David Beckham Is Back, Will America Care This Time Around?

The other day, driving to a Fourth of July barbecue, I saw a pair of young kids riding their bikes. Obviously that's not all that unusual, except these two weren't wearing jerseys for LeBron James or Eli Manning. Rather, one was in a Liverpool FC top, the other a Los Angeles Galaxy shirt with the No. 23 and the name of a certain famous English midfielder printed across the back.

I wasn't sure whether I should shake my head or smile.

Ah, David Beckham. Two words that can elicit reactions from people everywhere from Athens to Zanzibar and, yes, America too -- or at least on Madison Avenue. Beckham, the man with the misreported $250 million salary -- is back in America with the Los Angeles Galaxy this month after his much ballyhooed loan stint at AC Milan.

Beckham's 2009 MLS debut would have already been under the microscope due to his flirtations in Italy, which included rumors of buying out his contract and leaving the American league for good. Since then, it's only gotten more scrutiny -- at least for soccer in the U.S. standards -- due to the revelations in Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl's book -- "The Beckham Experiment", which included some less than flattering quotes about the former English national team captain's commitment to the Galaxy from Landon Donovan.

The question, on the eve of his return to the States, is two-fold:

1) Does Beckham want to be playing in MLS?

2) Will America care that Beckham is back?

In his two injury-plagued seasons since his Hollywood arrival in the summer of 2007, Beckham hasn't exactly taken America by storm, playing just 30 matches and scoring five goals. Yes, at first there were soft-sell features and increased media attention and attendance. This was going to be the guy that took it upon himself to bring soccer to the U.S. masses, something Pele and numerous others couldn't accomplish.

But for all the talk and grandiose predictions upon his arrival, whether fair or not, Beckham hasn't done all that much to elevate MLS as a whole from either a television ratings standpoint or an overall relevancy perspective. True, more casual American sports fans now know the league actually exists, but it's not like Beckham's two seasons in America have pushed MLS highlights onto 'SportsCenter' or lit up talk radio lines for a mid-season FC Dallas/Real Salt Lake match.

By the same token, the U.S. national team's run to the Confederations Cup final last month brought the sport increased exposure to the game and attention without the cologne-hawking, sarong-wearing Englishman, which helps dispel the notion that one man can change the tastes of a nation. If anything, winning international matches will change American perceptions about the sport, assuming that's even possible.

What makes Beckham's 2009 season all the more interesting is that unlike his previous two years, the Galaxy might actually make the playoffs, so the focus might actually be on the field as opposed to 19 Entertainment-produced ESPN specials and glitzy Hollywood parties. Right now after a three-game winning-streak they sit at 5-3-9, squarely in the middle of the pack of the league.

Is it possible the return of Beckham's world class right foot be a key addition to Bruce Arena's lineup? Or will the turmoil, whether a media creation or not, caused by the Donovan quotes derail the Galaxy season? Will all be forgotten once the whistle blows?

He's certainly returning this summer with a lot less media hoopla and fanfare, which should help the Galaxy from a purely sporting standpoint. Put it this way, there are no Victoria Beckham NBC specials to distract from the actual games this time around.

We may get our first look Thursday night when the Galaxy travel to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to take on the woeful New York Red Bulls, live on Fox Soccer Channel. Two years ago, when Beckham made his first trip to the monstrosity that is the Giants Stadium artificial turf, I was in the building and it was a rare night for soccer in the U.S. where almost everything went right -- huge crowd, lots or goals, lots of passion and a 5-4 thrilling RBNY win.

This time around I'm guessing it'll be a far cry from the the crowd of 66,000 that included throngs of screaming teenage girls that went ga-ga upon his arrival. Instead, it'll likely be angry hardcore U.S. fans who are smart enough to realize Beckham would probably rather be playing anywhere else on Earth besides MLS and its artificial turf stadiums.

Considering how low the Red Bulls rate in the New York sports scene, it's hard to imagine that many more than the 10,000 or so regular fans that show up at games will turn up for Beckham. Giants Stadium is so cavernous for soccer matches it'll be almost impossible to gauge the reaction for Beckham, if he even turns up on the field. Then again, if a decent crowd turns out it'll show the Beckham name still has drawing power.

Ironically, Beckham's first two home matches at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., are friendlies against AC Milan (July 19) and FC Barcelona (Aug. 1) sandwiched around a road game against Kansas City before the MLS All-Star game. Will the Galaxy crowd, a portion of which that never warmed up to Beckham and the team's change of logo and colors in the first place, salute the million-dollar pitchman with cheers or jeers ... or worse?

Will fans accept Beckham as a fully committed Galaxy player? Or will they figure he's only biding his time in America until he can go back to Europe, whether it be to Milan or a Premier League club, to stay sharp and make the final roster for England coach Fabio Capello's 2010 World Cup squad? Wednesday in a pre-game press conference Beckham said he was committed to the Galaxy, but also didn't rule out that his future after the season lies elsewhere.

Either way in light of all the disclosures brought forth from Wahl's tome, American fans will continue to wonder if Beckham's loyalty lies with the Galaxy or somewhere else, especially in light of a buyout clause that kicks in after this MLS season.

There remains the odd chance that maybe in this, his third attempt at soccer in the United States, that the spotlight won't be as large for Beckham. Everything that could have gone wrong - namely injuries and off-field he-said/she-said stories - is in the past and this time he can simply be what he's always wanted to be - a soccer player instead of a novelty used to help sell tickets.

Maybe, just maybe, he can help guide the Galaxy back to the top of MLS and then ride off into the sunset with a modicum of validation for his grand American experiment. Beckham does, after all, have a track record of proving his doubters wrong.

From observing the last two years, and reading the new book, there is probably one word to describe Beckham's time in America - a circus. For better or worse, that circus resumes this week before folding up the tent and scuffling back across the Atlantic in November - possibly for good. One thing's for clear, whenever Beckham's inevitable departure arises, it will certainly come a lot less pomp and circumstance than his Hollywood blockbuster arrival.