jammed StubHub Center to the rafters.Their cheers were
so long and loud that Beckham admitted he was “a little
embarrassed at times.”He might have been even more
embarrassed if he had been able to watch the live telecast
of the game on ESPN.The cameras would often cut away
from the action on the field to focus on Beckham sitting
on the bench.
The team struggled in his first two seasons, compiling
losing records. Beckham wound up playing in just five
league games in 2007. He was at full strength in 2008, but
the Galaxy recorded just eight wins, the lowest in team
history. However, LA’s win-loss record wasn’t the main
measure of Beckham’s impact.“I don’t think there’s any
doubt that David has increased the visibility of MLS and
the sport more generally,” said USSF president Sunil Gulati.
“That very positive impact will be felt for many years.”
For Galaxy fans, that impact began to be felt the
following season. LA had theWestern Conference’s best
record and reached the MLS Cup.After a tie in regulation
and overtime, the game went to penalty kicks.The Galaxy
missed the decisive seventh-round kick as Real Salt Lake
won its first title. LA won its third Supporters’ Shield in
2010, though FC Dallas gained a measure of revenge for
their historical 1998 drubbing with a 3–0 victory in the
conference finals.
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