wanting to sell jerseys and pursue his wife’s fashion interests.

Luckily for all the naysayers, come next year when a fit and in-form Beckham returns to the Galaxy, all the attention will be on the MLS.