In 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King gave a speech to the world’s media and thousands of protesters in Washington DC about the virtues of racial equality and civil rights. His speech was made famous because of four words that have stuck in the mind and soul of the world ever since that poignant day. ‘I Have A Dream’. Four well crafted words that have become synonymous with freedom and civil liberties. Forty Five years on, America stand two weeks away from electing their first ever ‘black’ president in Barack Obama.
Some moments in life change - some people spend a life time searching for an elusive moment that will change their life forever while others move frantically from one new beginning to another.
Ever since the talented and youthful David Beckham caught the medias attention with ‘that’ goal from the half way line against Wimbledon at Plough Lane on that sunny and lush Saturday afternoon, English football has shared a love story with Beckham that goes way beyond that of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The British medias obsession with brand Beckham, from that moment onward, resonates with the great Greek and Roman tale of love between Cupid and Psyche, where the angel Cupid becomes completely besotted with the beautiful and innocent Psyche.
Psyche, in this instance, is David Beckham, graced with handsome looks and married to a fellow attention seeker, Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice), David did neither court such affection from the media nor does he now wish it to end.
The Media represent Cupid, obsessed and intoxicated with their infatuation in a human spectacle that is both gripping and thought provoking. The circus that surrounds his every move has seen him cover more column inches than Gordon Brown as Prime Minister could ever dream about.
In his prime, Beckham was a wonderful player. A gifted footballer with tremendous technique and a killer cross, he was part of the most destructive Manchester United team for thirty years. He won every domestic honour with United, including a European Champions League winner’s medal. He moved to Real Madrid where, in his last season in Spain, won the La Liga title.
His England career started under Terry Venables in Euro 1996 and after the departure of Alan Shearer and Tony Adams from the England fold, was made Captain by caretaker manager Peter Taylor. His time as an England player, now the third most capped of all time, will be remembered for two very different reasons. The first was his red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, where an England team managed by Glenn Hoddle looked like defeating one of the World Cup favourites. His flailing leg caught Diego Simone who dramatically fell to the floor like an lame race horse. Who can forget Gabriel Batistuta’s reaction as the ref sent Beckham packing!
The hatred and disappointment spread through the media like a bush fire, giving Beckham a torrid time over the next year. The degree of the damnation suffered was totally over exaggerated but one can understand why. He was the darling of the British media, and like a child sent to his room by his parents, Beckham got severely punished for his actions in France, seen by observers as a petulant act of frustration.
For Cupid, there was a moment when he fell madly in love with Psyche; For the people of America, they fell in love with Luther Kings rhetoric – earning him the Nobel Peace Prize. The moment of enchantment for the British media came in the World cup qualifier against Greece where an exquisite free kick that nestled in the roof of the net, sent England to the finals in South Korea.
That goal deep into injury time won the hearts and minds of the English public. The press rounded to his corner, subjecting him to the kind of praise bestowed only to War heroes.
His move to LA Galaxy was nothing more than satisfying his own ego rather than for his financial reasons. For all the improvements the US Major League has made in recent years, the level of ability and standard of football played is not as high as in Europe. With an England side buoyant under new boss, Fabio Capello, he needs to stay at his sharpest to feature in the coach's plans.
A move to Europe, now that the American season is over, is an astute choice though his suitors vary in size and stature. The Premiership would welcome him back with open arms, as would a host of English clubs vying for his name on the back of their shirts. One name mentioned is Harry Redknapps Portsmouth, a top 8 side with bags of potential – but no – a move to the San Siro, to AC Milan: a place where he can have one last flourish at the big time.
Unfortunately, Beckham is no longer the footballer he once was. Little cameos for England, coming on as a substitute, have not proved the footballing world that he is still performing at the highest level; far from it. He has lost that yard of pace, that energy around the pitch and that drive that players lose in their twilight years.
A logical move for Beckham, to increase and maintain his fitness levels, is back to the English Premiership. Here he can improve his fitness and play alongside his English team mates week in week out. Instead, he is on the verge of joining Italian giants AC Milan. A city in a country that is obsessed with materialism, fashion and aesthetic lifestyles: a place that reflects that side of Beckham. Unfortunately, he is not joining a youthful in form Milan team fighting for the Serie A and Champions League, but rather an ageing side whose best years are behind them - much like Beckham
Milan Vice President, Adriano Galliani, said it himself; football is about attracting sell out crowds and sponsorship, not just winning a game of football. Beckham is being brought in to put bums on seats and increase sales on merchandise. And herein lies footballs predicament, it is now as much about running a business as it is a game of two halves: Beckham was once a player that wooed the masses by scoring important goals, however, now he is revered by what he looks like and what he wears. As he approaches his last lap of the footballing track, with a short term visit to the San Siro beckoning, he will be forever remembered for Beckham the celebrity not Beckham the footballer. He simply epitomises where football is headed.
It won’t be a ‘Bend it like Beckham’ finale, instead it will be a brand it like Beckham end.
