LOS ANGELES – It didn’t take long for David Beckham to get lawyers working on releasing him from the five year 
agreement he made with the MLS and its team, the LA Galaxy.Barely 18 months ago on a hot July day in 2007, he was introduced to more than 600 media members and 2,500 screaming fans in Carson, California as the guy who would help revive the health of the U.S. soccer league and make everyone some serious money.
By the time of the introduction, the Galaxy had sold 250,000 Beckham #23 jerseys. The Galaxy was guaranteeing the international star at least $32 million with the promise of profit sharing that could net him $250 million for the duration of his five year contract.
He became a fixture in Los Angeles, attending all kinds of athletic events, bonded with Kobe Bryant and became a courtside fixture at Lakers games with his wife, Victoria.
The relationship with MLS was never more than a way to increase his already huge celebrity as well as a stab at claiming he could single-handedly make home grown soccer teams important to ticket buying Americans.
His career had hit a valley in Madrid where he had gone after his stellar career with Manchester United. The American public knew that but initially jumped at the chance to see him. He was everything that MLS had hoped for.
But his reputation in the real world of soccer was taking a hit. He went on loan to AC Milan during the first off-season, returned to the Galaxy for 2008 and immediately fled back to Italy.
He is getting good press for his performance on the team and now, he wants to stay. Of course he does. He has all the money he and his children will ever need and as a world class athlete, there’s only so long you can be a mascot for a league that will never vie for the world’s greatest players in their prime. He’s a competitor and craves that again.
How much will the MLS want for his release? God only knows but it will not get over this easily. It sold season seats and generated buzz for two years. The public knows it’s a gimmick but was willing to pay for it as long as they could be part of a spectacle.
I don’t think any amount of money compensates them for the loss Beckham. But they’ll name their price and Becks will pay it.
I doubt Kobe will miss him.
Tired of the same old sports page? Then check out Paula Duffy’s insightful (and often humorous) take on the sports day at her Examiner.com page! The popular co-host for Sports Journey Radio is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and founder of the sports learning site Incidental Contact. In her spare time, Duffy practices law in Los Angeles. But don’t hold that against her.